Criminal Law

• Criminal Defense
  Stephan D. Trace has extensive experience handling personal injury litigation. Prior to joining Devitt Spellman Barrett, LLP in 2005, he worked for a general practice firm and was involved in both plaintiff personal injury and commercial litigation, as well as criminal matters.
• Wrongful Death
• Assault
  DSB prevailed in the Appellate Division, Second Department on an appeal in a personal action alleging assault and battery. In the lower court, DSB moved to have plaintiff’s complaint dismissed as time-barred; in response, plaintiff opposed the motion and cross-moved to amend the complaint to add timely allegations for violations of New York City’s Victims of Gender-Motivated Violence Protection Law and Civil Rights Law § 79-n. The Supreme Court, Nassau County granted DSB’s motion to dismiss plaintiff’s Complaint and denied Plaintiff’s cross-motion to amend. On appeal, the Appellate Division, Second Department, affirmed the lower court’s order finding plaintiff’s proposed amendments to be palpably insufficient and patently devoid of merit.

Business and Corporate Law

• Corporate Law
  The corporate litigation attorneys at the law firm of Devitt Spellman Barrett, LLP have successfully handled many business disputes including but not limited to...
• Business Disputes
  Whether you are involved in high-stakes commercial litigation, require business law advice, or need legal guidance through a unique or complex transaction, the attorneys at Devitt Spellman Barrett, LLP are here to get you the results you deserve.

Employment Law

• Employment Discrimination
  The firm is also unique in its experience in handling Section 1983 Municipal Civil Rights actions involving claims of Employment Discrimination (State and Federal Law), Land Use, First Amendment Speech and Religion, Education, and Police actions. The firm provides comprehensive counsel to its clients in order to provide case management and litigation strategies to guide our clients successfully through the complexities that so often accompany municipal liability claims. The firm has a proven track record that includes the successful defense of cases tried in Federal and New York State Courts, as well as administrative tribunals such as the New York State Division of Human Rights and EEOC. Additionally, the firm’s lawyers have orchestrated the successful resolution through mediation and arbitration of significant class action Discriminatory Housing cases culminating in the preparation of complex consent decrees and settlement agreements.
• Sexual Harassment

Property Law

• Real Estate Litigation
• Premises Liability
  Devitt Spellman Barrett, LLP has a long history of success in defending premises liability claims for commercial and residential property owners and tenants. Whether the issue relates to an alleged defect on the premises, an animal bite, altercation on premises, liquor liability, sidewalk liability or other negligence claims, Devitt Spellman Barrett, LLP is prepared to defend the landowner or person in possession of the premises.
• Construction Litigation
• Eminent Domain
  DSB obtained an Order allowing the Town of Southold to take title to a parcel of land near Love Lane to establish a park, over the property owner’s objection, via eminent domain. The property owner challenged the eminent domain proceeding, and brought a related federal action along with a national non-profit organization based out of Arlington, Virginia, seeking to change the law as to what constitutes “public use” under the takings clause of the Fifth Amendment.
• Easement
• Land Use and Zoning
• Landlord-Tenant Disputes
  David Stuart Chustek joined Devitt Spellman Barrett, LLP in 2022. He has been a practicing attorney, in the area of civil litigation for over 20 years. Over the course of his career, Mr. Chustek has handled matters relative to personal injury, debt collection, landlord tenant, no fault, contracts disputes, supplemental underinsured/uninsured (SUM), real estate, matrimonial as well as criminal law. Mr. Chustek has taken over 100 verdicts on trials in New York. He was featured in the Brooklyn Daily Eagle multiple times after securing favorable decisions in jury trials on high exposure cases. He has earned a pro bono service award given by the Nassau/Suffolk Law Services for his efforts assisting economically disadvantaged individuals.
• Property Damage
  Litigation and Appeals: Some of the claims we handle on behalf of individuals and businesses include auto accidents, labor law, property damage claims, products liability and other negligence based claims.

Health Law

• Personal Injury
  School District Litigation: We represent school districts and superintendents. Some of the matters we handle on behalf of school districts include personal injury and employment law disputes.
• Auto Accidents

Trusts and Estates

• Estate Planning
• Probate

Finance Law

• Debt Collection