Case Results

$16,000,000 verdict against the New York City Department of Education for a young girl who was sexually abused by her teacher over a two-year period.

The jury also found that the Department of Education was reckless in their supervision of the teacher.

$12,157,000 to clients who were victims of a train derailment.

This was a high-profile case, appearing all over the media. Attorney Michael S. Lamonsoff obtained some of the highest awards for the incident. Pursuant to the settlement agreement, specifics of the case must remain confidential.

$11,750,000 total compensation awarded to Fernando Bermudez, who spent 18 years in prison as a result of being wrongfully convicted for a murder he did not commit.

The $4,750,000 award paid by the State of New York is the highest in State history. The $7,000,000 award paid by the City of New York for Mr. Bermudez’s civil rights violations is one of the largest paid to date.

$9,000,000 verdict against the City of New York for a pastor of a church, who was falsely arrested after being racially profiled.

Bronx jury awarded a 48 year old Hispanic Minister a record breaking $9,000,000.00 who was injured by police who they racially profiled. While driving to the church where he was an Assistant Pastor, he was stopped by NYPD officers, who were following him in his SUV. The officers “yanked” him out of his SUV and beat him up. He sustained injuries to his teeth and head along with psychological trauma. During the trial, the City of New York admitted to the jury that the officers misidentified the pastor for a fleeing felon. The officers testified that the only description they had of the fleeing perpetrator was a “Hispanic male in a white SUV”. The City argued that the description amounted to probable cause to arrest the pastor, who was also Hispanic and driving a white SUV. Months before trial, the City offered to settle the case for $150,000. The day before trial, the City lowered that offer to $50,000. Upon our advice and counsel, our client allowed us to reject the offer and submit the case to a jury. After five hours of deliberation over the course of two days, the jury rendered a verdict of $9,000,000.00. The jury’s award represents one of the highest ever for this type of case.

$6,500,000 settlement awarded to a union construction worker who fell from an unsecured ladder.

The victim of this construction accident suffered a leg fracture and spinal injuries.

$5,500,000 verdict awarded to a construction worker who was injured when a wood bracing collapsed while he was exiting a ditch.

The worker sustained spinal injuries.

$5,000,000 settlement awarded to a woman tripped and fell and broke her foot which later required a partial amputation.

Our client was awaiting an uptown 4 train at Yankee Stadium when she tripped and fell over a loose plate on the station platform. As a result, she suffered a broken ankle, developed a bone infection and ultimately underwent multiple surgeries including a partial amputation.

$4,750,000 awarded to a construction worker who was injured when a concrete slab fell and struck him, causing multiple injuries.

$4,100,000 settlement in a case involving a construction worker who was injured when he tripped over a loose beam.

$4,000,000 for family members of victims of the fatal American Flight 587 airline disaster.

$3,750,000 awarded to a construction worker who was injured when the ceiling at a construction site he was working at collapsed, sending debris down onto him.

Plaintiff, a construction worker, was performing demolition work at a building in New York City. Suddenly, the ceiling collapsed, sending debris onto him, causing injuries to his neck. Client had conservative treatment and later had surgical a intervention. The Law Offices of Michael Lamonsoff vigorously litigated this construction accident case alleging responsibility under all sections of the Labor Law against the Defendants. Despite the Court’s being closed during the global pandemic, our office was able to aggressively move the case onto the Court’s trial calendar. The defendants were unable to defend against our “no hold barred” litigation strategy and were forced to settle the case prior to trial for $3,750,000.

$3,710,000 awarded to the victims of the 2012 Empire State Building shootings, innocent bystanders struck by stray bullets from NYC Police Officers.

As recalled by most New Yorkers, headlines on August 24, 2012 covered innocent bystanders struck by stray bullets fired by NYC Police Officers in front of the Empire State Building. The officers shot 16 rounds of gunfire in pursuit of a man involved in a shooting. The stray bullets, struck at least four innocent bystanders causing gunshot wounds. The Law Offices of Michael Lamonsoff was hired to seek justice and compensation for four of the victims and their families. At the outset, the City of New York was unwilling to offer any compensation. However, through tenacious litigation strategy and just weeks before the police officers were scheduled to give sworn testimony, the City relented. The Law Offices of Michael Lamonsoff was able to secure a total of $3,710,000 for four of the victims and their families.

