Picture of Richard M. Steigman

Richard M. Steigman

Partner
Best Lawyers 2022

Richard Steigman’s affiliation with the firm began nearly a quarter century ago with his work as a paralegal. After attending Franklin and Marshall College and graduating "With Distinction" from Hofstra University School of Law, where he was a member of the Hofstra Law Review, he joined the firm as an attorney in 1997.

As a partner at GGCRBHS&M, he performs all facets of personal injury litigation, including preparing complex cases from start to finish, serving as a trial attorney, and submitting appellate briefs. He has tried cases throughout the metropolitan area and argued appeals in both State and Federal Courts. He is known to those who work with him on a day to day basis as a "problem solver" whose insights and innovative ideas greatly contribute to the successful results obtained by the firms’ clients.

He has lectured to fellow members of the bar for the New York State Trial Lawyers Association and the Practicing Law Institute, and law students at law schools such as Hofstra and Cardozo School of Law. His knowledge in the field has not gone unnoticed by lawyers throughout the State – he has been called on to field questions and solve difficult problems by many members of the bar. He is widely recognized as one of the most knowledgeable attorneys in the State.

Recently with Ben Rubinowitz and Jef  Bloom, Richard obtained a $ 120 million jury verdict in a medical malpractice lawsuit against Westchester Medical Center. He has contributed to numerous outstanding results for our clients, including successfully handling an appeal in a wrongful death action involving a pedestrian stuck in a truck accident, which ultimately settled for $26 million, and achieved numerous multi-million dollar results as a trial lawyer, including medical malpractice cases involving failures to diagnose and treat diabetic retinopathy, a failure to diagnose an acoustic neuroma, and personal injury cases including a $5.5 settlement against the Police Department of the City of New York for striking a man with a police car who was fleeing on a bicycle.

In addition to his interest and experience in cases involving car accidents, medical malpractice and premises liability, Mr. Steigman also has handled cases involving civil rights violations and employment law.

His memberships in professional associations include the New York State Bar Association, the American Association for Justice and the New York State Trial Lawyers Association.

Education

J.D., Hofstra University, 1997
with distinction
Member, Hofstra Law Review

Bachelor of Arts, Franklin & Marshall College, 1989

Jurisdictions Admitted to Practice New York, 1998
U.S. District Court, Eastern and Southern Districts of New York, 1998
U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit, 2009
Professional & Bar Association Memberships

