Richard S. Jaffe

I began working at the Law Office of Stephen M. Cohen while finishing Law School at night. As a paralegal, I drafted motions and memoranda of law, and conducted extensive legal research, focusing on insurance, liability, medical and health care issues. After being admitted to the bar,I became an associate of the firm, representing seriously injured persons, health care facilities and doctors. As a Junior Partner, I oversaw the firm's paralegal and investigation team. Currently, as name partner, I continue to practice in the areas of Personal Injury, Insurance Law, Products Liability, Lead Paint Poisoning, and Public Entity Liability. I manage the workflow for six associate attorneys and the firm's entire support staff. I deal with Allstate, State Farm, and a large number of other major Insurance Carriers on a daily basis, with an emphasis on legal issues relating to accident liability, and the wrongful denial of medical payments to health care practitioners in no-fault cases. I continue to counsel health care practitioners and large and small health care facilities on issues varying from management service agreements to collections to liability. I also handle catastrophic personal injury cases.Additionally, I head the firm's Bankruptcy Department. I understand that the Bankruptcy process can be stressful and complicated. I pride myself on being personally and directly accessible to my clients 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. I understand that consumers sometimes cannot comply with the payment demands of creditors, and further, that bankruptcy laws were designed for forgiveness, not punishment. Bankruptcy is not a dirty word. While there are many bankruptcy attorneys from which to choose, I believe that hiring a 'good' attorney is about the problems that DON'T arise. When it comes to bankruptcy, my firm and I 'Get It' - and we 'Get It Done Right'.In the spare time that I (don't) have, I volunteer as a Firefighter and Medic (AEMT-CC) for the Jericho Fire Department and Brentwood Legion Ambulance.