$3,500,000 awarded to an injured construction worker after he tripped and fell over a plumbing pipe that was covered and obscured by snow at a construction site.

$3,200,000 recovered in a case involving a construction worker who was injured when he was struck by falling construction material.

$3,100,000 awarded to a union construction worker injured in a fall.

Our client, a 27-year-old Local 731 laborer, was pouring cement for the conversion of a hospital into luxury residential apartments in Manhattan when he stepped into an exposed opening, causing his entire body to impact the ground. He suffered shoulder, neck, and back injuries requiring conservative treatment, numerous injections, and, ultimately, surgeries to his shoulder and cervical spine. During the course of litigation, the defendants requested mediation. We appeared and presented our case in front of a neutral mediator, and the defendants presented us with an offer of $750,000. We advised our client to reject the offer. He agreed, and we walked out of the mediation and continued to aggressively litigate the case. On the eve of trial, a second mediation was held at defendants’ request. Jury selection was to commence on November 14, 2019 in Queens Supreme Court. On November 4, 2019, just ten days before jury selection, we obtained a $3,100,000 settlement at the mediation.

$2,800,000 settlement for an iron worker who suffered a slip and fall on a construction site that caused significant lower back injuries.

$2,750,000 awarded to our client who stopped his work SUV and was struck by another vehicle that backed into him.

Our client was parked in his work vehicle to review some documents. He was suddenly struck by another vehicle that was backing up and apparently didn’t see our client. The impact caused him to sustain injuries to his knee, neck and back. As a result, he underwent a surgery to his neck, back and knee. Our office, through aggressive litigation practices was able to secure a favorable decision as to liability and ultimately resolve the case prior to trial for $2,750,000.

$2,500,000 awarded to our client who was t–boned and injured in an automobile accident.

The police report detailed that our client stated she went through a green light at an intersection and “collided” with the defendant's vehicle. Similarly, the defendant stated that he was waiting for a green light when the plaintiff’s “vehicle collided into” his vehicle. The Amended Police Report stated changed the above to the defendant was driving thru intersection with the green light when plaintiff’s vehicle collided into him. As a result of the accident, our client sustained injuries to her beck, neck and shoulder, all requiring surgery.

$2,500,000 awarded in a case involving a union laborer who was injured when struck by improperly secured lumber.

$2,400,000 settlement obtained for a motorist rear ended with his hazard lights on.

Our client’s car was stalled at a red light with hazard lights on. As he was able to restart his vehicle and begin to move forward as the light turned green light, he was struck behind by the defendant. The defendant related that she was traveling southbound on Central Park Ave with a green traffic light. She further related that she did not know our client was stopped in the roadway and struck our client’s vehicle from behind. As a result, our client sustained injuries to his right knee, back and neck, necessitating surgeries. The defendants refused to settle claiming that their injuries were unrelated to the accident. Just prior to trial, the defendants offered $2,400,000.00. Upon counsel of our office, our client accepted the offer and the case settled.

$2,400,000 awarded to a construction carpenter who sustained serious injuries when struck by plywood falling from the floor above.

$2,350,000 awarded to a construction laborer who sustained serious injuries when he fell into an unprotected hole at a jobsite.

$2,200,000 awarded to a construction worker who was catastrophically injured when a trailer rolled back and crushed him against a jersey barrier.

$2,130,000 settlement for twenty-eight year old rear-ended by dump truck.

Our client was stopped in traffic on the Bronx Queens Expressway when his vehicle was rear-ended by a dump truck. Because there was only minimal property damage to his vehicle, our client drove himself to the hospital where he complained of his arm, neck, and back. MRI testing revealed herniated discs in his spine and a torn ligament in his shoulder, all of which required surgical intervention. Over three years, our client underwent three surgeries to his lower back, neck surgery, a shoulder surgery, and a hernia surgery which his doctors were able to causally relate to this accident. Our firm aggressively mediated this case, resulting in a $2,130,000 settlement for the Plaintiff.

$2,100,000 settlement for a construction worker injured by heavy equipment.

$2,000,000 awarded to a union carpenter injured on a construction site.

On October 5, 2018, Plaintiff was working as a carpenter at a construction site in New York City when unsecured pieces of sheetrock fell onto him, causing injuries to his arm and neck requiring surgical intervention. The Law Offices of Michael Lamonsoff vigorously litigated this case against the Defendants. Through our tenacious efforts we were able to settle the case for $2,000,000 after Plaintiff’s deposition.

