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When I have my initial meeting with clients, I am always most interested in my first question: Where do you reside? The reason is that I am already thinking about the Court in which I may begin your lawsuit. Firstly,the jurors in each county have their own “personality.” Staten Island (Richmond), Nassau, Suffolk, and Westchester (and to

Después de un accidente, y con la llegada de la policía, una investigación superficial por los oficiales puede resultar en una o varias de las partes que se publicará una citación o arrestados. Por lo general, los conductores que están bajo la influencia de drogas y / o alcohol pueden estar arrestado en la escena. En esta

Following an accident and upon the arrival of the police, a cursory investigation by the officers may result in one or more of the parties to be issued a summons or arrested. Typically, drivers who are under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol may be placed under arrest at the scene.  In this situation, the

Cuando se reúna con su abogado por primera vez, no es posible evaluar su caso sin tener en cuenta la prueba médica. Se le pedirá que firme “HIIPA autorizaciones médicas” para que su abogado para obtener los registros médicos de hospitales, médicos, fisioterapeutas, etc. Una vez que su bufete de abogados tiene copias de todos

When you meet your attorney for the first time, it is not possible to assess your case without looking at medical proof.   You are asked to sign “HIIPA Medical Authorizations” in order for your lawyer to obtain the medical records from hospitals, doctors, physical therapists, etc.  Once your law firm has copies of all

Staten Island se encuentra en medio de una horrible crisis de la adicción a opiáceos. Los clientes que sufren lesiones de tejidos blandos se ven en una sala de emergencia y pidió hacer un seguimiento con un médico. La mayor seguimiento atención incluye lo que se conoce como “tratamiento conservador”, es decir, la atención médica

Staten Island is in the midst of a horrific opioid addiction crisis.  Clients who suffer soft tissue injuries are seen in an Emergency Room and requested to follow up with a doctor. Most follow up care includes what is referred to as “conservative care,” i.e., medical care that does not require surgery or use of

En primer lugar, la persona lesionada es centrarse en el proceso de curación; al mismo tiempo, las compañías de seguros están enviando los formularios para ser firmados, el envío de investigadores a hacer preguntas, y llamar al cliente para solicitar información sobre el estado de su tratamiento médico. Esto puede ser un momento muy estresante

When you hire an attorney because you have been injured in an accident, the relationship between you and your attorney is like no other professional relationship. Firstly, the injured person is focusing on the healing process; at the same time, the insurance companies are sending forms to be signed, sending investigators to ask questions, and

Después de haber completado “Descubrimiento”, va a presentar un documento a la corte titulado “Nota de Preparacion’.” Este documento informa al Secretario de la Corte de que esté listo para el juicio. Además, se le presentar una “demanda del Jurado”, que pide efectivamente el Tribunal permiso para tener un juicio con jurado. Bajo ciertas circunstancias

After you have completed “Discovery,” you will file a document with the court entitled “Note of Issue.” This document advises the Clerk of the Court that you are ready for trial.  Additionally,  you will file a “Jury Demand” which effectively asks the Court for permission to have a Trial by Jury. Under certain limited circumstances,

Muchos de mis colegas son adversas a iniciar demandas en los tribunales federales. Por lo general, creen que los jueces en la corte federal no tratan los casos de lesiones personales con gran respeto. El consenso entre los abogados es que el sistema judicial federal tiene reglas y plazos que hacen que sea difícil ser

Many of my colleagues are adverse to starting lawsuits in the federal district courts.  They generally believe that the judges in federal court do not treat personal injury cases with great respect. The consensus among lawyers is that the federal court system has burdensome rules and deadlines that make it hard to be a lawyer

Después de que su abogado ha iniciado una demanda, el siguiente paso es preparar una “Carta de Particulares ‘”, un documento que proporciona todos los detalles de su demanda de accidente. Sus lesiones exactas (escritos en lenguaje médico y tomados de sus registros médicos, la cantidad de dinero que ha perdido como consecuencia del accidente

After your lawyer has started a lawsuit, the next step is to prepare a “Bill of Particulars’” a document that provides all of the details of your accident lawsuit.  Your exact injuries (written in medical language and taken from your medical records, the amount of money that you have lost as a result of the

