“Growing up with a father who was a trial lawyer inspired me to pursue trial practice. I worked as a clerk at my father’s firm all through law school and for two years after I graduated. However, I discovered very early on in my career that I identified more with plaintiffs than I did with the big corporations and insurance companies that [that] firm represented. This led me to make the very difficult decision to leave my father’s firm and pursue a career representing plaintiffs. I believe that this was the best decision that I have made in my career.“
Thomas P. Giuffra, Interview with John Ryan at Law Dragon
A partner of Rheingold Giuffra Ruffo Plotkin & Hellman LLP, Tom specializes in the litigation and trial of high-profile civil sexual abuse cases, as well as significant medical malpractice, personal injury, mass tort, and product liability actions.
He earned his reputation as a trial lawyer early in his career when he obtained his first million-dollar verdict only four years after graduating from law school. His successes as a leading trial lawyer have continued through a combination of hard work and dedication to his clients together with outstanding skills as an advocate.
He has successfully tried numerous cases to verdict throughout New York in both State and Federal Court. He has represented severely injured plaintiffs for claims involving:
- Sexual abuse and assault
- Representing survivors of Harvey Weinstein, Sean “P. Diddy” Combs, Dr. Darius Paduch, and more.
- Lead paint poisoning
- Attorney Giuffra has secured the largest lead paint verdict in New York State history.
- Medical malpractice
- Construction accidents
- Civil rights violations
- Product liability
- Toxic torts
- Maritime accidents
- Car accidents
- Premises accidents
- General negligence
Tom has extensive experience in cases involving traumatic brain injury and birth trauma. He also has represented the victims of sexual harassment and abuse in the workplace.
Tom’s Innovative Approach
Over his 24-year career, Tom’s innovative approach, thorough preparation, and trial advocacy skill have led to 20 verdicts and numerous settlements in excess of one million dollars on behalf of his clients, including a recent landmark verdict for $58 Million. Tom is one of the youngest trial lawyers in New York to amass such a successful record at trial.
Professional Honors and Accolades
Tom has had one of the largest verdicts in New York State every year from 2008 to 2018 as reported by the New York Law Journal and one of the largest verdicts in the United States in 2008, 2013, and 2018 as reported by the National Law Journal.
Malpractice Verdict & Settlements Hall of Fame
In 2014, the New York Law Journal selected four of Tom’s verdicts for inclusion in its Malpractice Verdict & Settlements Hall of Fame. In 2016, the New York Law Journal selected six of Tom’s verdicts for inclusion in its Verdict Hall of Fame. In 2015 and 2016, the New York Law Journal presented him with an award for obtaining one of the top 20 verdicts in New York.
Fellow of the International Society of Barristers
Tom was voted to become a Fellow of the International Society of Barristers. Members of the Society are dedicated to the art of advocacy, preserving trial by jury, and an independent judiciary. Membership in the Society is limited to less than 700 lawyers selected by their peers and judges as “outstanding in the field of advocacy,” The Society has members from every State in the United States and from several countries including England, Canada, Australia, and Ireland. the nominee’s skills as a trial lawyer, personal and professional integrity, and peer reviews from other lawyers and judges.
Advocate of the American Board of Trial Advocates (A.B.O.T.A.)
In 2015, Tom was invited to become an Advocate of the American Board of Trial Advocates (A.B.O.T.A.), one of the most prestigious trial advocacy organizations in the United States. Tom’s induction as an “Advocate” is the highest rank for members and requires trial experience consisting of acting as lead counsel in a minimum of fifty (50) jury trials to verdict, personal character, and professionalism. There are approximately 7,000 members of ABOTA in the United States. However, less than 125 attorneys in New York have qualified for membership. Only 28 New York City lawyers hold the “Advocate” rank.
Top 100 Lawyers in the New York Metropolitan Area
Since 2012, Tom has been named one of the Top 100 Lawyers in the New York Metropolitan Area by Super Lawyers. For the past eight years, he has been recognized as one of the Top 5% of Lawyers in the New York Metropolitan Area by Super Lawyers for personal injury and medical malpractice litigation.
Tom also holds the coveted Martindale-Hubbell A/V Preeminent rating, the highest peer review rating for legal ability and ethics.
In 2011, Tom was honored by being elected to the National Trial Lawyers as one of the 100 Top Trial Lawyers in New York and among the best plaintiff’s attorneys in the United States. His successes have resulted in his appointment to the Highest Panel of the Legal Referral Service of the New York City Bar Association.
