Personal Injury

Max Leifer has been practicing civil law since 1972 and is licensed to practice law in New York, New Jersey, and Federal Court. He is a 32nd Degree Mason; a member of various religious and civil organizations, and is associated with numerous Bar Associations. He has a successful background in Social Security, Long-Term Disability, Union Benefits, and Personal Injury, both Plaintiff and Defendant. He is associated with other attorneys who specialize in criminal, trademark, malpractice, and commercial/real estate litigation. Due to successful trials, Max is a current member of the Million Dollar Club, which requires recoveries in excess of one million dollars. He has numerous cases reported in Jury Verdicts and has lectured on Social Security Disability and various conferences.

Nicholas I. Timko is the managing partner of the firm of Kahn, Gordon, Timko & Rodriques, P.C. having joined the firm of Kahn & Gordon in 1998 to create the current firm. Mr. Timko has been practicing law since 1983. and is licensed to practice in New York and Pennsylvania. He is dedicated to promoting public safety through the civil justice system by holding corporations, businesses, government agencies, hospitals, doctors, manufacturers, and individuals accountable when their conduct causes harm and loss to members of the public. Mr. Timko has spent his entire career representing clients injured in all types of accidents resulting from unsafe conditions of sidewalks, roadways, subways, buildings, construction sites, defective products, vehicle accidents and those injured by medical malpractice. He has earned a reputation for fighting on behalf of his clients and always putting the clients' interests first. He is a highly skilled trial lawyer having tried many cases to verdict and resulting in multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements for his clients. He has also lead the fight to hold the City of New York accountable for unsafe sidewalks and roadways and its failure to comply with the prior written notice “pothole” law. Mr. Timko is past President of the New York State Trial Lawyers Association (NYSTLA) and currently serves on the Board of Governors of the American Association for Justice and is a Dean of the New York State Trial Lawyers Institute, which is the educational arm of NYSTLA. He has received the highest professional and ethical rating, AV, from Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Ratings, and has been named to New York Super Lawyers®. Mr. Timko writes and lectures on various legal topics, working to educate other trial lawyers on how to better represent their clients.

Leonard C. Spector is a practicing lawyer in the state of New York handling personal injury matters.

The Law Offices of Ernest L. Harris, LLP in Newburgh is here to help you find a solution that protects your rights and minimizes any negative consequences you may be facing. When you have been injured in an accident or want to file a workers compensation or Social Security disability claim, you need a dedicated attorney who takes the time to explain the law, answer your questions and provide you with an honest appraisal of the pros and cons of your case. Attorney Harris was also a former New York-licensed workers' compensation representative. We take care to help you understand your options so that you are empowered to make the decisions that have the best chance for long-term success.

Marcia Murphy Biondo is a practicing lawyer in the state of New York handling personal injury cases.

Mr. Minotti received his Bachelors Degree from Pace University in 1995 and his Juris Doctor Degree from Pace University School of Law in 1998. Upon graduation, Tom was a member of the firm Minotti & Iaia, LLP in White Plains, New York primarily practicing in the area of Federal Civil Litigation and Personal Injury. In 2009, Tom opened the Law Offices of Thomas J. Minotti, P.C., with offices currently in the Hudson Valley and Saratoga Regions of New York. Mr. Minotti is licensed to practice in the States of New York and Connecticut and is admitted in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, United States District Court for the Northern District of New York, United States District Court for the District of Connecticut, United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York and the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of New York. Mr. Minotti is a member of the New York State Bar Association and the Hudson Valley Bankruptcy Bar Association. Tom is an experienced attorney concentrating his practice in the areas of bankruptcy, mortgage modifications and civil litigation. His extensive knowledge of the current and ever-changing modification programs assures his clients the best chances of receiving mortgage modifications for which they are eligible. Tom has helped hundreds of families get a fresh start after suffering financial hardship by using the tools available through bankruptcy to rebuild their finances and by successfully negotiating mortgage modifications with lenders.