Una persona que ha sido herido en un accidente de carros tiene beneficios bajo la Ley de “No Fault.” Estos beneficios incluyen el pago por servicios médicos, hospitalarios, terapia, farmacéuticos y dispositivos médicos, así como la pérdida de salarios y gastos diversos (tales como gastos de viaje hacia y desde visitas al médico). En general, seguro cubre

A person who has been injured in a motor vehicle accident has benefits under the No Fault Law.  Those benefits include payment for medical, hospital, therapy, pharmaceutical, and medical devices, as well as Lost Wages and Miscellaneous expenses (such as travel expenses to and from doctors visits). Usually No Fault insurance covers injured persons for

Recibo muchas llamadas telefónicas de clientes potenciales en cuanto a la atención deficiente que sus familiares han recibido en hospitales o clínicas. Por ejemplo, los pacientes que están gravemente enfermos o llevados a salas de emergencia con lesiones graves a veces se recetan el medicamento equivocado causando pacientes sufren terriblemente. Los médicos no han podido

I receive many phone calls from potential clients regarding the substandard care that their family members have received in hospitals or clinics. For example, patients who are gravely ill or taken to Emergency Rooms with serious injuries are sometimes prescribed the wrong medication causing patients to suffer terribly.  Doctors have failed to properly review test

Cuando un estudiante se lesiona en la escuela, debemos mirar los hechos antes de determinar si la escuela es responsable de la aparición. La División de Apelaciones, primero Departamento, dictaminó el 07 de mayo que el Departamento de Educación no era responsable de una lesión en patio de la escuela basada en la falta de

When a student is injured in school, we must look at the facts before determining whether the school is liable for the occurrence. The Appellate Division, 1st Department, ruled on May 7th that the Department of Education was not responsible for a schoolyard injury based on lack of teacher supervision.  A child was cause to

El Colegio de Abogados del Condado de Richmond es más de 150 años y esta noche se celebra un año más. Sus miembros incluyen a más de 500 abogados de todas las áreas del derecho que tienen una práctica de la ley en Staten Island. El 2 de junio , las elecciones anuales para la

Hoy asistí a la ceremonia del “Día del Derecho”  on la Corte Suprema, Condado de Richmond, en nombre de la Asociación de Abogados Litigantes de Staten Island. “Día del Derecho” celebra la fuerza del Estado de Derecho en este país y cómo se protege a todos los ciudadanos y visitantes a este pais. Vivimos en

Today I attended the Annual Law Day ceremony in the Supreme Court, Richmond County on behalf of the Staten Island Trial Lawyers Association.  Law Day celebrates the strength of the Rule of Law in this country and how it protects all citizens. We live in a nation that is governed by the Constitution, a document

Cuando nos referimos a la “sede” de un caso, nos referimos a la corte del condado donde se decidirá el caso. Debido a que cada condado tiene diferentes características demográficas (por ejemplo, los propietarios de viviendas frente a los inquilinos de las viviendas, las diferencias culturales, diferencias de edad), que significa que cada condado tendrá

When we refer to the “venue” of a case, we mean the county courthouse where the case will be decided.  Because each county has different demographics (e.g., owners of homes versus renters of homes, cultural differences, age differences) that means that each county will have its own “personality.” Depending on the county where your case

Si usted estuvo involucrado en un accidente de automóvil, los tribunales del estado de Nueva York han tomado algunas decisiones que favorecen claramente los conductores en ciertas situaciones. Por ejemplo, la Segunda División del Departamento de Apelación (que es el tribunal de apelación de Staten Island, Brooklyn, Queens, Nassau y Suffolk) ha decidido en muchos

If you were involved in an automobile accident, the New York State courts have made some decisions that clearly favor drivers in certain situations. For example, the Second Department Appellate Division (which is the appellate court for Staten Island, Brooklyn, Queens, Nassau, and Suffolk Counties) has decided in many cases that a driver that strikes

Un abogado del accidente tiene la obligación de servir a sus clientes con celo. La palabra “celo” significa “gran energía en la búsqueda de una causa.” Cuando estoy en la sala del tribunal, mis años de la franqueza, la cortesía y la honestidad con otros abogados de accidentes, empleados judiciales y los jueces me ha

