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Construction Site Accidents:The Law and the Trial

- Location -
Affinia Manhattan
371 Seventh Avenue At 31st Street
New York, NY 10001-3984
(212) 563-1800

7.0 TOTAL MCLE CREDITS
3.0 AREA OF PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE AND 4.0 SKILLS

Description

Each year thousands of construction workers are injured or killed in construction site accidents. Although construction companies are required under the law to inspect each site with safety engineers and implement a wide variety of safety measures, constructionworkers face a greater risk of work-related injury or fatality than employees in any other U.S. industry. New York laws recognize the inherent risks of construction work and provide protection to construction workers involved in work site related accidents.

A construction worker involved in a work related accident in addition to a workers’ compensation claim may have a third party law suit against the general contractor and/or owner of the construction site pursuant to Sections 200, 240 and 241(6) of the New York Labor Law.

Section 200 of the New York State Labor Law codifies a common law obligation of reasonable care in the maintenance of the work site. Labor Law Section 240, also known as the “Scaffold Law” makes both the owner of the property and the contractor on site strictly liable for workers injured as a result of inadequate or missing safety equipment at elevated work sites. Section 241(6) of the New York State Labor Law imposes a duty upon the general contractor and/or owner to comply with all provisions of the New York State Industrial Code. Architects, subcontractors and manufacturers of equipment may also be held responsible for inadequate safety provisions.

The Torts, Insurance and Compensation Law Section and the Committee on Continuing Legal Education are pleased to present Construction Site Accidents: The Law and the Trial. The first half of this seminar will provide an overview of the statutes and regulations governing construction site accidents. Insurance, indemnity and ethical issues and recent developments will also be discussed.  In the second half of the seminar, presenters will address strategic, evidentiary and tactical concerns and provide live demonstrations of critical components of the trial of a labor law case.  Panelists will offer advice on jury selection, opening and closing statements, and trial strategies.

New and experienced practitioners alike will benefit from this seminar’s coverage of all the major aspect of a labor law trial and practical advice.   A bound coursebook prepared especially for this seminar will be distributed to registrants the morning of the seminar.

Agenda

8:30-9:00          Registration (outside meeting room)

9:00-9:10          Welcome and Introduction

Part I – The Law

9:10-10:00
Recalcitrant Worker and Sole Proximate Cause – The Current State of Labor Law § 240         

10:00-10:50
Labor Law § 200 and § 241(6)

-Overview of the Statutes and Codes

-Proving/Disproving a Specific Violation

10:50-11:05    Coffee Break

11:05-11:55
Construction Contracts, Third Party Practice and Grave Injury – Addressing Insurance, Indemnity and Ethical Issues            

Part II – The Trial of a Labor Law Case

11:55-12:45      Jury Selection & Opening Statements                     

12:45-1:45       Lunch (on your own)

1:45-2:35          Direct and Cross of the Liability Expert

(Site Safety Expert)

Live Demomonstration:

--Plaintiff's Direct

--Defendant’s Cross

2:35-3:25

Direct and Cross of the Medical Expert

(Injury, Vocational Issues and Life Care Plan)

Live Demonstration:

--Plaintiff’s Direct

--Defendant’s Cross                       

3:25-3:40          Coffee/Soft Drink Break

3:40-4:30

Closing Statements

Live Demonstration: Liability and Damages

--Plaintiff’s Summation

--Defendant’s Summation

4:30                   Adjournment

Faculty

Overall Planning Chair

Howard S. Hershenhorn, Esq.
Gair, Gair, Conason, Steigman & Mackauf
New York City

Local Panels

Albany:   Peter J. Moschetti, Jr., Esq. (Chair), Anderson, Moschetti & Taffany, PLLC. Latham * William J. Decaire, Esq., Carter, Conboy, Case, Blackmore, Maloney & Laird P.C., Albany * Jessica A. Desany, Esq., Carter, Conboy, Case, Blackmore, Maloney & Laird P.C., Albany * Dennis A. First, Esq., O'Connor, O'Connor, Bresee & First, P.C., Albany * Christopher P. Flint, Esq., Flint & Granich, Albany * Timothy J. Higgins, Esq., Powers & Santola, LLP, Albany * Denis R. Hurley, Jr., Esq., Conway & Kirby, LLP, Niskayuna.

