ADAM G. GREENBERG

Adam G. Greenberg is a litigation partner in the Insurance Defense practice group handling matters in state and federal courts. Over the course of his 25 years as a defense attorney, Adam has taken numerous cases to trial and has extensive experience in litigating toxic tort claims, including mass and individual tort claims of lead poisoning, mold and benzene exposure. Adam has also handled trial and appellate work with an emphasis on construction accidents, all types of accidents involving premises liability claims, automobile accidents, First Amendment issues and product liability cases. Adam’s experience also includes the defense of insurance companies in first-party and third-party claims and coverage issues.

Prior to coming to Harrington, Ocko & Monk, LLP, Adam was a partner at Cozen O’Connor in the Complex Tort and Product Liability Department. Adam has conducted several lectures on premises liability for various bar association groups.

Representative Matters:

• Represented General Contractor and Owner in a case in which Plaintiff, a stone setter, tripped on plywood in an open area of the job site and underwent multiple surgeries to his back and knees. The lower Court and Appellate Division agreed with our argument and the conclusions of our expert that the plywood covering was not a defective condition and was not located in a “passageway” so as to constitute a violation of New York’s Industrial Code.

• Represented General Contractor and Property Owner in a case where Plaintiff applied for but was denied Worker’s Compensation benefits on the grounds he did not have a “work related accident”. Our Motion for Summary Judgment was granted on the grounds that this finding is entitled to preclusive effect in the personal injury action as Plaintiff had a “full and fair” opportunity to litigate the issue before an administrative judge, but lost.

• Represented general contractor, in a case in which the plaintiff, a former Marine, claimed serious personal injuries arising from a construction accident which occurred prior to his military service. Obtained military service records and interviewed commanding officers and based on plaintiff’s own admissions in his military record, which showed the absence of any injuries or restrictions, obtained a settlement of for 5% of the original mid-seven figure demand.

• Represented a major property developer, in numerous claims in which they were being sued for personal injuries related to construction accidents on their premises. In many of the cases, obtained complete indemnification and defense costs from the responsible sub-contractor.

• Represented a distributor of paper shredders, against claims of multiple children who were injured when their fingers became caught in paper shredders. Handled nationwide litigation involving claims that the product was defectively designed. Ultimately settled the cases by obtaining the great majority of contribution from the manufacturers and other handlers of the product.

• Represented property owners in Brooklyn in a case in which two infants claimed they sustained lead poisoning in their premises. Obtained jury verdict for property owners that neither child sustained any injuries from lead poisoning from the date of their exposure until the time of trial, seven years later.

• Represented property management company of a large commercial building in Manhattan in a case where they were sued by an 84 year old woman, who claimed she tripped on construction debris on the sidewalk outside their premises. Despite the fact that the elderly Plaintiff sustained serious injuries requiring surgery, obtained a jury verdict that Plaintiff did not fall due to our client’s negligence in maintaining the sidewalk.

Published Works

• Surveillance: Take Outs, NYSBA Law School for Insurance Professionals – Torts, Insurance & Compensation Law Section Journal, Winter 2006

• Preservation of Evidence and Accident Investigation, NYSBA Law School for Insurance Professionals – Torts, Insurance & Compensation Law Section

Representative Clients

• Triton Construction

• Lettire Construction

• Avalon Bay

• Universal Builders

• Silverstein