An Accident Lawyer has the obligation to serve his clients zealously.  The word “zeal” means “great energy in pursuit of a cause.” When I am in the courtroom, my years of directness, courtesy, and honesty with other accident lawyers, court employees, and judges has given me the opportunity to represent my clients with “zeal.” I

  El “Corte de Reclamos Pequeños” es parte de la sistema de “Ciudad de Nueva York / Juzgado Civil”  que permite demandantes demandar a los demandados para la mayoría de los asuntos relacionados con menos de $ 5,000.00 Usted no necesita un abogado (ni qué es necesario tener ningún tipo de educación legal). De hecho,

Small Claims Court is part of the “Civil Court / City of New York” system that permits plaintiffs to sue defendants for most matters involving less than $5,000.00 You do not need an attorney (nor do you need to have any legal education).  In fact, if both sides are represented by attorneys,  the judge will

En Nueva York, si un conductor de otro vehículo que causa lesiones corporales, la cobertura mínima del seguro en el Estado de Nueva York es de $ 25.000 por persona lesionada (y hasta $ 50.000 para todas las personas lesionadas en total). Si una persona muere en un accidente de coche, la cobertura mínima es de

In New York, if a driver of another vehicle causes you bodily injury, the minimum insurance coverage in New York State is $25,000 per injured person (and up to $50,000 for all persons injured in total).  If a person is caused to die in a car accident, the minimum coverage is $50,000 for the survivors

Si usted está involucrado en un accidente de automóvil, usted debe tomar los siguientes consejos: 1) No se asuste – Usted debe permanecer en el lugar del accidente (sin importar si estaba culplable o no). Básicamente, dejando la escena del accidente puede causar dos problemas = uno es un crimen a”Salir de la escena de

If you are involved in an automobile accident, you should take the following advice: 1) Do not panic – You must remain at the location of the accident (regardless if you were right or wrong).  Basically, leaving the scene of the accident can cause you two problems = one is that it is a criminal

¿Sabía usted que si usted alquila un apartamento o casa que usted puede calificar para comprar un “seguro de inquilino”? Este tipo de seguro puede proteger de la pérdida de su propiedad por incendio y robo, así como protegerse de demandas debido a su negligencia. Si su edificio de apartamentos está destruida por el fuego y

Did you know that if you rent an apartment or house that you may qualify to purchase “renter’s insurance”? This type of insurance can protect you from loss of property due to fire and theft, as well as protect you from lawsuits due to your negligence. If your apartment building is destroyed by fire and

En los últimos meses, Charles DeStefano, presidente de la Asociación de Abogados Litigantes de Staten Island (un afiliado de NYSTLA) ha trabajado duro a resolver 213 reclamaciones con la compañía de seguros GEICO presentado de los miembros de su Asociación a presentar todas las reclamaciones GEICO al unísono. Las reclamaciones se presentarán a GEICO través de la empresa

Hoy voy a estar asistiendo a una mediación mandato judicial en la Corte Suprema , el condado de Nueva York (Manhattan ) . Este es un fantástico programa establecido por el Juez Administrativo en ese condado . Permite abogados ( sin costo adicional a sus clientes ) para discutir el reclamo y potencialmente resolverlo. He

Today I will be attending a court mandated mediation in Supreme Court, New York County (Manhattan).  This is a fantastic program set up by the Administrative Judge in that county.  It allows attorneys (at no extra charge to their clients) to discuss the claim and potentially resolve it. I have prepared all of the client’s

Tonight Charles DeStefano, President of  Staten Island Trial Lawyers Association will attend “Law Day Dinner” at NYS Trial Lawyers in Manhattan.  He is dedicated to supporting the rights of injured persons and dedicates his time (outside of his law practice) to implement changes in the law that do so. Recently, he attended “Lobby Day” in Albany

Esta noche, Charles DeStefano , presidente de la Asociación de Abogados Litigantes de Staten Island, representará a su organización en la cena de Día de la Ley Anual de la Asociación de Abogados Litigantes del Estado de Nueva York. Sr. DeStefano es un presidente de afiliados de los New York State Abogados Litigantes y es

