Martin W. Edelman

Martin Edelman began practicing law over 40 years ago when he joined his father, Jerome Edelman, to form Edelman & Edelman, P.C. Martin is widely recognized as one of the most tenacious and dedicated litigators in New York. He is known for taking the "impossible" cases and recovering substantial damages when other firms have insisted there was no claim.

Primarily known for his expertise in cases involving traumatic brain injuries, Mr. Edelman has successfully litigated and settled cases involving a wide array of life-altering injuries arising from construction accidents, product liability claims, motor vehicle accidents and birth injuries. He has a reputation for the lengths he is willing to go to in pursuit of victory on behalf of his clients and investing as much time and money as is needed to present a winning case.

Mr. Edelman has been repeatedly recognized by his colleagues for the quality of his work and the commitment he brings to every case he accepts. He served as President of the New York State Trial Lawyers Association in 2003-2004 and has received countless other accolades from a variety of legal and civic organizations.

In addition to his work on behalf of his clients, Mr. Edelman has done a great deal of work to revise and streamline laws that threatened people's ability to obtain the justice they deserved. His work in creating uniformity in New York claim procedures and the amount of time victims had to file a personal injury claim against a government-controlled entity is just one example. Mr. Edelman was instrumental in introducing, negotiating and lobbying for the passage of the 2005 amendment of EPTL §5-4.6, which expedited and facilitated the collection of settlement funds in wrongful death actions. More recently, Mr. Edelman conceived and led the passage of the Comprehensive Insurance Disclosure Act ("CIDA"). As contained in CPLR §§3101(f) & 3122-B, CIDA preserves all available insurance coverage in personal injury litigation by requiring defendants to disclose their full insurance policies within 90 days of filing an answer, disclosures which must be certified by both the insured and their counsel.

Mr. Edelman has been lead counsel in highly publicized civil actions and trials throughout New York, including Jonathan Fleming who received $9.65 million after he was wrongfully convicted of murder. in 2016, Mr. Edelman obtained a then record-breaking New York State personal injury settlement of $35 million for his client who was catastrophically injured while working at a construction site. Mr. Edelman was also part of a team of attorneys that represented Dominick Tenuto, helping him win $22.5 million in a polio vaccine lawsuit against Pfizer. He is equally adept at protecting the interests of his clients in the media as he is at protecting them in the courtroom. When clients choose Mr. Edelman to handle a case, they can rest assured that they have an unwavering advocate who will not be deterred in his pursuit of maximum compensation for the losses they have suffered.

Notable Legislation:

• Uniform Claims Act
• EPTL §5-4.6
• The Comprehensive Insurance Disclosure Act ("CIDA")

Professional Appointments:

• President, New York State Trial Lawyers Association 2003-2004

Public Service Appointments:

• Kings County Democratic Party Judicial Screening Committee, Chairman

Professional Recognitions:

• Best Lawyers, 2019 to present
• New York Super Lawyers, 2007 to present
• Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum, Member
• The National Trial Lawyers- Top 100 Plaintiff’s Civil Trial Lawyers
• National Trial Lawyers- Top 25 Brain Injury Lawyers
• AV Preeminent, Highest Possible Rating in both legal ability and ethical standards, reflecting the confidential opinions of members of the Bar and Judiciary
• Marquis Who’s Who in America
• Man of the Year Award from the Democratic Party of Kings County for Outstanding service as the Chairman of the Judicial Screening Committee, 2013
• Achievement in Justice Award from the Brooklyn Defenders Association, 2014
• New York State Trial Lawyers President’s Award of Excellence, 2001
• Millennium Achievement Award from the Brooklyn Democrats, 2000
  

Notable Achievements:

• $35,000,000 settlement of Labor Law action on behalf of an injured construction worker, the largest personal injury settlement in the history of New York State at the time, 2016
• $22,500,000 verdict along with a team of attorneys against Pfizer on behalf of polio victim
• $9,650,000 total Settlements obtained against the City and State of New York on behalf of a wrongfully convicted client

Reported Appellate Advocacy

• Tenuto v. Lederle Laboratories et al., 90 N.Y.2d 606, 687 N.E.2d 1300, 665 N.Y.S.2d 17 (1997)

Lectures

• CONSTRUCTION ACCIDENTS FROM THE TRENCHES: STRATEGIES TO WIN YOUR LABOR LAW CASE 2022
• Comprehensive Insurance Disclosure Act (CIDA) 2022
• EVIDENCE TO WIN 2019
• EVIDENCE TO WIN 2018
  
• EVIDENCE TO WIN 2017: REBOOT
• LABOR LAW 2017: LET THE EXPERTS SHOW YOU HOW THEY DO IT
• Evidence to Win 2016
• LABOR LAW: LET THE EXPERTS SHOW YOU HOW TO DO IT
• BOOTCAMP FOR TRIAL LAWYERS 2016: NEW AND IMPROVED FORMAT FOR NYSTLA’S CLASSIC TRIAL WORKSHOP
• Evidence to Win 2014 - Planes, Trains and Automobiles* (*without the planes)
• Labor Law Update 2014 - Let The Experts Show You How They Do It
• Evidence to Win Western Region: Trains, Planes and Automobiles*: (*without the planes)
• Labor Law Update 2013- Let The Experts Show You How They Do It
• Labor Law 2012 Update
• Evidence to Win 2012
• Basic Trial Techniques "Boot Camp For Lawyers"
• Demonstrative Evidence
• Labor Law 2011 Update
• Evidence Update 2009
• Technology in the Office and in the Courtroom
• Co-Chair 2009 Demonstrative Evidence and Courtroom Technology
• Labor Law Update 2009 - Let The Experts Show You How They Do It
• Basic Trial Techniques "Boot Camp For Lawyers" 2009
• Evidence Update 2008
• Trying Your First Case Chair 2008
• Advanced Evidence 2007
• Use of Demonstrative Evidence in the Courtroom 2006
• Basic Rules for the Introduction of Evidence Faculty 2006
• Evidence - From Basics to Advanced, High Tech and Low 2005
• Basic Trial Techniques "Boot Camp For Lawyers" 2005
• Visualizing the Future: The Masters Share Their Secrets of Demonstrative Evidence 2004
• Legislation & Lobbying 2003
• Liens, Supplemental Needs Trust & Bankruptcy Issues Chair 2002
• Evidence 2001
• Evidence - The How, the When and the Why of Courtroom Presentation 2000
• Trial Preparation Secrets 1999
• Evidence - The How, the When and the Why of Courtroom Presentation - Westchester 1999
• A Practical Guide To The Practice of Law - Where Law School Ends & the Real World Begins Chair 1998
• Trial Practice Workshop &n