In that capacity, Jim also is a key member of London Fischer’s Catastrophic Event Response team, which responds to significant construction accidents and other liability events as they occur. Staffed by senior partners, the team gives clients around-the-clock access to experienced attorneys and trusted third-party photographers and forensic experts who can be at the scene of a catastrophe immediately. This is important to the development of the best possible defense and to securing crucial evidence for potential subrogation recoveries.
In addition to his courtroom skills, Jim is a prolific writer and sought-after speaker, regularly sharing his knowledge of construction claims handling and risk management with others in the field. Most recently, he gave a presentation on “Anatomy of a Lawsuit” at EMCOR Group Inc.’s 2013 safety conference. He has also presented on “Investigating and Documenting Incidents to Minimize Risks” at EMCOR’s 2019 conference and provided construction forms training to claims teams at Argo Insurance Group.
Jim holds a J.D. from the University of Pennsylvania and earned a B.A. in Political Science, magna cum laude, in cursu honorum, from Fordham University.
When he is not practicing law, Jim transforms into a multifaceted connoisseur of life's finer pleasures. He enjoys reading fiction and poetry, indulges in the culinary arts, and connects with nature through gardening.
Representative Cases
- Robert Caras v George Comfort & Sons, et. al. (2023). The plaintiff, a steamfitter, slipped and fell on debris in a lift, injuring both knees. The general contractor tried to shift blame onto the electrical contractor for the incident. Initially, the case involved claims related to poor lighting, but these were dismissed. Eventually, the plaintiff dropped the lighting claim, focusing solely on the debris issue. The court later dismissed the third-party claims against the electrical contractor, ruling that the accident was linked to their work despite a broad indemnification agreement. The general contractor's request for a trial stay was denied, and the trial proceeded.
- Dawyot v Goldman Sachs, et al. (2017). An electrician alleged that he slipped and tripped on a plastic tarp with some kind of slippery substance on it, which led to severe knee and back injuries that ended his career. The defense argued that there was no evidence to support the claim, and they claimed that the electrician kept working after the supposed accident. The jury in New York County unanimously sided with the defense, rejecting the electrician's claims.
- Davidson v. Edgewater (2017). – An electrician sued the property owner, saying he tripped and fell in a parking lot while going to work, which resulted in a wrist injury needing several surgeries. The defense argued that the property owner wasn't responsible for the parking lot's upkeep and that the accident didn't occur because the electrician continued to work for eight days before being laid off due to a lack of work. The jury decided in favor of the property owner, not the electrician.