Biography
For over 35 years, Tom has consistently delivered results and value to his clients. Tom has a wealth of experience in all types of civil matters, including construction/labor law, construction defects, complex litigation, coverage matters, municipal liability, automobile, dram shop, and premises liability.
Tom is a seasoned negotiator who has successfully mediated and settled hundreds of cases, both coverage and defense for his clients over his 35 year career in insurance defense. He has represented scores of insurance companies, self insurance and third-party administrators, successfully defending them in federal and state actions. Tom has also successfully handled appeals for clients and has lectured self-insureds and insurance companies on a variety of topics, including the Finger Lakes Insurance Council.
Tom has always provided himself on giving clients an aggressive defense and making plaintiffs prove their claims. He has consistently delivered results and value to his long standing clients.
Tom served as Town Attorney for the Town of Pelham and as a Hearing Officer for the Westchester County Department of Health. Tom represented the County of Westchester in municipal liability matters and aggressively defended the County to save taxpayer costs on frivolous claims. He has also served as an Assistant District Attorney for Westchester County where he tried cases involving violent crime, organized crime and trade secrets.
Tom graduated from St. John’s University School of Law where he was on the Moot Court Executive Board and won several competitions for appellate advocacy. He has a MBA from St. John’s University and AB from Colgate University.
In addition to law, Tom is passionate about music and drumming and has played drums since he was a child. Tom has played all kinds of music, enjoys jazz and rock, and is most at home performing live (click here to view on LinkedIn) Tom enjoys spending time with his family, traveling, gardening, golfing, and making homemade wine.
Education
St. John's University School of Law, J.D., 1982
St. John's University, M.B.A., 1979
Colgate University, A.B., 1977
Honors
New York Metro Super Lawyers, 2023-2025
Named In Who's Who in American Law
Named in Lawyers of Distinction, Insurance Law
Colgate University Maroon Citation Recipient
What Not to Do: What You Don't Know Will Kill Your Client's Case
Most New York litigators know that the state has four Appellate Divisions, First, Second, Third, and Fourth, that decide appeals from the Supreme Court’s 13 judicial districts.
Using Recent Court Decisions to Aggressively Defend Our Clients
At Gerber Ciano Kelly Brady, we fight hard to protect our clients’ interests, and we do so by staying ahead of the law and using the latest court decisions to our clients’ advantage.
Tipping the Balance Towards Plaintiffs: Is the First Department Expanding Defendant's Evidence Preservation Obligations?
A spoliation finding can fundamentally alter the trajectory of a case. An adverse inference charge which invites the jury to assume that missing evidence would have been unfavorable can be outcome-determinative on both liability and damages.
Caveat Emptor: Appellate Division Deems Fake AI Cities Frivolous
The increasing use of artificial intelligence has brought both opportunity and risk to the legal profession.
Languages
Italian
Professional Leadership
Member, Council on Litigation Management (CLM)
Past Board Member, Pelham Art Center
Past Board Member, Colgate University Alumni Council
Community
Past Coach, Soccer and Baseball Pelham Recreation Department
Presentations
Tom created and moderated the St.John’s Greenberg School of Risk Management Conference Webinar Series. Topics included Risk Management Solutions; Settling Cases During and After the Pandemic; Will Progressive Legislation and Judicial Decisions Ruin New York; After Nuclear Verdicts; New Legislation Update; Claims Settlement Techniques