Hancock Products Liability Lawyers

Practical, pragmatic advice and representation offered to clients to resolve real world complex problems.
Thoughtful dispute resolution and mediation services offered to litigants and their counsel.
Cost-effective strategies.
Depth of experience.
Individual focus.

The art of representing people.

Michael T. Benz is an associate attorney in the firm’s litigation department; handling personal injury, medical malpractice, and criminal defense cases. His motto and practice is to prepare every case as though it will be a jury trial; and he is confident that his trial preparation is the key to getting the best result for his clients.

Mr. Benz brings vast trial experience with him to HoganWillig, having tried hundreds of cases as an Assistant Defender at the nationally recognized Defender Association of Philadelphia, before starting his own private criminal defense practice in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. As a native “Buffalonian” he...

Steven J. Seiden is a founding member of Seiden & Kaufman and has practiced exclusively personal injury law for more than thirty years. He has recovered millions of dollars for injured victims of accidents and surviving family members in wrongful death actions. Attorney Seiden has successfully handled thousands of cases in the New York State Courts, Federal Courts, and Court of Claims arising from all types of motor vehicle accidents, premises accidents, and construction accidents. Mr. Seiden is also an accomplished appellate attorney, having won numerous cases in the Appellate Division and New York State's highest court, the...

Brett Tokarczyk currently practices in multiple areas at HoganWillig, including personal injury, medical malpractice and litigation. Mr. Tokarczyk assists a wide range of clients across these matters and works extensively on appellate proceedings, one of his particular specialties. Mr Tokarczyk's, admitted to practice in the State of Georgia in 2011 and State of New York in 2013, received his Juris Doctor from the University of Georgia Law School. He was an associate at Brick, Brick and Elmer, P.C. where he dealt primarily with family law and estate planning matters; upon joining HoganWillig, he brought his experience in family law to clients...

Harry Rothenberg, Esq., joined The Rothenberg Law Firm LLP in 1996. Harry litigates significant personal injury, wrongful death and traumatic brain injury cases. During his tenure with The Rothenberg Law Firm LLP, Harry has obtained numerous seven and eight multi-million dollar verdicts, settlements and awards for the firm’s catastrophically injured clients.

An AV-rated attorney by Martindale Hubbell, Harry has also been selected to New York Super Lawyers every year since 2008. Harry frequently lectures fellow attorneys on topics regarding tort law, wrongful death, traumatic brain injury, excess coverage and product liability claims. In addition to his successful legal career, Harry...

Mr Ruffo one of the Nation's Top 100 Trial Lawyers as ranked by the National Trial Lawyers as well as a Top 100 New York Super Lawyer. He is rated Pre-Eminent By Martindale Hubble and maintains a perfect 10/10 AVVO rating. He has 23 years experience obtaining multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements for victims of negligence, specializing in Motor Vehicle, Slip, Trip & Fall , Workplace,Medical Malpractice and Nursing Home Negligence Litigation. Mr Ruffo helps victims in the NY and NJ metropolitan area. He is admitted to practice in the State and Federal Courts of NY &...

Vel Belushin has in-depth knowledge of the law in New York State on personal injury cases and combined with his zeal and commitment to his clients, this thorough knowledge of the law has resulted in significant rewards for Belushinâs clients over the years. Belushin is an outstanding NYC Personal Injury lawyer who is renowned for his tenacity and target driven approach in representing his clients. He has aggressively fought and won some of the biggest personal injury verdicts in New York for his clients; dealing with medical boards, insurance companies, construction companies, and employers. If you have a personal injury...

Ms. Cronauer is an attorney working with the firm’s Litigation department. She has experience in the full range of client representation including Supreme Court and Appellate oral arguments, complex motion and appellate brief production and representation of clients in mediations, arbitrations and trials.

Ms. Cronauer attended Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, Pennsylvania where she graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor of science in political science and a minor in economics. At Saint Vincent College, she played varsity tennis and was a George Washington Fellow. Following her undergraduate education, she attended Ohio Northern University College of Law from which she graduated...