Si usted se lesionó por un automóvil mientras que un peatón, usted puede calificar para beneficios bajo el “No Fault Seguros Leyes.” El vehículo que realiza usted tendrá un seguro (“No Fault”) que cubre las prestaciones médicas, terapias, productos farmacéuticos, y salarios perdidos.Además, cubre gastos diversos, como los viajes hacia y desde su oficina de

We should all be aware of the dangers that belie us as drivers on the Island. Potholes that are dodged can lead us into a sideswipe.  Texting and driving has led to an inordinate amount of rear end collisions.  The drivers that slide through STOP signs have cause many a crackup. Using the plethora of

Si caes en la acera y se lesiona, puede tener la oportunidad de demandar el dueño de la propiedad o de la ciudad de Nueva York. Si la acera no está bien mantenida y el accidente lo pasa en frente de una casa con 3 o más familias, un edificio comercial, una escuela privada, o una institución

Como los visitantes a este país, se le da los mismos derechos a demandar si se lesiona en un accidente. La ley lo protege, como una persona herida, porque es un derecho humano fundamental a demandar si se lesiona debido a la negligencia de otra persona. Nuestros tribunales te respetarán y no en contacto con

When you receive that notice from court stating that you must appear for jury duty, be sure to remember how important your service as a juror will be to a person who has suffered serious injuries.  Many people have lost time from their jobs (or lost their jobs entirely) and have paid extremely high bills

Did you know that if you are injured due to the negligence of a driver that leaves the scene of an accident (and cannot be identified) that your own insurance coverage may cover you? The coverage (which is included in most auto insurance policies) is called “Supplementary Uninsured / Underinsured Coverage” or simply “SUM.”  The

Como Presidente de la Asociación de Abogados Litigantes de Staten Island, asistí ayer al  Día de Lobby  (Cabildeo) en Albany  para reunirme con miembros de la Asamblea y el Senado con el fin de  discutir la legislación que afecta a las personas que han sufrido algún tipo de lesión. Nuestra Asociación estuvo representada por los

SI Advance article about accident victim helped by Charles DeStefano

Click on this link to read article about Charles DeStefano’s recent vistory – Staten Island man awarded $1.6 million dollars

As the President of the Staten Island Trial Lawyers Association , I attended Lobby Day in Albany yesterday to meet with members of the Assembly and Senate to discuss legislation that affects “injured persons”. Our Association was represented by myself, as well as SITLA members Mike Lasser, Chris Caputo, Bill Barillari, Tim O’Donovan, and Orin

Si usted ha sufrido una lesión en un accidente automovilístico, puede estar cubierto por “No Fault.” Los peatones, pasajeros en automóviles, y los conductores de automóviles están cubiertos por este tipo de seguro. (Los motociclistas no están cubiertos; los pasajeros en los autobuses deben utilizar primero cualquier seguro Ausencia de culpa que tienen en su

If you have suffered an injury in an automobile accident, you may be covered under “No Fault.” Pedestrians, passengers in automobiles, and drivers of automobiles are covered under this type of insurance.  (Motorcyclists are not covered; passengers in buses must first use any No Fault insurance that they have in their home – and if

I am prepared to discuss proposed legislation which affects injured persons, including a bill to compel insurance companies to offer Uninsured Motorist Protection to drivers. The bill will allow consumers to make intelligent decisions regarding their choice of coverage to protect themselves and their families. Another bill will hold doctors accountable for their negligence/malpractice to

  En Staten Island, que es muy difícil encontrar un abogado con experiencia , la educación, y que puede hablar el español. Hace veintiséis años empecé mi buffete aquí en Staten Island y los hispanos son los mejores clientes que he tenido. He representado a clientes con más de 2.000 víctimas de todo tipo de accidentes .

I have the honor of attending a luncheon for the Staten Island Legal Services on Friday, April 17 on behalf of the Staten Island Trial Lawyers Association. It will be held at the Hilton Garden Inn located on South Avenue at 12 noon. The Honorable Michael McMahon, attorney and former Congressman, is being honored. Mr.

