Block O’Toole & Murphy is a Manhattan-based law firm specializing in serious personal injury and wrongful death litigation. With its office located at 1 Penn Plaza, Suite 4850, New York, NY 10119, directly above Penn Station, the firm is easily accessible to clients throughout the city and surrounding areas. It has become one of New York’s most recognized practices by consistently securing record-breaking verdicts and settlements, surpassing $2 billion recovered for clients over the years.
The founding partners Jeffrey Block, Daniel O’Toole, and Stephen Murphy built the firm into a team of seasoned litigators, which now includes attorneys such as S. Joseph Donahue, David L. Scher, Scott Occhiogrosso, Frederick C. Aranki, Michael J. Hurwitz, Pawel P. Wierzbicki, Christina Mercado, Christopher Soverow, Joshua Stern, Kristian Krober, Aaron Fishkin, James Coscia, and others. Many of these lawyers have been listed in Best Lawyers in America, Super Lawyers, and National Trial Lawyers Top 100, with individual partners also being recognized as “Lawyer of the Year” in New York for personal injury litigation.
Practice Focus
The firm concentrates primarily on construction accidents, representing workers harmed in scaffold collapses, crane failures, ladder accidents, electrocutions, falling objects, and unsafe site conditions. They frequently pursue claims under New York Labor Law Sections 200, 240, and 241, statutes designed to protect construction workers.
Another core area of practice involves motor vehicle accidents, including catastrophic car, truck, motorcycle, bus, pedestrian, and bicycle crashes. Attorneys routinely investigate cases using accident reconstruction experts, engineers, and medical professionals to establish liability and damages.
In addition, the firm takes on wrongful death cases, premises liability claims, and medical malpractice suits, often involving catastrophic injuries that require long-term care. Their litigation approach emphasizes trial preparation, ensuring that every case is positioned strongly whether it ends in settlement or jury verdict.
Notable Verdicts and Settlements
Block O’Toole & Murphy is known for handling some of the largest verdicts and settlements in New York history, including:
- $110,174,972 jury verdict for a cyclist paralyzed after being struck by a falling beam in Brooklyn — believed to be the largest non-medical malpractice verdict in New York State.
- $65,000,000 settlement against the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) for a Brooklyn bicycle accident — the largest reported personal injury settlement in the state.
- $53,500,000 verdict for a construction worker left paraplegic after a workplace fall.
- $32,756,156 verdict for a Vietnam veteran catastrophically injured in a car crash — the largest negligence verdict ever recorded in Long Island.
- $25,000,000 settlement for a crane operator who fell 12 feet at a job site and required multiple surgeries.
- $15,000,000 wrongful death settlement for the family of a worker crushed by falling equipment.
- $13,500,000 settlement for a pedestrian who sustained a severe brain injury after being struck by a vehicle.
- $22,500,000 settlement for a driver seriously injured in a collision upstate.
- $20,181,484 verdict in a case against the State of New York for an accident caused by icy road conditions.
The firm has secured more million-dollar verdicts and settlements annually than any other New York firm since 2012, making it a consistent leader in catastrophic injury litigation.
Legal Philosophy
Every case at Block O’Toole & Murphy is prepared as if it will proceed to trial. At least two lead attorneys are typically assigned to each matter, and the firm frequently brings in outside experts in accident reconstruction, biomechanics, medicine, and economics. This comprehensive approach allows them to anticipate defense strategies and maximize recovery potential.
The lawyers operate on a contingency fee basis, ensuring clients do not pay unless the firm secures compensation. They emphasize accessibility, direct attorney-client communication, and individualized case strategies rather than quick settlements.
Recognition and Community Work
The firm has consistently ranked as a Tier 1 New York City law firm for Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs by U.S. News & World Report and has been recognized by Super Lawyers, The New York Law Journal, and Martindale-Hubbell. Many partners also lecture at continuing legal education events and publish on legal topics involving labor law, trial strategies, and catastrophic injury litigation.
Beyond the courtroom, Block O’Toole & Murphy is active in philanthropy and community service. It has hosted the New York City Wine Tasting to benefit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital since 2007, raising nearly $1 million annually. The firm also supports the Frances Pope Memorial Foundation, Autism Speaks, American Lung Association, and United Cerebral Palsy, in addition to organizing disaster relief efforts following Hurricane Sandy in Queens and Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico.
Contact Information
Block O’Toole & Murphy
1 Penn Plaza, Suite 4850
New York, NY 10119
Phone: 212-736-5300
Website: www.blockotoole.com