For over thirty-five years, initially as a physician and surgeon and subsequently as an attorney representing injury victims, I have worked to help individuals overcome the physical, emotional, and financial devastation inflicted by serious injury. It is a privilege for me to represent seriously injured individuals and their families against insurance companies, corporations, companies, doctors, hospitals, and individuals who were negligent. No matter how extensive or advanced the medical treatment, an individual and his or her family is never the same after trauma alters their lives. Additionally, I am called upon to assist physicians as personal counsel in lawsuits against them,...

Scott Michael Duquin focuses his practice on Personal Injury, Medical Malpractice and Civil Litigation. Prior to joining us, Scott spent the first 11 years of his career doing insurance defense. He holds an AVVO Super rating, Martindale Distinguished, and has been named a Super Lawyer in Personal Injury every year since 2013.

Scott has extensive trial and appellate experience representing individuals to multi-national corporations in automobile liability, medical malpractice, products liability, toxic tort and catastrophic personal injury matters. Scott has successfully represented several small business owners in various litigated commercial matters.

In 2016, in a highly publicized case Scott was able to...

Mr. Kool is known for specializing in particularly difficult cases. Hallmarks of his approach are meticulous attention to detail, creative thinking, and a sincerity that is evident to opposing counsel, judges and juries alike. He combines outstanding courtroom and negotiation skills with an unusual degree of empathy with his clients. Mr. Kool believes that this sense of compassion makes him all the more effective as an advocate. “Because I care about my clients, it compels me to be that much more persuasive,” Mr. Kool says. He also makes a point of spending as much time as needed with each client...

John P. Comerford is a Senior Partner at Lipsitz, Ponterio & Comerford, LLC. He grew up in Lewiston, New York, a small historic town near the Canadian border. He grew up in the shadows of Love Canal and personally observed the consequences of environmental pollution. He attended Cornell University and studied Environmental Science. Mr. Comerford devotes the majority of his time to asbestos personal injury matters. He has litigated cases throughout Upstate New York in cities which include Buffalo, Niagara Falls, Rochester, Syracuse, Albany and Binghamton. Over the course of his career, he has helped hundreds...

Jonathan Cooper represents businesses and individuals in business and commercial litigation cases including breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, as well as New York child accidents, construction site accidents, and personal injury cases. Mr. Cooper is the author of six books, including "To Compete or Not to Compete: The Definitive Insider's Guide to Non-Compete Agreements in New York," and "When the Schools Fail to Protect Our Kids: A Parent's Guide to School & Daycare Negligence in New York." He has also delivered a number of Continuing Legal Education seminars, including before Lawline, the National Law Institute and NACLE, and has...

Were you injured in an accident? Did your loved one die due to the negligent or wrongful actions of another person or party? Turn to the personal injury team at Richmond Vona, LLC for reliable legal representation and compassionate, one-on-one counsel. Based in Buffalo, the firm serves clients throughout Western New York. Over the course of more than two decades of combined experience, the firm’s partners have secured more than $150 million for their clients, including over $17 million in jury verdicts. They have the skills, tenacity, and resources to advocate for you.

Because Richmond Vona, LLC takes on fewer...

Anne E. Joynt is a Junior Partner at Lipsitz, Ponterio & Comerford, LLC, and she has spent her entire legal career at the firm, having joined straight out of law school in 2005. She focuses her practice on representing those affected by childhood lead poisoning, and also has experience in other cases including those involving asbestos exposure, motor vehicle accidents, construction accidents, medical malpractice, and defective products. She also represents clients who sustained abuse as children. She has participated in all aspects of a personal injury case, including trial. In October of 2014, she, along with Joseph Kremer and Zachary...

Mr. Johnsen is an attorney at Tiveron Law primarily focusing in the firm’s Litigation Department. While attending SUNY Buffalo Law School, Mr. Johnsen was part of the University’s Consumer Financial Advocacy Clinic and was the recipient of the CALI Excellence for the Future Awards for his work with the program. While in law school, he was a clerk at New Era Cap Co., Inc. Following law school, Mr. Johnsen has gained exposure to several areas of his litigation practice, including special education claims against school districts, employment discrimination claims, general business disputes and work in Erie County Surrogate's Court on...

Matthew Maiorana brings an expertise and insight into New York personal injury litigation that is distinctive among personal injury attorneys in our State. Matt began his legal career defending cases brought by injured persons against the City of New York. His litigation skills and talents were recognized immediately and he was entrusted with defending the City of New York in the most serious and complex matters in the Special Litigation Unit. His efforts earned him a Municipal Affairs Award from the Association of the Bar of the City of New York, as well as numerous awards directly from the City...

