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Attorneys
Whatever your legal service need may be - personal injury, Social Security Disability benefits, matrimonial and family law, criminal defense, mediation, wills and estates, real estate or something else - the law firm of Pusatier, Abbott, Sugarman & Martin, LLP is here to help.
Take a moment to meet our attorneys and staff members here.
Stephen F. Pusatier - Partner
E-mail: sfp@psasattorneys.com
Practice areas:
- Personal injury
Bar admissions:
- All New York State Courts
- United States District Court for the Western District of New York
Honors:
- Stephen Pusatier received the highest level of professional excellence ranking by his peers in both Legal Ability and Ethical Standards in 2022 by Martindale-Hubbell.
- Stephen Pusatier was selected for the 2022 Upstate New York Super Lawyer's List, an honor reserved for those lawyers who exhibit excellence in practice.
- Stephen Pusatier received 2021 Distinguished Very High Rating in both Legal Ability and Ethical Standards from Martindale-Hubbard.
- Steve Pusatier has been selected to the 2021 Upstate New York Super Lawyers list, an honor reserved for those lawyers who exhibit excellence in practice.
- Steve Pusatier has been awarded 2021 Peer-Review: Distinguished/Very High Rating in Legal Ability and Ethical Standards by Martindale-Hubbell.
- Steve Pusatier has been designated a 2020 Top Rated Lawyer by Martindale Hubbell
- BV® Distinguished™ Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell®
- Recognized by Buffalo Business First in Who's Who in Personal Injury law in 2009 and 2011
- Steve Pusatier was selected as a Personal Injury Super Lawyer for 2019 by SuperLawyers.com
- Education:
- J.D, State University of New York at Buffalo
- B.S., State University of New York at Buffalo
Professional associations:- New York State Bar Association
Past Member of Negligence Committee - Erie County Bar Association
Past member of Speakers Bureau
Past member of Negligence Committee - Western New York Trial Lawyers Association
- American Trial Lawyers Association- past member
- University of Buffalo Law Alumni Association
Community involvement:- Teaching Adjunct at State University of New York at Buffalo Law School
- President of the Kiwanis Club of the Tonawanda
- Past Lieutenant Governor of the Niagara North Division of New York State District Kiwanis
Military Service:- US Army reserves 1969-1975
Representative Cases- Represented three clients against the manufacturers of wheel rims for commercial trucks. The rims were failing, causing parts to be blown off during tire inflation. My clients were struck by the exploding parts and severely injured, and in one case, killed by the impact. Recoveries were obtained for all three clients.
- Represented three employees of the Buffalo Sewer Authority who were severely burned - one man died from his injuries - during an explosion at the Buffalo sewage treatment plant. Suit was brought against the engineers who designed the plant alleging a failure to properly vent methane gas, a by-product of sewage treatment. Recoveries were obtained for all three clients.
- Represented a man who suffered life-changing injuries when a tractor trailer crossed the center line on a state road. The case was proven by an accident reconstruction expert working for our team. Recovery obtained for the client.
- Represented a young man who had a minor surgical procedure during which the surgeon mistakenly cut a major blood vessel. The result was a permanent disability. The malpractice case was settled.
- Represented a motorcyclist who was severely injured when a car turned into his lane. The crash resulted in serious injuries. The case went before a court appointed mediator and a settlement was negotiated.
Mr. Pusatier continues to represent clients who were injured by negligence and medical malpractice.
Placing the personal in personal injury law
I began my legal career as an associate with a prestigious law firm that specialized in representing plaintiffs in complex personal injury cases. My mentor at the firm was a nationally known trial lawyer with a reputation for winning groundbreaking cases in personal injury law. The experience I gained in five years as his associate ignited my passion for this area of the law.
In 1976, I founded what is now known as Pusatier, Abbott, Sugarman & Martin, LLP. During my career, I have proudly represented many profoundly injured clients, personally taking cases to trial if a satisfactory out-of-court settlement cannot be reached. I have recovered million dollar settlements in the areas of auto accidents and medical malpractice. If there is an appeal, I personally handle it and have successfully argued appeals in the Appellate Division of the New York Supreme Court and before the New York State Court of Appeals.
As one example, I argued an appeal to the Court of Appeals supporting a large verdict for wrongful conviction and imprisonment. The Court of Appeals affirmed the verdict and wrote an important decision that paved the way for others who were wrongfully convicted of crimes they did not commit.
I served on the negligence committees for the Erie County and New York State Bar Associations, have been a guest lecturer on personal injury law, and currently teach a course on the jury trial at the University of Buffalo.
Video Presentations
Please feel free to contact me for a consultation on your personal injury case.