$2,000,000 settlement obtained for a client sideswiped by Truck.

Our client was driving her vehicle on Woodhaven Blvd in Queens, NY. Suddenly, a truck that was traveling next to her, merged into her lane of traffic and sideswiped the vehicle causing a collision. As a result, she sustained injuries to her back, neck, shoulder, and knee. Her passenger, her then boyfriend and now husband, sued her claiming she was responsible for the accident. Our firm brought a lawsuit against the truck driver and his company claiming they solely had responsibility for the accident and our clients’ resulted injuries. Defendants’ attorneys claimed that our client caused the accident. Three weeks before the trial was to commence, the defendants’ made a motion to the Court in an attempt to adjourn the trial. They also requested that our firm consent to a delay of the trial, we refused and fought the motion. As a result, they requested a mediation proceed in lieu of a trial. We again refused. Thereafter, they requested that the mediation proceed six days before the trial. At that mediation, an offer was made to our client. Upon our advice and counsel, we were able to refuse the offer. On the night before the trial, defendants offered $2 million dollars to settle the case. Upon our advice, she accepted.

$2,000,000 award obtained for a construction worker who was hit on his head by a falling object.

$2,000,000 awarded to a construction worker laborer who was struck by an unsecure beam.

$2,000,000 recovered for a sanitation worker who was hurt when a garbage truck crashed into his vehicle, causing serious injuries.

$2,000,000 obtained for a woman who was injured when her vehicle was rear-ended by a box truck.

$2,000,000 awarded to a construction worker who was injured when a trench collapsed.

$2,000,000 recovered for a 14-year-old boy who was struck by a van while riding a bicycle.

$1,950,000 awarded to a laborer who was severely injured when a platform he was working on collapsed.

$1,800,000 awarded to the passenger of a cab.

$1,785,000 settlement for a woman who was severely injured because of a mis-leveled elevator.

$1,750,000 awarded to a construction worker who was injured when a beam impacted his left ankle.

Plaintiff, a construction worker, was performing demolition work at a building when a beam impacted his left leg causing injuries to his left ankle. Our client required surgery to his left ankle which prevented him from working and engaging in his usual activities. The Law Offices of Michael Lamonsoff vigorously litigated this construction accident case alleging responsibility under all sections of the Labor Law. We successfully obtained Summary Judgment against all defendants – meaning the Defendants were 100% responsible for the accident. The defendants offered $450,000.00 to settle this case. With the consent of our client, we rejected the offer and proceeded to trial on 11/14/2022 before a New York City jury. After five days of trial and Plaintiff resting his case, Defendants were forced to settle the case for $1,750,000.

$1,700,000 awarded to a worker who was performing exterminating services at a building when he stepped and fell into a sewage drain hole.

The hole was improperly covered with a flattened cardboard box creating a trap-like condition. Our client sustained injuries to his shoulder and hip requiring surgeries which prevented him from working and engaging in his usual activities. The Law Offices of Michael Lamonsoff vigorously litigated this accident case alleging responsibility against all defendants – the owner, the lessee of the building and the vendor servicing the sewage drain. Once the case was on the New York County trial calendar, the Defendants pursued settlement negotiations with our firm and settled the case for $1,700,000 to fairly compensate our client for his injuries.

$1,675,000 awarded to the driver of a car that was struck by another car.

$1,600,000 awarded to a woman who was a passenger in a vehicle rear-ended by an 18-wheeler.

Her injuries included damage to the back, neck, and shoulders.

$1,500,000 settlement awarded to a union construction worker who was injured when he was struck by concrete/slurry that fell out of the hose and the boom due to a failure of a coupling device.

At the time of the accident, our client, a 44-year-old Local 20 concrete laborer, was laying rebar for the foundation of the building under construction. There was a cement truck onsite with a boom and hose extending from the truck to the work area which was 20 to 50 feet below. A makeshift coupling device of the boom and hose failed. As a result, it burst sending cement/slurry gushing down into the area where our client was working. As a result of the incident, he was knocked to the ground and suffered numerous injuries requiring conservative treatment and ultimately surgery to his cervical spine. Notwithstanding the global pandemic and a crippling of the New York Court system, the Law Offices of Michael Lamonsoff, PLLC, was able to secure this extraordinarily high settlement for our client.