Michael A. Ponterio is a founding partner of Lipsitz, Ponterio & Comerford, LLC. Since 1985, Mr. Ponterio has represented families who have suffered injuries as a result of exposure to asbestos. He also practices in the areas of catastrophic personal injury, medical malpractice, defective products and motor vehicle accidents. Mr. Ponterio has dedicated his practice to securing justice for clients who have suffered catastrophic and life-changing injuries. Since 1985, Lipsitz, Ponterio & Comerford has obtained over one billion in settlements or verdicts on behalf of the firm’s clients. Mr. Ponterio has been representing people suffering from mesothelioma caused by asbestos for...

Scott J. Rothenberg, Esq., joined The Rothenberg Law Firm LLP in 2005. Scott litigates significant personal injury & wrongful death cases on behalf of injured plaintiffs including, but not limited to, Bus, Car, Motorcycle & Truck Accidents, Scarring cases, Premises Liability and Traumatic Brain Injury cases.

A skilled trial lawyer, Craig Small has been practicing law since 1995, and in the State of New York and Buffalo, New York since 1998. Craig Small's law firm, Small Law Firm, focuses its attention on representing injured people. Small Law Firm helps with injuries caused by car accidents, nursing home abuse, nursing home pressure or bed sores, fall-downs, biking, boating, and traumatic injuries including brain injuries, paralysis, fractures, and herniated discs. Craig Small has settled significant cases and has won verdicts throughout Western and Central New York. Small Law Firm is a small law firm...

Martin Edelman began practicing law nearly 40 years ago when he joined his father, Jerome Edelman, to form Edelman & Edelman, P.C. Martin is widely recognized as one of the most tenacious and dedicated litigators in New York. He is known for taking the "impossible" cases and recovering substantial damages when other firms have insisted there was no claim.

Mr. Humble is an attorney at law with the firm of Scott F. Humble, J.D., Esq., and Humble Law Offices. His office is 1 mile outside of Jamestown, N.Y. and is 1 mile from Chautauqua Mall in Lakewood, N.Y. He has spent his life in the Southern Tier and represents people in all courts in both New York and Pennsylvania. He has experience prosecuting personal injury, other civil litigation, getting people debt free, and defending criminal and DWI matters. Mr. Humble is, and always will be, committed to zealously representing his clients with great pride. ...

Jim earned his J.D. from Northwestern University School of Law in 2004, where he was a Julius H. Miner Moot Court competitor. In 2000, he received an M.A. in Philosophy from the University of Pennsylvania. He graduated with a B.A. in Philosophy and English from Brooklyn College in 1997, where he was a Ford Foundation Fellow and Merit Scholar in Philosophy.

To Jonathan S. Damashek, the best part of his job is being able to stand up for people who deserve their day in court. “I like fighting for the little guy against the large corporate defendants and insurance carriers to help them recover what they lost in their lives,” he says.

In this regard, Damashek seeks to recover monetary compensation for his clients that covers their past and future pain and suffering, medical expenses, lost earnings and benefits, and loss of their enjoyment of life. After graduating from New York Law School in 1997, Damashek started his career...

Erin M. Hargis holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Vassar College and earned her law degree from Brooklyn Law School. While in law school, she actively participated in the Moot Court Honor Society, Trial Advocacy Division, and served as the Vice President of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America chapter at the school. Post-graduation, Ms. Hargis began her legal career as an Assistant District Attorney at the Kings County District Attorney’s office. In this role, she handled a diverse caseload encompassing both felony and misdemeanor cases, demonstrating her prowess by successfully trying numerous cases on behalf of Brooklyn residents....

Hunter J. Shkolnik concentrates his area of practice to the trial of significant personal injury cases primarily in the area of drug, automobile, heavy truck and aviation related product liability actions.
He leads the discovery and trial teams of various mass tort pharmaceutical and medical device litigations for the firm. He is also active in managing national litigation and plaintiff litigation groups including the American Association of Justice’s Actos Litigation Group.
He is currently serving as a chairman, leader or court appointed representative on Plaintiff Steering Committees in various drug and other mass torts. Additionally Mr. Shkolnik has also held officer positions...

