Richard L. Mendelsohn

Richard Mendelsohn, a partner at the firm, joined Malaby in 2014. He has first chair trial experience and participates in all phases of defense litigation from deposition up to and including trial, as well as all aspects of appellate practice.

Richard has acted as lead trial counsel in the areas of asbestos, labor law, commercial and premises liability. He defends all aspects of premises personal injury and property damage claims as well as products liability, mass tort, and construction-related claims. Richard has also argued scores of dispositive motions in the New York State trial and appellate courts and Federal District Courts. He has successfully written and argued appeals in the First and Second Departments of the New York State Appellate Division.

Richard was lead trial and appellate counsel in a premises/Labor Law section 240 action where he successfully obtained indemnification for the premises owner. The appeal, decided after the trial, successfully awarded the premises owner indemnity from the co-defendant. The three-week trial resulted in a mistrial due to the plaintiff's counsel’s conduct.  The resulting trial appeal, briefed by Richard, resulted in a lengthy decision from the Appellate Division Second Department establishing that defense physical examinations cannot be videotaped without court permission. As a result of the appeals, Richard not only obtained indemnification of all costs and extricated his client from the case, but also obtained an order directing the plaintiff’s counsel to pay the defense costs of the trial.

Prior to joining Malaby, Richard worked for two prominent New York City law firms where he represented premises owners, maintenance companies, facilities, contractors, developers and general contractors in all aspects of premises liability personal injury, property damage claims, construction defect, sick building and labor law cases in addition to complex toxic tort, mass tort, products liability and exposure-related claims.

Memberships

• New York State Bar Association
• Claims and Litigation Management (CLM) Alliance
• Claims Xchange - Elite Supporter