News
April 2022
Alan J. Fumuso, Scott G. Christesen, and Douglas J. Swart have all once again been named Super Lawyers by Super Lawyers Magazine. This is an honor of Peer Nomination and Editorial Selection, achieved by only 5% of practicing New York lawyers.
August 2021
Alan J. Fumuso was a featured speaker in a CLE program sponsored by the New York State Academy of Trial Lawyers and NAM ( National Arbitration Mediation) on July 28th 2021. The program was entitled Mastering MedMal Mediations, and Mr. Fumuso was a member of a Panel consisting of Judge Peter Skelos, Judge Marsha Steinhardt, and Eleni Coffinas, Esq. The program was presented virtually, and attended online by over 700 lawyers and judges in New York State.
July 2021
Alan J. Fumuso, at the request of OMS National Insurance Company, authored an Article on the subject of E-Communication in the Doctor-Patient Relationship. It was published in the July 2021 edition of the OMS GUARDIAN, the Patient Safety and Risk Management National Newsletter for OMSNIC and its assured Oral Surgery and Dental Medical Professionals.
September 2020
Alan J. Fumuso was inducted as a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, the pre-eminent Trial Lawyers Organization in North America.
September 2020
Alan J. Fumuso, Douglas J. Swart, Lorraine B. Polin and Scott G. Christensen have all once again been named Super Lawyers for 2020. This is an honor of Peer Nomination and Editorial Selection, achieved by only 5% of practicing New York lawyers.
August 2020
Partner, James F. Farrell, Jr., completed the first Civil Jury Trial allowed to proceed to verdict in New York State after the COVID-19 shutdown of New York Courts. A unanimous defense verdict was returned on August 3, 2020.
February 2020
Scott Christesen and Jordan Karp made a presentation for the Stony Brook Clinical Practice Management Plan for physicians and other healthcare providers entitled “Ins and Outs of Medical Malpractice.” The three-session program was attended by over 150 physicians and healthcare providers.
September 2019
Alan J. Fumuso, Douglas J. Swart, Lorraine B. Polin and Scott G. Christensen have all once again been named Super Lawyers for 2019. This is an honor of Peer Nomination and Editorial Selection, achieved by only 5% of practicing New York lawyers.
September 2018
Christian A. Fumuso made a presentation to the facility Directors, Administrators, Supervisors from multiple disciplines, and members of the New York City Nurse Educators Group.
The presentation was at the Norwegian Christian Home and Health Care Facility in Brooklyn, New York. The topics discussed included defensive medicine and record keeping, risk management, implementation of protective protocols, elements of a lawsuit including discovery and standards of proof, the Public Health Law, and Federal and State regulatory codes.
September 2018
Alan J. Fumuso, Douglas J. Swart, Lorraine B. Polin and Scott G. Christensen have all once again been named Super Lawyers for 2018. This is an honor of Peer Nomination and Editorial Selection, achieved by only 5% of practicing New York lawyers.
July 2018

Alan J. Fumuso was honored as the OMSNIC Attorney of the Year. This is an award bestowed semi-annually by OMSNIC, the National Insurance Company for Oral Surgeons, at its Defense Counsel Seminar in Chicago attended by panel counsel from all over the United States.
September 2017
Alan J. Fumuso, Douglas J. Swart and Scott G. Christesen have once again been chosen by their peers as being New York Super Lawyers, and were so listed in Super Lawyers Magazine and the New York Times Magazine. This is a distinction given to only 5% of attorneys practicing in the State of New York.
September 2017
Lorraine Berlund Polin has been chosen as New York “Super Lawyers” by Super Lawyers Magazine. This is an honor of Peer Nomination and Editorial Selection, achieved by only 5% of practicing New York lawyers. Ms. Polin has also been selected as a Top Female Attorney in New York 2017 by Thomson Reuters.
January 2017
The Defendants Verdict Alan J. Fumuso obtained in the case of Kelly v. Darras was featured in the New York Law Journal on January 17th, 2017, and listed as the Verdict of the Month in the publication New York Verdict Search, January 2017 edition.