I have been practicing law since 1988 and consider myself to be within the first generation of lawyers to look for different ways to seek compensation for my clients. The generations before mine tried to negotiate a settlement, and if that failed, they started a lawsuit. We now have different methods of achieving the same

On April 21 and 22, Charles DeStefano will be attending Lobby Day in Albany on behalf of the Staten Island Trial Lawyers Association. Meetings will be held at the chambers of Senators Lanza and Savino, as well as the chambers of Assembly members Borelli, Cusick, and Titone. The topics will include proposed legislation to hold

On May 13th, 2014 I presented the actor, Dylan McDermott, with a plaque from Staten Island Trial Lawyers Association which awarded him the title of “Honorary Trial Lawyer” in acknowledgement of his positive portrayal of lawyers in both film and television.Dylan portrayed trial lawyer “Bobby Donnell” in the hit TV show “The Practice” from 1997 to

Having begun my practice in the 20th century, I find it exciting that the 21st Century has given us great tools to prove our cases.  One of them is the use of video surveillance. Recently I was able to force the hand of a supermarket that permitted a broken freezer to leak water on its

On Friday, December 19th, 2014 I testified at a hearing before the New York State Assembly in connection with the 2015 Health Budget regulations proposed by the Workers Compensation Board. The meeting was presided by Assemblyman Kevin Cahill (Chairman of the NYS Assembly Insurance Committee). These regulations will result in a serious reduction of payments

This was in NYLJ and it interesting from different perspectives. 1) From a practice point of view, we should include in our initial claim letter to NYCTA a request to preserve ” video footage taken from cameras aboard the bus and a printout of data retrieved from the engine control module of the bus.” Additonally, you should

The Court of Appeals affirmed the 1st Department decision of Alvarez v. NYLL Mgt, Ltd, a Supreme Bronx case in which defendants moved for Summary Judgement on the issue of threshold. Essentially, the Court held that when a treating physician fails to explain findings of degeneration or pre-existing conditions (and fails to address these issues

OK, we finally put the nail in the coffin on ERISA subrogation claims! Those nasty vultures at Rawlings are truly out of our lives ! (Actually, calling them “vultures” is an insult to such noble birds who actually contribute something to the world!) “Pirates” is another word that came to mind, but I don’t think

Here are a few cases of note from the Second Department that you may find useful: Lawton v. Palmer, decided on March 25, 2015, the 2nd Dept reversed trial court for not permitting defendants from impeaching a non-testifying witness (MD) by way of introducing Department of Health records which showed that the MD plead guilty

The Staten Island Trial Lawyers Association was represented by President Charles DeStefano on March  at “Community Day” hosted by Iman Tahir Kukaj (left in photo) at the Albanian Cultural Center.  The event included leaders in the community, including Borough Commander Chief Edward Delatorre (Right in photo). Other guests included leaders representing the borough’s Jewish, Hindu,

In my complete unscientific (but on the ground!) observation, it seems as though  texting and driving is the perceived cause of many accidents, especially those auto accidents involving pedestrians. Pedestrians seem to not be attentive to the color of the traffic light, in addition to not staying within the bounds of crosswalks. Drivers are looking

New York law now permits you to purchase “Spousal Liability” insurance with your auto coverage.  Under the law, a spouse may generally not sue another spouse. The reason for this dates back hundreds of years under English Common Law.  The purpose was to not place husbands and wives in the precarious situation of suing each

Most of my clients who have been injured in a motorcycle accident are usually safe riders.  They follow the rules of the road and exercise courtesy, more so than the average automobile driver. Naturally, they are true “defensive drivers” due to their immense exposure to injury in an unprotected vehicle. Unfortunately, riders of motorcycles also

A drunk driver blows a stop sign and seriously injures you.  The police arrive and the driver is placed in handcuffs as you are put on a gurney in an ambulance.  Along the way, aside from the excruciating pain, you are worried how you will be able to pay your bills and recover your lost

Many of you are paying for higher liability coverage to protect you in the event you injure someone in a car accident and you are sued.  That is the responsible thing to do. If, for example, you strike a pedestrian in a crosswalk and they suffer a knee injury requiring surgery, you will feel secure if