Herbert Mendelsohn is a personal injury lawyer proudly serving clients in New Haven, Connecticut and the neighboring communities.

Mr. Watters is the president and founder of the firm. He was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY and moved to Washington, DC to attend law school at Georgetown University. Shortly after graduating from law school in 1980, Mr. Watters opened the firm, first practicing criminal law and then transitioning to personal injury law. Mr. Watters has substantial trial experience as he has now been practicing for almost 40 years. He has served as lead counsel in over 100 jury trials. Mr. Watters was named Trial Lawyer of the Year by the DC Trial Lawyers Association and Lawyer of the Year by the Washington Bar Association. His service and contribution to the community is unmatched by many. He served as president of the Washington Bar Association, National Bar Association, and the Bar Association of the District of Columbia. He is currently the president of the Foundation of the Bar Association of the District of Columbia. During his time as president of the National Bar Association, which is the nation’s oldest and largest group of predominantly African-American lawyers and judges, he accompanied famed attorney Johnnie Cochran on an international lecture tour. Mr. Watters also previously served on a number of American Bar Association committees throughout the years, including Ethics and Professional Responsibility, Professional Discipline, and Medical Professional Liability. He is a former chairman of the Advisory Committee on the selection of magistrate judges for the DC Superior Court. In addition, he served as a trustee of Ithaca College for 10 years. Mr. Watters has always been a voice for the underdog and is a long-time advocate for the socially and economically disadvantaged. He grew up in a children’s home as a multiracial child in the 1950s and ‘60s and was able to see firsthand how race and poverty play a part in society. He opened his firm in the hopes of helping those with no money, those out of work, or those who have been injured due to the fault of another. His lifelong dedication to achieving justice has earned him countless accolades. Mr. Watters was named among the 100 most influential African American leaders by Ebony magazine. He was awarded the C. Francis Stafford Award by the National Bar Association, which is the highest honor the association can award. The National Bar Association also awarded Mr. Watters the Gertrude E. Rush Award, which honors lawyers and judges for their leadership, concern for human and civil rights, and perseverance for social activism. Mr. Watters was recently inducted into the Hall of Fame by the Washington Bar Association. He has been awarded numerous Presidential Awards and Certificates of Appreciation from the Washington Bar Association, National Bar Association, and the Bar Association of the District of Columbia. He is also a Life Sustaining Fellow of the American Bar Foundation, in which membership is limited to 1% of lawyers licensed to practice in each jurisdiction who demonstrate outstanding dedication to their community and the legal profession. In addition to being a trailblazer in the courtroom and in the community, Mr. Watters is a loving father and husband. He is married to Patricia Watters, who serves as counsel to the firm. They are proud parents of three children. Mr. Watters was chosen as a Father of the Year semifinalist by the National Center for Fathering.

Tucker C. Stanclift was born and raised in Lake Placid, N.Y. Tucker played ice hockey there and graduated from Lake Placid Central School in 1990. He received his undergraduate degree from St. Bonaventure University and earned a law degree from the State University of New York at Buffalo School of Law. Tucker is a proud father of three boys and lives in Queensbury, N.Y. He enjoys boating on Lake George with his kids in the summer. Tucker is the founding principal of Stanclift Law, PLLC, PC. He focuses his practice area in criminal law, DWI’s, civil litigation, personal injury and vehicle and traffic law. Tucker is known for his aggressive — yet compassionate — representation of his clients. He is dedicated to the legal profession and is active in the New York State Bar Association where he held a former chair of the Young Lawyers Section and is a current officer of the Criminal Justice Section. Within the community, Tucker is active in the Theater. He previously studied Shakespeare at Oxford University and enjoys live performance. He has been a member of the Glens Falls Community Theater and the Hudson River Shakespeare Company. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Charles R. Wood Theater in downtown Glens Falls.