October 2016
Alan J. Fumuso has been selected by the National Academy of Jurisprudence as one of the Premier 100 Trial Attorneys in New York.
September 2016
Alan J. Fumuso and Scott G. Christesen have once again been chosen as New York “Super Lawyers” by Super Lawyers Magazine. This is an honor of Peer Nomination and Editorial Selection, achieved by only 5% of practicing New York lawyers. Both Mr. Fumuso and Mr. Christesen were featured in the September issue of Super Lawyers Magazine, and in the October 2nd issue of the Sunday New York Times Magazine.
July 2016
Alan J. Fumuso was honored at the OMSNIC Defense Counsel Seminar as being one of three national nominees to receive the Victoria J. Sterling Award as National OMSNIC Attorney of the Year.
June 2016
Douglas J. Swart has been chosen as a “New York Super Lawyer” by Super Lawyers Magazine. This is an honor of peer nomination and editorial selection achieved by only 5% of practicing New York Lawyers. Mr. Swart will be featured in the September issue of Super Lawyers Magazine, and the October 2nd issue of the Sunday New York Times Magazine
April 2016
Scott G. Christesen was a panel member of the New York State Bar Association Continuing Legal Education Program entitled “Medical Malpractice Litigation”. He addressed topics including use of Arons authorizations in case preparation, recent developments in lien related issues and substantive and procedural developments in the law.
February 2016
Lorraine Berlund Polin was a guest lecturer at Sedgwick Claims Management Services’ RN Training Seminar on February 14, 2016. The seminar was attended by over 50 nurse/claim examiners from all over the country. The power point presentation focused on “Investigating the Claim”, “Informed Consent”, “Investigative Techniques” and “Preparing an Effective Report”.
December 2015
Christian A. Fumuso presented a Risk Management Seminar to the Administration and Staff of St. Joachim and Anne Nursing Home in Brooklyn. Using Power Point for emphasis, Mr. Fumuso addressed pertinent medical-legal issues including application of the Public Health Law, the importance of proper record keeping, the importance of promptly identifying patients that are both fall risks and at risk to develop skin breakdowns, coordination between the Wound Care Physician and the Nursing and support staff, and other pertinent issues.
September 2015
Alan J. Fumuso and Scott G. Christesen once again have been chosen as New York “Super Lawyers” by Super Lawyers Magazine. This is an honor of Peer Nomination and Editorial Selection, achieved by only 5% of practicing New York lawyers. Both Mr. Fumuso and Mr. Christesen were featured in the September issue of Super Lawyers Magazine, and in the October 3rd issue of the Sunday New York Times Magazine
August 2015
Lorraine Berlund Polin’s Defense Verdict in the case of Bee v. Callahan was the Featured Verdict in the July 20, 2015 issue of the Verdict Search of New York ALM Publication and published in the August 3, 2015 “Verdicts & Settlements” feature of the New York Law Journal.
October 2014
Fumuso, Kelly, Deverna, Snyder, Swart and Farrell LLP was named as the special 2014 Community Honoree by John T. Mather Memorial Hospital in Port Jefferson, New York. Mather selects annually a special Community Honoree who has supported the Hospital and it’s Charitable programs over the years. The award was presented to the Partners of FKDSSF at Mather’s 49th annual One Enchanted Evening Gala at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Hauppauge, N.Y. on October 17th, 2014.
September 2014
Alan J. Fumuso and Scott G. Christesen have been chosen as New York “Super Lawyers” by Super Lawyers Magazine. This is an honor of Peer Nomination and Editorial Selection, achieved by only 5% of practicing New York lawyers. Both Mr. Fumuso and Mr. Christesen were featured in the September issue of Super Lawyers Magazine, and in the October 5th issue of the Sunday New York Times Magazine
July 2014
Alan J. Fumuso was honored by OMS National Insurance Company/Fortress Insurance Company at its bi-annual Defense Counsel Seminar in Chicago. He was one of three attorneys chosen from their national panel to receive the Continuing Legal Excellence Award. This is the second time in the last 6 years that Mr. Fumuso has been chosen to receive this award from OMSNIC, a premier national insurance carrier for oral/maxillofacial surgeons and dentists.