I was born and raised on the east side of Buffalo, NY. After graduating high school, I served in the United States Marine Corps, and then became a City of Buffalo Police Officer. I completed my B.S. and J.D. while working full-time as a police officer. I left the department in 2005 to start practicing law. After a long stent with a local law firm, I partnered up with another attorney from the same firm to form Richmond Vona, LLC. Our firm extensive experience handling asbestos cases (Mesothelioma and Lung Cancer), as well as other...

30 Years of Experience and Proven Results

Sandra K. Cassidy practices in HoganWillig’s Personal Injury, Medical Malpractice, and Criminal Defense departments, she brings with her extensive experience as a former criminal prosecutor for the Erie County and Genesee County District Attorney’s office. Ms. Cassidy also served as legal counsel for the famous environmental advocate Erin Brockovich, investigating complaints of chronic cancers in two separate towns in New York, one of which involved the cross-border dumping of illegal toxins. Prior to joining HoganWillig, Ms. Cassidy also practiced law in the Western New York area for several years under her established law practice. Ms. Cassidy has a passion for guiding young...

Joshua Pollack was selected among top attorneys in the New York Metro Area as a Super Lawyer. He was selected through a rigorous evaluation process that identifies qualified candidates by using a multi-step evaluation process that incorporates peer recognition and professional achievement.

Joshua Pollack graduated from Brooklyn Law School in 1990 and, shortly thereafter, became a trial attorney representing the City of New York. During his tenure with the City, Josh selected over 100 juries and took over 60 verdicts on cases involving all types of claims including, trip and fall accidents, auto accidents, school supervision, police misconduct, unsafe place to...

Peter W. Yoars, Jr. is a solution-driven attorney with experience in all aspects and phases of complex civil and commercial litigation, settlements, arbitrations and mediations. Peter has vast experience with jury and non-jury trials in State and Federal courts as well as arbitrations, mediations and other forms of ADR. As trial and lead counsel, he handles engineering and construction disputes, corporate litigation, environmental law, professional liability claims, toxic torts, product liability, among other cases. Peter has made hundreds of court appearances, drafted countless pleadings, motions and other court documents, managed intricate and voluminous discovery processes, taken and defended...

Michael S. Levine has been practicing law for almost 3 decades, following his 1985 admission to a number of state and federal bars, including the bars of New York and New Jersey; the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey; and the U.S. District Court for the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York. He graduated from Hobart College in 1979, where he was a Dean's List student and captain of the tennis team. Michael earned his J.D. from the Walter F. George School of Law at Mercer University in 1983. He belongs to both the New York...

Marijo has devoted her entire legal career to litigating on behalf of those who have suffered immeasurable loss from a catastrophic injury or death of a loved one. Her empathetic approach to her clients, remarkable trial skills, and relentless pursuit of justice have made her one of the top women trial attorneys in the area of personal injury, wrongful death, and medical malpractice.

Recently named one of the “Top Women’s Litigators” in New York by Super Lawyers in 2017, Ms. Adimey has quickly become a formidable force of the Gair, Gair, Conason, Rubinowitz, Bloom, Hershenhorn, Steigman & Mackauf Team. Since...

William J. Hallett, Esq. is a litigator focusing his practice on matters involving civil litigation, including motor vehicle accident cases, dog bite cases, premises liability cases, labor law, and insurance matters. Mr. Hallett also has resolved numerous cases through alternative dispute resolution, including negotiation, mediation and arbitration. In addition to advocating for his clients, Mr. Hallett has presented a course on childhood sexual abuse to other attorneys through the Erie County Bar Association. He is a frequent guest lecturer at the University of Buffalo School of Law and Monroe Community College on litigation topics. Mr. Hallett also has peer-edited a textbook...

Dallin M. Fuchs focuses his practice exclusively on significant personal injury cases involving automobile accidents, construction accidents, premises liability and general negligence. He brings 25 years of experience in the preparation and trial of cases in both New York and New Jersey. He has secured over a hundred million dollars in jury verdicts and settlements on behalf of his clients.

Dallin’s accomplishments reflect his deliberate approach to his cases. He is of the firm belief that meticulous preparation is the key to successfully litigating a case. No detail is too small and nothing will be overlooked. Among Dallin’s greatest strengths in...