Tom is also an expert legal commentator and has appeared on “Primetime Justice” and “Court T.V. Live” regarding product liability actions. He also figured prominently in the Dutch documentary entitled “Claiming Justice” regarding U.S. personal injury litigation and lectured on trial advocacy techniques and product liability litigation.
Education
St. John’s University School of Law, Jamaica, New York
- J.D. – 1994
- Best Advocate, Civil Trial Institute, 1993
- Phi Delta Phi: International Legal Honor Society, 1993
- Member, Trial Advocacy Team
Boston College, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts
- A.B. – 1991
- Departmental Honors in History
- Phi Alpha Theta: National History Honor Society, 1990
- Dean’s List, 1988-1991
Bar Admissions
- New York, 1995
- New Jersey, 1994
- Utah, 2020
- U.S. Supreme Court, 2009
- U.S. Court of Appeals 2nd Circuit, 1995
- U.S. Court of Appeals 3rd Circuit, 2014
- U.S. District Court District of New Jersey, 1994
- U.S. District Court Eastern District of New York, 1995
- U.S. District Court Southern District of New York, 1995
- U.S. District Court Northern District of New York, 2015
- U.S. District Court District of Connecticut, 1998
- U.S. Court of International Trade, 1995
- U.S. Tax Court, 1995
Honors & Awards
- Senior Fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America, 2021
- Law Dragon 500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers, 2019 – 2021
- Best Lawyers in America, 2019 – 2021
- National Law Journal- Elite Trial Lawyer Top 50 Verdict in the United States
- International Society of Barristers, Fellow, 2017
- Irish Voice- Irish Legal Top 100, 2017 & 2018
- Lawyer Monthly- Maritime Accidents Lawyer of the Year, 2016
- Six verdicts included in the New York Law Journal Verdict & Settlements Hall of Fame, 2016
- American Board of Trial Advocates- Advocate, 2015
- New York Law Journal Verdict Hall of Fame Top 20 Verdict Award, 2015, 2016
- Fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America, 2014
- National Association of Distinguished Counsel- Nation’s Top 100 Attorney Award, 2014
- Four verdicts included in the Malpractice Verdict & Settlements Hall of Fame, New York Law Journal, 2014
- Life Fellow of the American Bar Foundation, 2013
- National Academy of Personal Injury Attorneys – Top 10 New York Attorney Award, 2013 & 2016
- Top 100 New York Metro Super Lawyers, Medical Malpractice and Personal Injury, 2012 – Present
- New York Metro Super Lawyers, Medical Malpractice and Personal Injury, 2008 – Present
- A/V Preeminent Peer Review Rated, Martindale- Hubbell, Highest Possible Rating in Legal Ability and Legal Ethics, 2011 – Present
- National Trial Lawyers- Top 100 Trial Lawyers in New York State, 2011 – Present
- Rated “Superb” by AVVO Attorney Rating Service
- National Institute for Trial Advocacy, Trial Advocacy Skills Diploma, 2004
Professional Associations & Memberships
- NY State Magistrates Association – 2024
- Trial Law Institute
- Diversity Law Institute
- Barrister, Order of Centurions (100 or more jury trials to verdict)
- Advocate, Order of Certus
- New York State Trial Lawyers Association, Board of Directors, 2006- Present
- St. John’s University School of Law Alumni Association Board of Directors 2018
- New York City Bar Association, Medical Malpractice Committee
- American Association for Justice
- New York State Bar Association
- American Bar Association
- Maritime Law Association of the United States
- Brooklyn Bar Association
Recent Successes
- $58 Million verdict for a child who sustained brain damage as a result of lead poisoning
- $21 Million verdict for three children who suffered brain damage as a result of lead poisoning
- $20 Million verdict for an infant who sustained a traumatic brain injury
- $11 Million verdict for a child who suffered brain damage as a result of lead poisoning
- $9 Million verdict for traumatic brain injury in a motor vehicle accident
- $6.1 Million verdict for transmission of Hepatitis C due to improper use of the drug Propofol
- $4.194 Million verdict for failure to diagnose lung cancer
- $3.25 Million verdict for failure to treat MRSA