“When a client selects our office to represent them, it is a great honor. Our clients trust us to navigate them through the rigors of a high-stakes legal system. There is nothing more professionally satisfying to me than rewarding that trust by achieving a successful result.” Tim is experienced in all areas of complex litigation and alternative dispute resolution and focuses his practice on medical malpractice, personal injury, and appellate law. A partner in Phelan, Phelan & Danek and head of the Appellate Law practice, his strength is a comprehensive knowledge of the law and understanding of the legal process. Prior to entering private practice, Tim served as an Appellate Court Attorney for the Appellate Division Third Department. This experience provided him an insider's perspective of the different courts, and how the court decision process works. He has been with Phelan, Phelan & Danek from the beginning, and values its big firm experience, small firm relationships, and the family environment. Tim is very active with his family and community. He serves as Board President with Niskayuna Youth Football & Cheerleading, works with the Niskayuna Town Parks & Recreation Committee, and coaches his daughter's travel softball team. Married for 14 years to his high school sweetheart Jessica, he has 3 children, softball player Cadence, 11, footballer Brooks, 10, and 6-year-old Lilly, who specializes in 'trouble'. Lawyer.com Member Questionnaire Please describe a case(s) in the last year or two where you made a big difference. I received a call from a 10 year old girl who broke her wrists using monkey bars at school.  After falling, her teacher declined to let her see the nurse and she completed the school day.  She was healing well, but several attorneys turned down her case believing that her damages were limited.  The School District’s insurance company claimed that they were only responsible for a couple of hours of pain and suffering and offered nuisance value.  I took the case and sued the School District for depriving the child of her civil rights under 42 U.S.C. section 1983, by depriving the child of her basic human right to medical care.  The case settled quickly after that for a substantial settlement. How did you build a successful practice? The cornerstone of my practice, as with most, is to listen specifically to my client’s needs.  I believe what sets my practice apart, is creativity in designing approaches to reach a client’s goals using all available avenues.  To achieve this goal, I have developed expertise in all means available.  From trial to alternative dispute resolution, I have the expertise to achieve the goals of my clients in the means that best suits their objectives. What should clients look for in a lawyer? First and foremost, clients should look for an experienced lawyer who listens to them and understands their core objectives.  I believe that a fundamental component to the lawyer’s job is to ensure that he or she understands exactly what the client’s objectives are.  Once the objectives are clearly identified, the attorney’s responsibility to provide the client with available options to achieve that goal and an honest evaluation of the case. What information can you provide in a free phone consultation? During our initial telephone conversation, we will discuss the aspects of your case and get an understanding of not only what happened, but what you would like to have happen moving forward.  At this point, we will determine if my firm is an appropriate match for you.  If so, we will make a plan to meet and discuss what materials, if necessary, we should review as we continue to develop a plan. What information do you need in a free phone consultation? During the initial telephone conversation, clients should be prepared to generally discuss the nature of their case and be prepared with as many details as possible.  We need to know what happened, and how it has impacted you.  In addition, we need to know the timing of the occurrences that give rise to your potential claim.  Time may be of the essence, so please call as soon as possible.  We are here and ready to help you. What differentiates you from other lawyers in your community? What differentiates me from other lawyers in this field is the perspectives on the law and the system that I have honed over the course of my career.  One of the keys to the development of my practice was my time as a clerk with the Appellate Division, Third Department.  Not only was I exposed to several types of cases while there, but I gained the valuable and rare perspective of the cases from the Court’s view.  Using these experiences, I have endeavored to create a practice model that is friendly to the Court’s needs.  I find that this approach has been helpful to achieve client goals. What is the most rewarding aspect of your job? The most rewarding part of my job is the satisfaction that I take away from making a difference in my client’s lives.  Clients come to our firm with a need, and often in distress.  We work hard to reach a conclusion of their case that meets their needs and improves their lives.  The opportunity to make a positive impact on the lives of others is what sparked my interest in the law years ago and still fuels my practice today. What are your other interests in addition to law? I am an active volunteer in the Community.  I have four children and coach youth football.