June 2014
Michael K. Kelly was the featured speaker at a Risk Management Seminar before the Nassau County Dental Society. He discussed all medical-legal areas, including charting, informed consent, legal standards that apply to the practice of dentistry, OPD issues, and other related topics.
March 2014
Scott G. Christesen was a panel member of the New York State Bar Association Continuing Legal Education Program entitled “Medical Malpractice Litigation”. He addressed topics including use of Arons authorizations in case preparation, recent developments in lien related issues and substantive and procedural developments in the law.
December 2013
Christian A. Fumuso presented a Risk Management Seminar to the Administration and Staff of Four Seasons Nursing Home in Brooklyn, N.Y. Topics discussed included Wound Care Protocol, the application of the Public Health Law, Chart Documentation, Patient and Family Relations and Litigation Management.
November 2013
Alan J. Fumuso will be a featured speaker at a program presented by the New York State Bar Association in Melville on November 21st. The program is entitled “Basics of Civil Practice”, and Mr. Fumuso will discuss Cross Examination of a Witness at Trial.
September 2013
Alan J. Fumuso has once again been chosen as a New York “Super Lawyer” by Super Lawyers Magazine. To achieve this honor, an attorney has to be nominated by his peers, and then go through a screening process by the magazine editorial board. Only 5% of practicing attorneys in New York achieve this designation. Mr. Fumuso will be featured in the September issue of Super Lawyers Magazine, and in the October 6th issue of the sunday New York Times Magazine.
August 2012
Alan J. Fumuso has once again been chosen as a New York “Super Lawyer” by Super Lawyers Magazine. To achieve this honor, an attorney has to be nominated by his peers, and then go through a screening process by the magazine editorial board. Only 5% of practicing attorneys in New York achieve this designation. Mr. Fumuso will be featured in the September issue of Super Lawyers Magazine, and in the October 7th issue of the sunday New York Times Magazine.
June 2012
Fumuso, Kelly, DeVerna, Snyder, Swart and Farrell, LLP has been selected by New York Magazine as one of the Top Law Firms in the New York Area, and was so listed in it’s May 2012 issue.
March 2012
Scott G. Christesen was a panel member at the New York State Bar Association Continuing Legal Education program entitled “Medical Malpractice”. He addressed topics including the NYS Medical Indemnity Fund, recent developments in lien related matters and substantive developments in the Appellate courts.
March 2012
Alan J. Fumuso participated as an Attorney Panelist for the Risk Management Seminar presented to Oral Surgeons in the New York Metropolitan Area by OMSNIC Insurance Company. The Seminar was presented at Weill Cornell Medical College in Manhattan.
March 2012
Alan J. Fumuso has been named as a recipient of the designation Top 1% Medical Malpractice Defense Trial Lawyers in New York by the organization Medical Malpractice Lawyers.
January 2012
Alan J. Fumuso presented a lecture to the Department of Oral Surgery at Long Island Jewish Hospital. Speaking before both residents and attendings, Mr. Fumuso discussed his recently completed trial successfully representing an Oral Surgeon in Suffolk County, using actual case issues as a teaching tool and demonstration of Risk Management principles
July 2011
Alan J. Fumuso has once again been chosen as a New York “Super Lawyer” by Super Lawyers Magazine. To achieve this honor, an attorney has to be nominated by his peers, and then go through a screening process by the magazine editorial board. Only 5% of practicing attorneys in New York achieve this designation. Mr. Fumuso will be featured in the September issue of Super Lawyers Magazine, and in the October 2nd issue of the sunday New York Times Magazine.
May 2011
Scott Christesen will be a member of the panel at the May 24, 2011 New York State Bar Association Continuing Legal Education program offered at the Melville Marriott, entitled ” How To Commence A Civil Lawsuit”. He will speak on the topic of motion practice dealing with procedural and substantive amendments to and dismissal of the pleadings.