$1,500,000 settlement awarded to our client, who was injured when she fell down an open cellar hatch door leading to a storage area.

The hatch door was located at the end of an aisle in the floor of a store in the Bronx. As a result of the fall, she sustained serious injuries to her right knee, neck and back requiring conservative treatment and ultimately surgeries to her neck and knee. Notwithstanding the global pandemic and a crippling of the New York Court system, the Law Offices of Michael Lamonsoff, PLLC, was able to secure this extraordinarily high settlement for our client.

$1,500,000 recovered in a case involving a construction worker who was injured when he fell from an unsecured scaffold.

$1,495,000 awarded to a passenger of a vehicle in which the driver lost control and struck a tree.

$1,350,000 settlement obtained for a 14-year-old high school freshman who was injured in a road rage pedestrian accident.

She sustained serious injuries, including closed head injury, post concussive syndrome, and cognitive deficits. After a slow recovery process, the plaintiff is currently enrolled in Special Education. At the outset and throughout the litigation process, MSL demanded the entirety of the available insurance policies and made it clear they would not engage in negotiations for anything less. Litigation ensued, and our attorneys refused to back off their position. Only days before trial, defendants offered the entirety of the available insurance policies, totaling $1,350,000.

$1,275,000 settlement awarded to pedestrian struck by Honda Civic.

The Seventy-Three year old Plaintiff pedestrian was crossing the street in the crosswalk when he was seriously injured. An SUV struck a Honda Civic at the intersection of Kings Highway and East 21st Street in Brooklyn. The impact between the vehicles was so severe, that it caused the Honda Civic to spin-out, striking the pedestrian. As a result thereof, the pedestrian was propelled into the rear-windshield of a parked vehicle and then onto the pavement. The pedestrian suffered critical permanent injuries requiring numerous surgeries. Within less than a year of filing suit, the Law Office of Michael S. Lamonsoff obtained a Court Order to take depositions of the defendants. Just prior to the firm’s taking testimony of them, the firm was able to force a tender of all of the defendant’s insurance policies, totaling $1,275,000.

$1,250,000 awarded to motorcyclist struck by a car.

Our client was riding his motorcycle when a car that made a left turn in front of him. As a result, our client drove into the side of the vehicle. Our client sustained broken bones and resulting surgeries.

$1,250,000 awarded to a 35-year-old taxi cab driver whose vehicle was rear-ended by another vehicle.

$1,000,180 awarded to the family of a one-year-old infant who fell and drowned in a full bucket placed to catch water leaking from a ceiling.

$1,000,050 jury award to a driver of a vehicle that was rear-ended by an MTA bus.

$1,000,000 settlement awarded to a client before trial, who tripped over broken pavement in a crosswalk while crossing the street.

At the time of the accident the twenty-five year old Plaintiff was a pedestrian crossing the street pushing his infant son in his stroller. The crosswalk had recently been the subject of construction work by the Defendants and had been left in a poor condition after their work was completed. When the wheel of his infant son’s stroller caught in the cracked pavement the Plaintiff was thrown to the ground and sustained injuries to his back and ankle. After aggressive litigation by the firm, this matter was settled for $1,000,000 while awaiting trial.

$1,000,000 settlement for a fallen construction worker.

24 year old union construction worker who fell through 3x4 wood floor hit the concrete ground below with outstretched hands due to faulty safety device. The owner of the construction site was negligent in providing a defective retractable lanyard. This safety device attaches to the client’s harness and is affixed to a secured point. It prevents workers from falling. However, our client’s lanyard was defective. The owner and general contractor failed to inspect the faulty lanyard, which failed and caused the Plaintiff to fall and strike the concrete floor 15 feet below. The Plaintiff suffered from 2 broken fingers and fractures of the bases of those fingers, requiring surgery.

$1,000,000 awarded to a union plasterer who was injured on the job when he was burned by a torch.

$1,000,000 awarded to a construction worker who fell through a skylight in a warehouse.

$1,000,000 settlement for a NYPD traffic officer whose vehicle was struck by a negligently operated forklift, causing serious injuries.

$1,000,000 settlement for a man rear-ended at a stoplight.

He sustained serious injury to his cervical spine, lumbar spine, and right shoulder, which required surgery to repair his rotator cuff and a SLAP tear.