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ABOUT James P. Connors

Jim is a shareholder and the managing attorney of the firm's Westchester office, and he divides his time between the Westchester and Manhattan offices. He has 37 years of litigation experience in a diverse range of practice areas including premises liability, product liability, aviation liability, professional liability and employment liability. Jim also has extensive experience in defending security and general negligence cases. He served as one of the lead counsel in the casualty litigation arising from the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in 2001, a loss involving extensive loss of life and $4 billion property damage claims.

Jim has a robust product liability practice. He has defended manufacturers of aviation products ranging from jet engine reverse thrusters to aviation rivets utilized in commercial helicopters. He has also defended manufacturers of industrial products including commercial meat grinders, industrial saws and commercial products including window blinds, sofas and bedding.

Among his many clients, Jim represents the single largest security company in the world of which Yankee Stadium in New York City is a client. Within this area of practice, Jim has represented security companies in the defense of allegations of false arrest and malicious prosecution. He is currently involved in representing one of the largest retailers of clothing in the United States in litigation involving allegations of commercial fraud and failure to properly provide a safe environment in which to shop. Jim also represents two of the largest hotel chains in the world, one for which he has served as counsel for more than 25 years. Many of his security cases in the hospitality arena have dealt with allegations of failure to provide appropriate guest security, to the alleged improper placement of dance floors and other hotel amenities.

In his health care liability practice, Jim represents physicians and hospitals in medical malpractice cases ranging from failure to diagnose cancer to allegations of failure to diagnose and properly treat intrauterine complications.

Jim began his litigation career at the medical malpractice defense firm of Bower and Gardner, thereafter moving to Cigna. There he became a seasoned trial attorney handling complex litigation including the defense of a major motorcycle manufacturer in a wrongful death product liability lawsuit. Jim then moved on to what would become Jones Hirsch Connors Miller & Bull where he was instrumental in the firm's growth and success during its 35 years of existence.

Jim has published numerous articles in various legal journals including the New York Law Journal and the New York State Bar Association Journal and has lectured regarding litigation and product liability litigation on behalf of a major carrier to consumer product manufacturers in Seoul, Korea. Jim practices generally in the New York City Metropolitan area and has handled matters not only in New York State but in Connecticut, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

Honors & awards

AV Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell

New York Metro Super Lawyer
2006, 2010-2019

Year joined

2014

Certification

FAA Licensed Pilot

Results

Strategic Defense Move Results in Dismissal of General Liability Action.

General Liability
May 11, 2018

We attained a summary dismissal of an action in the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut. In a somewhat strategic gamble (but with the client’s full understanding and consent), a motion was filed seeking a dismissal of the matter for failure to commence within the Connecticut statute of limitations period. The filing of the motion, however, required our waiving any objection to venue. The matter arose out of an incident that occurred in New York State, which has a three-year statute of limitations.

Thought Leadership

Marshall Dennehey Announces 2016 New York Metro Super Lawyers and Rising Stars

September 22, 2016
Six attorneys from the Manhattan office of Marshall Dennehey Warner Coleman & Goggin have been selected to the 2016 edition of New York Metro Super Lawyers magazine.

Classes/Seminars Taught

Hyatt Security Seminar, New York, 1994, 1992

Defending Catastrophic Injury Cases, CIGNA Senior Attorney Training Program, January 1992

Malpractice in Ophthalmology, American Academy of Ophthalmology, co-presented with Vivien Boniuk, M.D., J.D, Annual Conference, New Orleans, November 1986; Dallas, October 1987; Las Vegas, October 1988; New Orleans, October 1989; and Atlanta, October 1990

The New York State Medical Malpractice Reform Act of 1985, Association of Hospital Risk Managers, presented at Mount Sinai Hospital, November 1985

Hospital Liability Seminar, New York Law Journal, July 1985

Medical Malpractice: Its Avoidance Through Foresight, Bellevue Hospital, September 1984

Workshop in Medical Malpractice, Law & Medicine, New York University School of Law, Graduate Division, and New York University School of Medicine, August 1982

Media Commentary

Why MGM Resorts Wants Its Day in Federal Court, Hotel Management, September 5, 2018

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Areas of LAW

  • Professional Liability

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