Renee Simon Lesser
Renee Lesser
New York
New York (NY)
Personal Injury Defense: General
Personal Injury Plaintiff: General
General Litigation
Profile
Renee S. Lesser is a founding member and managing partner of Simon•Lesser PC. She specializes in complex personal injury claims, insurance defense and coverage litigation, and commercial litigation. For nearly two decades, she has successfully defended churches, synagogues, schools, nursing homes, non-profit entities, as well as large and small businesses and individuals throughout New York State. Most of these cases involve allegations of personal injury, property damage or economic loss resulting from premises defects, sports related injuries, labor law claims, assaults, negligent supervision, and building design and maintenance claims. For example, in Ehrens v. Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, 385 F.3d 232 (2d Cir. 2004), she obtained summary judgment, affirmed by the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, on behalf of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod and its Atlantic District on claims pertaining to an alleged sexual assault committed by a former pastor. In Spielman v. Grace Gospel Church of Suffolk, Inc., 77 A.D.3d 816, 910 N.Y.S.2d 105 (2d Dep't 2010), she obtained dismissal of claims asserted against a Church in connection with alleged sexual misconduct by a pastor. Other recent reported successess include Egar v. Congregation Talmud Torah, 885 N.Y.S.2d 711 (NY Sup. 2009), where she obtained dismissal of a personal injury claim involving a synagogue's “eruv” wire located on a hospital property that had allegedly injured a patient, and Yeshiva Ohr Torah Community School, Inc. v Zurich Am. Ins. Co., 910 N.Y.S.2d 517 (2d Dep’t 2010), where she obtained reversal of summary judgment awarded to an indemnitor in connection with the claims of her clients, the indemnitee and its subrogee, for reimbursement of fees and expenses incurred in defending an underlying tort action.
Ms. Lesser also has a history of securing significant awards in plaintiff personal injury cases, including a $6 million judgment obtained after trial against a property owner resulting from the sexual assault of a tenant. In a related bankruptcy proceeding, 698 Flushing Realty Corp., 355 B.R. 17 (Bnkr. E.D.N.Y. 2005), Ms. Lesser successfully moved for dismissal of the property owner's bankruptcy petition filed after the judgment, and was awarded sanctions against the debtor's counsel. In Christopher v. PharmaStem Therapeutics, Inc., 824 N.Y.S.2d 761 (NY Sup. 2006), Ms. Lesser prosecuted an action for fraud, negligent misrepresentation, and deceptive business practices against an umbilical cord blood preservation company which issued communications to obstetricians around the nation threatening them with claims for patent infringement if they collected cord blood for patients who intended to preserve such cord blood with other companies. Ms. Lesser's representation of plaintiffs and defendants has given her a unique insight into the successful resolution of tort claims.
Selected To
New York Super Lawyers 2011 - Metro Edition
New York Super Lawyers 2010 - Metro
About Renee Lesser
Admitted: 1993, New York
Professional Webpage: www.simonlesser.com/attorneys-renee.htm
Verdicts and Settlements:
- Mangia v. The City of New York and New Dorp Baptist Church, Index No. 11232/99 (NY Sup, Richmond Co.): Obtained summary judgment for a Church in a premises liability case where the plaintiff sustained severe spinal injuries necessitating spinal fusion surgery., 2002
- Avila v. Mission Evangelica Pentecostal, Inc, Index No. 116571/00 (N.Y. Sup., N.Y. Co.): Obtained summary judgment for a Church in New York County in an assault and negligent supervision case where the plaintiff sought $10 million in compensatory damages and $5 million in punitive damages., 2004
- Richardson v. Throop Memorial Presbyterian Church Daycare, Index No. 19895/02 (NY Sup, Queens Co.): Obtained summary judgment for a religious day care facility in a negligent supervision case involving a child who was severely injured in a playground accident., 2004
- Kirshner v. Christopher Taylor, Index No.: 013088/02 (NY Sup, Nassau Co.): Obtained a defense verdict after trial for a motorcyclist in Nassau County where the Plaintiff sought $1.5 million., 2004
- Restrepo v. New York Cho Dao Church, Index No. 007661/02 (NY Sup, Queens Co.): Obtained a defense verdict after trial for a Church in a damages trial in a negligence case tried in Queens County where the plaintiff sought $2 million., 2004
- Ehrens v. Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, 385 F.3d 232 (2d Cir. 2004):Obtained summary judgment, affirmed on appeal, on behalf of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod and the Lutheran Church-Atlantic District on negligent hiring and supervision claims pertaining to an alleged sexual assault on a minor by a retired pastor, 2004
- Meneses v. Wake Eden Community Baptist Church, , Index No. 13213/02 (N.Y. Sup., Bronx Co.): Obtained summary judgment for a Church in Bronx County in a premises liability and Labor Law case where the plaintiff sustained compound comminuted fractures of distal tibia/fibula requiring several surgeries., 2005
- Brown v. Concord Baptist Church of Christ, Index No. 38074/05 (NY Sup, Kings Co.): Obtained summary judgment for a Church in Brooklyn, New York dismissing sexual misconduct and negligent retention/supervision claims., 2005
- Useche v. Zion Lutheran Church And Discipleship Chapel, Inc., Index No. 12552/04 (N.Y. Sup., Kings Co.): Obtained summary judgment for a Church in Kings County where plaintiff suffered a laceration to the right forearm, laceration of the ulnar nerve, and compartment syndrome., 2006
- Uddin v. Corner Stone Baptist Church, 823 N.Y.S.2d 178 )(2d Dep’t 2006):Obtained summary judgment affirmed on appeal on plaintiff’s claims under Labor Law § 240(1) for workplace injury involving disc herniation, disc bulge, a compression fracture of the spine, radiculitis, and radiculopathy., 2006
- Thompson v. Steuben Realty Corp. 820 N.Y.S.2d 285 (2d Dep’t 2006): Obtained a $7 million judgment after trial, reduced to $5.5 million on appeal, in connection with claims against a property owner resulting from the sexual assault of a tenant., 2006
- Uddin v. Corner Stone Baptist Church, 823 N.Y.S.2d 178 (2d Dep’t 2006):Obtained summary judgment affirmed on appeal on plaintiffs’ claims under Labor Law § 240(1) for substantial workplace back and spine injury., 2006
- Lissauer v. Shaarei Halacha, Inc., 829 N.Y.S.2d 229 (2d Dep’t 2007):Obtained summary judgment for a Yeshiva in Kings County in a negligent retention and supervision case where the plaintiff sought $10 million for a severe injury resulting in several surgeries and nerve damage, 2007
- Butler v. First Baptist Church Of Westbury, Index No. 14544/04 (NY Sup, Nassau Co.): Obtained Summary Judgment for Church in Nassau County on claims in defamation and slander against a board member., 2008
- Egar v. Congregation Talmud Torah, 885 N.Y.S.2d 711 (NY Sup, Queens Co.): Obtained summary judgment for a Synagogue in a personal injury case involving a plaintiff who alleged that she tripped and fell over an “eruv” wire located on a hospital property., 2009
- Spielman v. Grace Gospel Church of Suffolk, Inc., 77 A.D.3d 816, 910 N.Y.S.2d 105 (2d Dep't 2010), leave denied, 2011 N.Y. LEXIS 1479 (2011) - Obtained appellate reversal of the denial of a motion to dismiss claims asserted against a Church in connection with alleged sexual misconduct by a pastor., 2011
Renee Simon Lesser:
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