Stephen Bilkis

Stephen Bilkis graduated from Touro Law School in 1997. Soon after he passed the bar exam of New York and established the Law Offices of Stephen Bilkis & Associates. In over 20 years of practice, Mr. Bilkis has successfully represented scores of clients throughout Nassau County, Suffolk County, Westchester County, Queens, Brooklyn, Bronx, Manhattan, Long Island, and Staten Island in matters related to personal injury, probate law, criminal law, and family law.

Mr. Bilkis strongly believes that each client is unique and each case is different. His solutions are never “one size fits all.” He prides himself on listening to his clients, reviewing all facets of each case, and using his deep knowledge of New York law to come up with individualized solutions for each client.

Stephen Bilkis has been a member of various national and local bar organizations and associations including the New York State Bar Association, American Prepaid Legal Institute, the American Association for Justice, AARP Legal Services Network, and the New York State Trial Lawyers Association.

Stephen Bilkis and the staff at the Law Offices of Stephen Bilkis & Associates have well-earned reputations as knowledgeable and effective attorneys who fight for their clients’ legal rights. Because of this, the firm, its attorneys, and some of their notable cases or clients, in whole or in part, have been mentioned on several media outlets including CNN, CBS, CNBC, and ABC New York, as well as in the New York Times, New York Post and Newsday.

• Car Accidents

• Free Consultation

New York

Since 1997

Head of Law Office

Stephen Bilkis & Associates

Current

Touro Law School

10.0 Rating

Justia

AFL-CIO Union Privilege Legal Plan

Plan Administrator

Current

American Prepaid Legal Institute

Member

Current

New York State Trial Lawyers

Member

Current

New York State Bar  # 2842938

Member

1997 - Current

Union Plus Benefits for AFL-CIO Union Members Newsletter

Union Plus

Union Plus, AFL-CIO Legal Benefits Conference, Washington, DC

AFL-CIO

Gave yearly talks about employment benefit packages to the AFL-CIO Union leaders and members

Accepted Member

Writers Guild of America East

Q. unauthorized lab performed under my personal and medical information by former primary care provider in Brooklyn, NY.

April 5, 2025

A: I'm sorry you're experiencing this. What you've described raises significant concerns involving unauthorized use of personal and medical information, which may violate both federal and New York State law.

Under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), a healthcare provider is prohibited from using or disclosing your protected health information without your authorization, except in limited situations. If your former primary care provider in Brooklyn ordered a lab test in your name in March 2025—years after your last contact and without your knowledge or consent—that may be a violation of HIPAA. This is particularly concerning if you were no longer insured at the time and had not authorized any treatment or testing.

In addition, submitting a lab order under a patient’s name using inactive insurance may potentially constitute insurance fraud. You should consider contacting your former insurance carrier, Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield, to notify them of the issue and ensure they are aware that you did not authorize or receive any such services.

You have several options for reporting this. You may file a HIPAA complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights (OCR). This can be done online or by mail and should include as much detail as possible about the unauthorized test and your lack of contact with the provider since 2022. You can also report the matter to the New York State Department of Health and/or the Office of Professional Discipline if the provider is licensed in New York. These agencies have the authority to investigate complaints involving misconduct by licensed professionals.

You may also want to request a copy of your full medical records from the provider to determine if there have been other unauthorized entries or orders. In parallel, it could be helpful to obtain a record of the lab order from Quest Diagnostics and to request any communications or billing associated with it. If there is any indication that your identity was misused beyond this single incident, you may want to file a report with the Federal Trade Commission and consider placing a fraud alert on your credit.

This response is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For personalized guidance, please consult a qualified attorney licensed in New York. ... Read More

Q. Can I retrieve belongings with police standby despite a no contact order?

April 5, 2025

A: I'm sorry to hear about your situation. In New York, if there is a valid no contact order (commonly referred to as an order of protection) issued by a court, you are prohibited from having any direct or indirect contact with the protected party, including going to their residence, even if it is for the purpose of retrieving personal belongings. Violating the order can result in arrest and potential criminal charges, regardless of your intentions or the urgency of your needs.

However, in situations like yours, law enforcement agencies may offer what’s known as a “civil standby” or “police escort” to allow an individual to collect essential personal property while minimizing the risk of confrontation or violation of a court order. Whether and how this is carried out depends on local police policies and available resources.

You should not attempt to go to the property unannounced or without law enforcement present, even if the items are packed outside the home. If the order of protection prohibits you from being near the property, showing up without proper coordination through the police could still be considered a violation.

To proceed lawfully, you should contact the police precinct with jurisdiction over your wife's residence and ask to schedule a police standby. Let them know about the order of protection and that you are seeking their help to retrieve personal belongings in a way that does not violate the order. Police are often willing to facilitate such a request, but they generally require the cooperation of the protected party. If your wife continues to deny access, even when law enforcement is involved, the officers may not be able to compel her to hand over the items without a court directive.

If she continues to refuse to release your property, you can petition the court that issued the order of protection. You may request a modification or clarification of the order to allow for one-time, police-supervised access to retrieve your belongings. In some cases, the court may issue a specific order permitting this, especially if the items are basic necessities.

Until then, do not attempt to retrieve your items on your own. Follow the legal process carefully to avoid complicating your situation or facing additional legal consequences. A lawyer can help you file the appropriate motion if court involvement becomes necessary.

This response is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For personalized guidance, please consult a qualified criminal defense attorney licensed in New York. ... Read More

Q. Can I be charged as a bystander for encouraging a fight in NY?

April 4, 2025

A: In New York, it is possible for a bystander to face criminal charges if their conduct goes beyond passive observation and includes words or actions that encourage or provoke a fight. Even if you did not physically participate in the altercation, your statement urging one party to “do it now or not at all” may be interpreted as encouraging or instigating violence, which can create legal exposure under certain criminal statutes.

Under New York Penal Law § 20.00, a person can be held criminally liable for the conduct of another if they intentionally aid, abet, or encourage that person to engage in criminal conduct. In this case, if the primary participants in the fight are charged with an offense such as assault or disorderly conduct, and your words were found to have encouraged the behavior, you could potentially be charged as an accomplice. The prosecution would need to show that you acted with the intent to promote or facilitate the offense.

Depending on the facts, you could face charges such as disorderly conduct under Penal Law § 240.20, which applies to conduct that causes public inconvenience or alarm, including inciting or encouraging a fight. If the fight occurred in a school or institution with specific rules against fighting, you could also be subject to disciplinary consequences in addition to any criminal liability.

It’s important to understand that the legal system distinguishes between mere presence at the scene and active encouragement. Simply witnessing a fight typically does not give rise to criminal charges. However, once a person makes statements that could reasonably be seen as provoking violence or escalating a situation, their role may no longer be considered passive.

Whether or not you are ultimately charged depends on the discretion of law enforcement and the prosecutor, as well as the evidence available, such as witness accounts or surveillance footage. If charges are filed or if you are contacted by the police regarding the incident, you should avoid making any statements until you speak with a criminal defense attorney. Legal counsel can help assess your level of involvement and advise you on the best steps to protect your rights.

This response is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For personalized guidance, please consult a qualified criminal defense attorney licensed in New York. ... Read More

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