Lawrence D. Lissauer

Mr. Lissauer, who specializes in appellate advocacy, joined Finkelstein & Partners in 1996. He is considered by his peers to be one of the premiere appellate advocates in regard to construction accidents and trial appeals. Mr. Lissauer has argued appeals in all four Appellate Divisions within New York State and has handled cases of first impression before the highest Court in New York, The Court of Appeals. He successfully argued the matter of Riglioni v. Chambers Four Tractor Sales Inc., 2005 08243, 2006 01746 where summary judgment was denied to a distributor and a retailer in a strict products liability action, resulting in a settlement for the plaintiff. Also, in Alvarado v. Dillon, 67 A.D.3d 1214, the Appellate Division upheld an award to a client of the firm struck by a police vehicle. In Corwise v. Lefrak Org., 2011 01752 Mr. Lissauer successfully argued an application for leave to amend a pleading and to raise the addendum clause. In Kearns v. Adirondack Trailways, 59 A.D.3d 774. Mr. Lissauer successfully defeated summary judgment at both the trial level and at the appellate level for a client who fell while disembarking a commercial bus. In Butler v. Grimes, 2006 0551, Mr. Lissauer successfully upheld a multi-million dollar verdict on behalf of a client of the firm. In Casiero v. Stamer, 2002 06587, a jury verdict rendered on behalf of the defendant doctor in a medical malpractice case was overturned on a finding of judicial error, resulting in a new trial for the claimant. In Baez v. New York City Transit Authority, 15 A.D.3d 309, the New York City Transit Authority sought reduction of a verdict for pain and suffering and, after argument, the First Department affirmed the award of $600,000 for past pain and suffering and $380,000 for future pain and suffering. Mr. Lissauer has also argued successfully in many Labor Law cases including Cunningham v. Alexander King Plaza LLC, 22 A.D.3d 703, whereby the Appellate Division reversed summary judgment that had been granted to a general contractor. The reversal resulted in a large settlement for a client who fell off a ladder.

Mr. Lissauer has instructed many other lawyers on the subject of appellate practice through certified continuing legal education classes. Recently, he delivered a series of seminars to the Orange County Bar Association on topics including e-filing, construction site litigation, worker’s compensation and its relationship to third-party actions, assessing a trial transcript for appellate review and preserving a trial record for appellate review.

Mr. Lissauer’s motions and appellate papers have been included in form books and treatises used in the legal profession. He has also been involved in appeals and motion practice in the Federal District Courts of New York.

In addition to practicing law with the firm, Mr. Lissauer serves as an adjunct associate professor of business at SUNY Orange and has been on the college faculty since 1993. He has also served on advisory committees on paralegal development and is involved in the training of the firm’s paralegals.