Attorney Profile
Christopher J. Power
Areas of Practice
Contact Info
Overview
Chris is a member of the Casualty Department where he handles cases involving New York State Labor Law, construction accidents, premises liability, products liability, auto liability and general liability.
Prior to joining the firm, Chris worked for a medium size defense firm, handling auto claims throughout the New York Metropolitan area, successfully arguing summary judgment motions and obtaining a defendant's verdict in the Bronx.
Chris spent more than a decade working for a national insurance carrier after college and during law school in various positions including claims adjuster, claims supervisor as well as nationwide claims oversight with experience participating in both claim and law firm audits. After law school, Chris spent seven years as a trial attorney with the insurance carrier and later became their Litigation Director for 13 years. His first hand knowledge of the insurance industry and familiarity with their policies allows him to effectively and efficiently counsel clients on their litigation issues.
Chris graduated cum laude from The State University of New York at Utica Rome in 1978 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice. He received his juris doctor from Touro School of Law in Huntington, New York in 1996.
Results
Successfully defended a tow truck company in an "open and obvious" case in Nassau County, NY. The company had been called to tow a broken-down minibus from the plaintiff’s workplace. While removing the bus, the plaintiff walked between the tow truck and the bus, tripped over the tow rope, and broke his hip. Chris relied on precedent from a similar Nassau County case where a judge ruled that a tow rope was an open and obvious condition, with no duty to warn. Although the trial judge denied his motion for a directed verdict, she allowed him to argue to the jury that the defendant had no duty to warn. Plaintiff’s counsel did not object. In summation, Chris emphasized that the condition was open and obvious and urged dismissal. The jury deliberated for just 15 minutes before returning a verdict for the defendant.