- $2.5 Million verdict for cancer misdiagnosis
- $2.25 Million verdict for failure to properly perform a sphenoid sinus biopsy resulting in blindness in one eye
- $2.032 Million labor law verdict for a man who was injured at a construction site due to a defective scaffold
- $2 Million verdict for a man left unsupervised in a nursing home, resulting in his exposure to freezing temperatures and leading to wrongful death
- $2 Million settlement for a labor law action after a man’s right tibia was cut through by a saw at an unsafe worksite
- $1.975 Million settlement for two children who sustained brain damage due to lead poisoning
- $1.75 Million verdict for serious spinal injury in a motor vehicle accident
- $1.74 Million verdict for traumatic amputation of two fingers as a result of a defective snowblower
- $1.7 Million verdict for delayed treatment of a complication of cataract surgery resulting in blindness in one eye
- $1.6 Million labor law verdict for a man who fell from a ladder at a dangerous construction site resulting in traumatic brain injury
- $1.6 Million settlement for two children who suffered brain damage as a result of lead poisoning
- $1.6 Million verdict for 1.5 Million settlement for a doctor’s failure to timely diagnose lung cancer in a woman
- $1.5 Million verdict for a woman who sustained head and neck injuries while riding Coney Island’s iconic Cyclone rollercoaster
- $1.26 Million verdict for a pedestrian sustaining traumatic brain injury in a motor vehicle accident
- $1.08 Million verdict for failure to diagnose an I.V. infiltration of an infant
- $1 Million settlement for an infant who sustained brain damage due to lead poisoning
Classes & Seminars
- “Technology for the Small Firm” New York City Bar, 2018
- “Jury Research (the Millennial Juror) and the Science of Storytelling” A.B.O.T.A./D.A.N.Y. Seminar, 2015
- “Automobile Litigation Update” Program Co-Chair, New York State Bar Association, 2015
- “Presenting Future Economic Damages,” New York State Bar Association Annual Meeting, 2015
- “Robotic Surgery Litigation,” Attorney’s Information & Exchange Group Annual Meeting, 2014
- “Civil Trial Advocacy,” Syracuse University School of Law, 2013
- “Opening and Closing Statements,” St. John’s University School of Law, 2006
Press and Featured Articles
- “Long Island Urologist Faces Trial and Civil Suits,” Newsday, April 22, 2024
- “A Tidal Wave of Sex-Abuse Claims Hits NY as Loophole Closes” Daily Beast, October 20, 2023
- “LI Priest Molested Me, Now Church is Trying to Keep Me Quiet, Lawsuit Says”
- “New York Attorney General Approved Harvey Weinstein Deal Under Which He Wouldn’t Pay His Victims A Penny – Despite Vowing Not To,” Daily Mail, October 30, 2020
- “Latest Harvey Weinstein Proposed Settlement Slammed As Sellout By Victims’ Lawyers; Jailed Producer Lacks Financial Liberty Attorney Says – Update,” Deadline, September 1, 2020
- “Weinstein Wants Bankruptcy Court to Take Over Rejected Sexual Misconduct Settlement,” The Hollywood Reporter, July 28, 2020
- “Weinstein Accusers Say Insurance Settlement Is a ‘Cruel Hoax’,” Variety, July 13, 2020
- “Weinstein Class Action Settlement Challenged as “Unjust and Vile” as Multiple Accusers Object,” The Hollywood Reporter, July 13, 2020
- “Sex Abuse Lawyer Decries Diocese of Syracuse Bankruptcy,” PR Newswire, June 19, 2020
- “Former Harvey Weinstein Producer Derides Proposed Settlement As Unfair,” Bloomberg, December 12, 2019
- “Outrage Over Harvey Weinstein Sex Abuse Settlement Offer: Too Little Money For Victims, Too Much For Attorneys And Harvey,” CNBC, December 12, 2019
- “Weinstein Accuser Allegedly Bullied Into Accepting Settlement,” Vulture, December 12, 2019
- “Weinstein Accuser Pushes Back On Proposed $25 Million Settlement,” Reuters, December 12, 2019
- “Attorney General Letitia James ‘Working For Harvey Weinstein’ By Agreeing To Global Settlement, Attorney Says,” New York Daily News, December 12, 2019
- “Harvey Weinstein, Ex-Associates, Accusers Reach Tentative $47 Million Settlement,” The Wall Street Journal, December 11, 2019
- “Weinstein Settlement Would Give His Lawyers Millions,” The Daily Beast, October 25, 2019