New York State Bar Association

New York State Trial Lawyers Association

The Association of Trial Lawyers of America

Publications
  • "Keeping Pace, A Guide For The Up-To-Date Litigator," Update on Automobile Cases, 1998
  • "The Use of the Analogy During Trial," New York Law Journal, August, 2001
  • "The Big Money Question: Dealing with Monetary Damages from Voir Dire to Summation," New York Law Journal, November, 2001
  • "Cross-Examination: The Basics," New York Law Journal, July, 2002
  • "The Voice of Reason: A Powerful Approach to Cross-Examination," New York Law Journal, August, 2002
  • "The Freeze-Frame Technique: A Method for Exposing Key Points," New York Law Journal, November, 2002
  • "Cross-Examination of Medical Doctors: Recurrent Themes," New York Law Journal, May, 2003
  • "Economic Testimony: From Lay Witness to Economist," New York Law Journal, July, 2003
  • "The Deposition as a Tool for Trial," New York Law Journal, September, 2003
  • "The Cross-Examination of the Radiologist in a Soft Tissue Case," New York Law Journal, November, 2003
  • "Golden Rule Violations: Placing the Jury in the Shoes of Your Client," New York Law Journal, December, 2003
  • "Direct Examination of a Hostile Witness," New York Law Journal, May, 2004
  • "The Use of Photographs in Personal Injury Cases," New York Law Journal, July, 2004
  • "Tips on Narrative Direct Examination," New York Law Journal, September, 2004
  • "Voir Dire in Medical Negligence Cases: A Plaintiff's Perspective," New York Law Journal, December 30, 2004
  • "The Virtue of Patience: Setting up the Expert Witness on Cross-Examination," New York Law Journal, July 27, 2005
  • "Who's Up First? Issues Related to Order of Summation," New York Law Journal, October 25, 2005
  • "News Impeachment With a Prior Inconsistent Statement," New York Law Journal, January 6, 2006
  • "Continuing to Try Your Case After the Summations," New York Law Journal, May 4, 2006
  • "Introduction of Exhibits in Civil Cases," New York Law Journal, July 25, 2006
  • "Common Mistakes and Simple Remedies," New York Law Journal, September 21, 2006
  • "The Use of Hypothetical Questions as Weapons at Trial," New York Law Journal, October 31, 2006
  • "A HIPAA Primer," New York State Trial Lawyers Institute, Bill of Particulars, Winter 2006
  • "Hypothetical Questions on Cross," New York Law Journal, December 29, 2006
  • "The Use of Authoritative Texts and Cross-Examination of Medical Experts," New York Law Journal, June 7, 2007
  • "Using Operative Terms From Jury Charge in Cross-Exam," New York Law Journal, July 26, 2007
  • "Time Constraints and Weaknesses in Cases," New York Law Journal, August 29, 2007
  • "Proving Damages in a Wrongful Death Case," New York Law Journal, October 23, 2007
  • "The Impact of Arons: A Look at the Court of Appeals Decision to Allow Ex Parte Interviews of Treating Doctors and Where We Go From Here," New York State Trial Lawyers Institute, Bill of Particulars, Spring 2008
  • "Prep is Key to Cross-Exam of Examining Medical Witness," New York Law Journal, May 29, 2008
  • "Getting the Picture: Using Exhibits Throughout a Trial," New York Law Journal, July 31, 2008.
  • New "Speaking Agents" Law Overrides New York's "Prohibition On Employees"Out-of-Court Statements, New York Law Journal, January 20, 2022
Cases of Note
  •  $120 million verdict for a 41-year-old man who endured irreversible brain injury due to a stroke that was misdiagnosed and untreated by doctors.This is the highest medical malpractice verdict ever achieved in Westchester County, NY.
  • $26,000,000 settlement for a pedestrian struck by a truck in a personal injury action. The decedent was a research analyst at a well regarded brokerage firm who was on her way to work when the truck made a right turn striking her while she was walking in the cross walk.
  • $5,500,000 settlement on behalf of a bicyclist struck by a police car which was pursuing him.
  • $5,400,000 settlement in a Monroe County medical malpractice case on behalf of an infant who suffered brain damage as a result of the doctors’ failure to perform a timely caesarian section.
  • $4,800,000 verdict for the wrongful death of a 8 year old child killed as the result of the negligence of a truck driver.
  • $3,000,000 settlement in medical malpractice case on behalf of a woman who lost hearing in one ear and developed meningitis as a result of her doctors’ failure to diagnose an acoustic neuroma.
  • $2,800,000 settlement against an optician on behalf of man who suffered legal blindness as a result of a the optician’s failure to refer him to a specialist for treatment of proliferative diabetic retinopathy.

Disclaimer: Please be advised that the results achieved in any given case depend upon the exact facts and circumstances of that case. Gair, Gair, Conason, Rubinowitz, Bloom, Hershenhorn, Steigman & Mackauf cannot guarantee a specific result in any legal matter. Any testimonial or case result listed on this site is based on an actual legal case and represents the results achieved in that particular case, and does not constitute a guarantee, warranty or prediction of the outcome of any other legal matter.

Client Reviews
★★★★★
"Very compassionate, very efficient and top rate! If you want a team of good lawyers that will not only work hard to win your case but knows how to listen and feel for you as a victim of medical malpractice, this firm is your only choice." [Extract] D.F.
★★★★★
"Everyone I communicated with at this firm made me feel like I was part of their family. My needs, feelings, and concerns were carefully considered and given the needed attention. My counselors were available whenever I needed them and became my personal friends. They came highly recommended and lived up to their reputation. I would recommend them to any of my friends without hesitation. This firm gives attorneys a "good name". Clients matter here. They made me feel like I mattered as a person, that I was valued, and not just a possible source of income for the firm. They earned their fees, and you will find that they will also earn your trust." N.W.
★★★★★
"My husband was in a coma with very little chances to survive, due to a car accident. The compassion and professionalism that they showed myself and my family during such a difficult time combined with an incredible willingness to get the best results for us have shown us that we had made the absolute best choice. They not only fought extremely hard for what proved to be a very difficult case, but they also emotionally helped us through this incredible ordeal and have been a caring advocate for our family and our case. They got us the best results we could have expected given the circumstances and didn't give up when things got more challenging." [Extract] V.P.
★★★★★
"August 2020, my mother was in a horrific car accident. I contacted Gair Gair Conason to handle my mother's case. Everyone at the firm who helped us with the case did such a fantastic job with being so efficient. We could not have been more satisfied with the services we received." [Extract] K.C.