Uniondale, LI:     Ben B. Rubinowitz, Esq. (Chair), Gair, Gair, Conason, Steigman & Mackauf, New York City * Robert L. Conason, Esq., Gair, Gair, Conason, Steigman & Mackauf, New York City* Larry H. Lum, Esq., Wilson Elser Moskowitz Edelman & Dicker LLP, New York City * D. Carl Lustig, III, Esq., Arye, Lustig & Sassower P.C., New York City * Henry G. Miller, Esq., Clark, Gagliardi & Miller, P.C., White Plains * Alice Spitz, Esq., Molod Spitz & DeSantis, P.C., New York City * Evan E. Torgan, Esq., Torgan & Cooper, P.C., New York City.

Syracuse:   Michael P. Kenny, Esq. (Chair), Kenny & Kenny, PLLC, Syracuse * Peter J. Cambs, Esq., Cambs Law Firm, LLP, Camillus * James J. Gascon, Esq., Costello, Cooney & Fearon, PLLC, Syracuse * Alan J. Pierce, Esq., Hancock & Estabrook, LLP, Syracuse * James A. Meggesto, Esq., Meggesto, Crossett & Valerino, LLP, Syracuse * James E. Reid, Esq., Greene & Reid, PLLC, Syracuse.

New York City:     Howard S. Hershenhorn, Esq. (Chair),Gair, Gair, Conason, Steigman & Mackauf, New York City *Patrick J. Brennan, Esq., Wilson, Elser, Moskowitz Edelman & Dicker LLP, New York City * John V. Fabiani, Jr., Esq., Fabiani Cohen & Hall, LLP, New York City * Anthony H. Gair, Esq., Gair, Gair, Conason, Steigman & Mackauf, New York City * Michael A. Rose, Esq., Hach & Rose, LLP, New York City * Marvin Salenger, Esq., Salenger, Sack, Schwartz & Kimmel, LLP, New York City *Harold Lee Schwab, Esq., Lester Schwab Katz & Dwyer, LLP, New York City *Anthony F. Tagliagambe, Esq., London Fischer LLP, New York City * Harvey Weitz, Esq., Weitz & Associates, New York City *Darrell J. Whiteley, Esq., Lester Schwab Katz & Dwyer, LLP, New York City.

Buffalo:     Peter L. Powers, Esq. (Chair), Webster Szanyi LLP, Buffalo * Patrick J. Brown, Esq., Lo Tempio & Brown, P.C., Buffalo * Thomas P. Cunningham, Esq., Rupp, Baase, Pfalzgraf, Cunningham & Coppola LLC, Buffalo * Thomas J. Drury, Esq., Damon & Morey LLP, Buffalo * Donald B. Eppers, Esq., Brown & Kelly, LLP, Buffalo * Dennis P. Glascott, Esq., Goldberg Segalla LLP, Buffalo * Joseph A. Regan, Esq., Faraci Lange, LLP, Buffalo * Hugh M. Russ, III, Esq., Hodgson Russ LLP, Buffalo * Nelson E. Schule, Jr., Esq., Kenney Shelton Liptak  Nowak LLP, Buffalo * Richard P. Weisbeck, Jr., Esq., Lipsitz Green Scime Cambria LLP, Buffalo.

The last day to pre-register online was November 14, 2007.

Members, please login to get member discounts.

Seminar
NYC-Construction Site Accidents: The Law and the Trial	$165.00

Seminar
NYC-Construction Site Accidents: The Law and the Trial	$250.00

Seminar
NYC-Construction Site Accidents: The Law and the Trial	$60.00

Accommodations for Persons with Disabilities:
NYSBA welcomes participation by individuals with disabilities. NYSBA is committed to complying with all applicable laws that prohibit discrimination against individuals on the basis of disability in the full and equal enjoyment of its goods, services, programs, activities, facilities, privileges, advantages, or accommodations. To request auxiliary aids or services or if you have any questions regarding accessibility, please contact Cindy O'Brien at 800-582-2452 or cobrien@nysba.org.