RENÉE SIMON LESSER

Partner: rlesser@simonlesser.com

Biography

Renee Simon Lesser specializes in complex personal injury and property damage claims, insurance defense and coverage litigation, and commercial litigation.

Ms. Lesser has first-chaired jury and bench trials in state and federal court and has argued appeals in the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, and the Appellate Division, First and Second Departments.

For nearly two decades, Ms. Lesser has successfully defended churches, synagogues, schools, nursing homes, non-profit entities, as well as large and small businesses and individuals throughout New York State.  Most of these cases involve allegations of personal injury, property damage or economic loss resulting from premises defects, sports related injuries, labor law claims, assaults, sexual misconduct, negligent supervision, and building design and maintenance claims.

Ms. Lesser has also secured significant awards for plaintiffs in personal injury cases, including a $6 million judgment obtained after trial against a property owner resulting from the sexual assault of a tenant.  Ms. Lesser's representation of plaintiffs and defendants has given her a unique insight into the successful resolution of personal injury, wrongful death and product liability claims.

Ms. Lesser has been recognized and selected for inclusion in New York Metro “Super Lawyers” for 2010 and 2011. This survey, published by Thomson Reuters, honors the top five (5%) percent of New York City-based attorneys.

Notable Representations

• Obtained summary judgment, affirmed on appeal, on behalf of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod on claims based upon an alleged sexual assault of a minor by a retired pastor. Ehrens v. Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, 385 F.3d 232 (2d Cir. 2004).
• Obtained appellate reversal of the denial of a motion to dismiss claims asserted against a Church in connection with alleged sexual misconduct by a pastor. Spielman v. Grace Gospel Church of Suffolk, Inc., 77 A.D.3d 816, 910 N.Y.S.2d 105 (2d Dep't 2010), leave denied, 2011 N.Y. LEXIS 1479 (2011).
• Obtained a $6 million judgment after trial in connection with claims against a property owner resulting from the sexual assault of a tenant. The Judgment was later modified on appeal to $4.5 and otherwise affirmed. Thompson v. Steuben Realty Corp. 820 N.Y.S.2d 285 (2d Dep’t 2006).
• In connection with the multi-million judgment in the Thompson case, the son of the judgment debtor’s principal attempted to transfer certain real property to evade the judgment to another affiliated company, which then filed for bankruptcy.  Ms. Lesser successfully moved for dismissal of that bankruptcy petition filed, and was also awarded sanctions against the debtor and its counsel.  698 Flushing Realty Corp., 355 B.R. 17 (Bnkr. E.D.N.Y. 2005).
• Successfully prosecuted action for fraud, negligent misrepresentation, and deceptive business practices against umbilical cord blood preservation company which issued communications to obstetricians around the nation threatening them with claims for patent infringement if they collected cord blood for patients who intended to preserve such cord blood with other companies. Click here to see AAJ article about case.
• Obtained summary judgment for a Church in Brooklyn dismissing sexual misconduct and negligent retention/supervision claims.
• Obtained Summary Judgment for a Church in Nassau County on claims in defamation and slander against a board member.
• Obtained summary judgment dismissing a personal injury claim involving a synagogue's “eruv” wire located on a hospital property in Queens that had allegedly injured a patient.  Egar v. Congregation Talmud Torah, 885 N.Y.S.2d 711 (NY Sup. 2009).
• Obtained summary judgment for a Church in New York County in an assault and negligent supervision case where the plaintiff sought $15 million in compensatory and punitive damages.
• Obtained summary judgment for a religious day care facility in Queens in a negligent supervision case where a child was severely injured in a playground accident.
• Obtained summary judgment for a Church in the Bronx in a premises liability and Labor Law case where the plaintiff sustained compound comminuted fractures of distal tibia/fibula requiring several surgeries.
• Obtained summary judgment for a Church in Richmond County in a premises liability case where the plaintiff sustained severe spinal injuries necessitating spinal fusion surgery.
• Obtained summary judgment for a Church in Brooklyn where the plaintiff suffered a laceration to the right forearm, laceration of the ulnar nerve, and compartment syndrome.
• Successfully represented a motorcyclist struck by U.S. Government vehicle driven by federal agents.
• Successfully prosecuted a wrongful death action in connection with vehicular accident in a parking lot wherein the defendant’s vehicle struck and killed an elderly pedestrian.

Professional Experience

Ms. Lesser was formerly associated with Quirk & Bakalor, P.C., Kroll & Tract LLP, and Fisher, Fisher & Berger.

Ms. Lesser also served as a clerk to Hon. Carol H. Arber, New York State Supreme Court, New York County.

Professional Activities

Ms. Lesser has served as an Arbitrator in New York City Civil Court since 1999. She is a member of the New York City Bar, the Women's Bar Association of New York City, and the Association of Trial Lawyers of America.

Bar and Court Admissions

Ms. Lesser is admitted to the bars of New York State, the State of Connecticut, and the District of Columbia. She is also admitted to the U.S. District Court, Eastern and Southern Districts of New York, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.

Education

J.D., American University Washington College of Law, 1992
B.A., State University of New York at Albany, 1989 (magna cum laude)

Languages

Fluent in Hebrew

Interests

Ms. Lesser is an avid surfer, and is a member of the ASL, Association of Surfing Lawyers.