- Child Abuse
- DUI/DWI
- Wrongful DeathIf you’ve lost a loved one as a result of a preventable incident or due to another person’s negligence, you may be entitled to financial compensation. Our experienced team of wrongful death attorneys has fought diligently for the rights of people killed in preventable, negligent incidents and have won millions in financial compensation to help their families recover.
- Traffic Violations$28 Million for worker struck by a police vehicle. The firm represented a worker at JFK airport who was struck by a speeding port authority police vehicle. The victim suffered catastrophic injuries that required 16 surgeries.
- RobberyGenerally, property owners do not owe any duty of care to trespassers on their properties. For example, a person breaks into a home with the intent of committing robbery. The fall through a partially renovated but incomplete section of floor. The trespasser would not have grounds for a lawsuit against the property owner. The only exception to the rule for trespassers would be children. A wandering child does not have the same level of awareness as an adult. If a property owner has any reason to believe that a neighbor’s child or another child may wander onto the property, the owner should take care to prevent injuries if the child is likely to encounter a dangerous condition on the property.
- BurglaryThe Gulliver’s nightclub fire occurred on the early morning of June 30, 1974 on the border of Port Chester, New York and Greenwich, Connecticut. The fire killed 24 patrons and injured 32, including 19 patrons and 13 fireman. The fire was caused by arson in an adjacent bowling alley that had been set to cover up a minor burglary close by.
- MurderSullivan Papain Block McGrath Coffinas & Cannavo P.C. represented the families of several patrons who were killed in the fire. The action was brought against, among others, the owners of the building for various fire code violations which we claimed contributed to the spread of the fire and the inability of the victims to escape from the raging fire. We were also appointed to the plaintiffs’ committee which acted as counsel for all of the plaintiffs, including the family members of 87 patrons who died in the fire. Gonzalez was later charged with 174 counts of murder and was found guilty on 87 counts of arson and 87 counts of murder on August 19, 1991.
- ArsonThe Happy Land Fire was an act of arson that killed 87 people trapped in the unlicensed Happy Land social club at 1959 Southern Boulevard in the West Farms section of the Bronx in New York City on March 25, 1990. Most of the victims were young Hondurans celebrating Carnival. The unemployed Cuban refugee Julio Gonzalez, whose former girlfriend was employed at the club, was arrested soon afterward and ultimately convicted of arson and murder.
- Premises LiabilityEvery state has unique laws pertaining to different types of lawsuits and the rights of plaintiffs. It’s essential for plaintiffs to meet the necessary statute of limitations for filing a lawsuit after an injury. In New York, the statute of limitations for premises liability claims is three years starting on the date of the injury. However, some factors may “toll” or delay the statute of limitations. An experienced New York premises liability attorney can advise an injured victim of how the statute of limitations will apply in his or her case.
- Land Use and Zoning
- Property DamageIn the mid-1960’s, Ford Motor Corporation dumped paint sludge and other waste materials from its assembly plant in Mahwah, NJ on a 900-acre site. The site was designated a Superfund site in the 1980s. In 2005 public agencies advised homeowners of the area that properties were contaminated. Currently, the firm is co-lead counsel in a mass-claim suit against the auto manufacturer, representing over 600 members of a New Jersey Native American Indian Tribe for exposure to toxic chemicals and property damage.
- Personal InjurySullivan Papain Block McGrath Coffinas & Cannavo, P.C., concentrates on all practice areas of personal injury cases throughout New York. We have the litigation and support staff for each personal injury department to ensure excellent legal representation from consultation to settlement. Our firm has the resources to conduct a thorough investigation of our clients’ injuries and accidents.
- Medical MalpracticeMedical malpractice occurs when a medical professional, through a negligent act or omission, causes death or injury to a patient. Medical professionals have a responsibility to provide quality care to each patient. When hospitals, doctors, nurses and staff fail to perform their duties with the highest level of competence and standard of care, their patients may suffer serious or fatal injuries. Medical malpractice can be based on errors or omissions related to diagnosis, treatment, follow up care or health management.
- Auto Accidents
- Slip and Fall InjuryThe most common type of injury that may lead to a premises liability lawsuit is a slip and fall injury. These injuries may result from...