Meet Christopher

Christopher is an experienced, effective, and results-oriented defense litigator and appellate attorney.  His practice focuses primarily on the defense of New York Labor Law claims, as well as other construction-related and personal injury claims in New York and New Jersey.  His clients consist of property owners, developers, construction managers, general contractors, utility companies, trade subcontractors, and employers. Chris always looks to develop beneficial resolution strategies and risk-transfer opportunities.  He is licensed to practice law in the State and Federal Courts of New York and New Jersey, as well as the U.S. Supreme Court.

Chris has experience as a claims adjuster, having worked as a Major Case Specialist in the Northeast Construction Region for Travelers.  In that role, he managed and resolved construction-related claims and lawsuits spanning from New Jersey to Maine.

Chris’s notable appellate victories, in the area of New York Labor Law, include:

• Castro v. Wythe Gardens, LLC, et al., 2023 N.Y. Slip Op. 3329 (2d Dep’t 2023): The Second Department reversed the Order granting plaintiff summary judgment on NY Labor Law 240(1), holding that the gap at the top of the staircase was not the type of elevation-related hazard to which this statute applies.  Additionally, the Second Department reversed the Lower Court’s dismissal of our contractual indemnification claims against the employer/trade subcontractor third-party defendant, thus reinstating our claim.
• Morales v. 50 North First Partners, LLC, et al., 208 A.D. 3d 475 (2d Dep’t 2022): The Lower Court granted our Summary Judgment motion and dismissed plaintiff’s entire complaint and NY Labor Law 240(1) claim, ruling that plaintiff was the sole-proximate cause of the accident because he decided to overturn a bucket, stand on it to perform work, and fell. The Second Department upheld this ruling; the complete dismissal was affirmed.   
• Letterese v. A&F Commercial Builders, LLC, et al., 180 A.D. 3d 495 (1st Dep’t 2020):  The First Department affirmed the Lower Court’s Order dismissing plaintiff’s complaint and NY Labor Law 241(6) claim, finding that the rebar dowel affixed to the ground was an “integral part” of the work being performed