February 2011
Lorraine Berlund Polin and Suzanne LaVoie were guest lecturers at the New York State PeriAnesthesia Nurses Association, Winter Seminar. The seminar was attended by over 125 nurses from the region and was held at Stony Brook University Medical Center on February 5, 2011. Lori and Suzanne were both critical care nurses before attending law school, and Suzanne was a nurse at Stony Brook in the Post Anesthesia Care Unit. The lecture was entitled “Anatomy of a Lawsuit” and also covered “Documentation, a Legal Perspective.”
October 2010
Alan J. Fumuso’s Defense Verdict in the case of Nabavian v. North Shore University Hospital was featured as the “Verdict of the Week” in the October 4th 2010 issue of the New York Jury Verdict Reporter.
August 2010
Alan J. Fumuso has been chosen as a “Super Lawyer” by Super Lawyer Magazine. To receive this distinction an attorney has to be nominated by his peers, and then go through a screening process by the magazine editors. Only 5% of lawyers practicing in New York achieve this designation. Mr. Fumuso will be featured in the September issue of the magazine, and an October issue of the sunday New York Times.
February 2010
Alan J. Fumuso was a featured speaker at the February 2010 dinner meeting of the Nassau-Suffolk Trial Lawyers Association. He lectured on the subjects of Cross-Examination and Summation in a Medical Malpractice case.
July 2009
Alan J. Fumuso will be a featured Speaker at the New York State Bar Association Trial Lawyers Section Summer Meeting taking place July 19th-July 22nd 2009 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel and Spa in Newport, Rhode Island. The topic of his lecture will be Cross Examination of the Medical Expert.
June 2009
The defendant’s verdict obtained by Alan J. Fumuso in the case of Reilly v. Ninia et. al. was featured in a story published in the New York Post June 23, 2009. The article discussed at length the case issues, and the attorneys representing the respective parties during the trial. It was noted that the defendant’s verdict was obtained after an 8 million dollar settlement offer was rejected by the plaintiff’s and their attorney Thomas Moore. The article mentioned that this was the largest offer rejected in a malpractice case in New York State which ultimately resulted in a defendant’s verdict.
May 2009
Lori Polin and Scott Christesen presented a seminar in the fundamentals of a medical malpractice action to the Department of Orthopedics at University Hospital at Stony Brook, under the coordination of Chief Resident Samantha Karp, M.D.
Fall Semester 2008
James F. Farrell, Jr. has accepted an invitation to be a guest lecturer at Saint Joseph’s College of New York during the Fall Semester of 2008, delivering a presentation on “Medical Malpractice in New York.”
July 2008
Alan J. Fumuso received a “Continuing Legal Excellence” Award from OMS National Insurance Company, the national insurer for Oral Surgeons. The award was presented at a Defense Counsel Seminar in Chicago, and was only given to a limited number of attorneys on their national panel.
November 26, 2007
James F. Farrell, Jr. was a participating faculty member at the Bar Association of Suffolk County located in Hauppauge, New York. His presentation was part of a series of lectures focusing upon Motion Practice and was entitled ” Laxness Dismissals, Statutes and Cases.”
November 12, 2007
James F. Farrell, Jr. was the featured lecturer of the Physician’s Assistant Post- Professional Masters Program at Stonybrook University. The presentation was delivered to the master’s candidates participating in a course entitled ” Contemporary Issues in Health Care Delivery” and focused upon diverse issues in health care law including licensing and disciplinary matters, risk management and medical malpractice.
November 10, 2007
Alan J. Fumuso will be a Panel Member in a CLE program involving Trial Practices and Techniques being presented at the St. John’s University School of Law. His topic will include the cross examination of an expert in a medical malpractice trial.
November 01, 2007
Alan J. Fumuso will be a Panel Member in a program being presented through the New York State Bar Association. Mr. Fumuso will be a member of the Long Island Program Faculty of the CLE seminar entitled “Prosecuting and Defending Medical Malpractice Claims” which will be presented at the Holiday Inn in Plainview.
August 09,2007
The defense verdict recently obtained by Alan J. Fumuso in the medical malpractice case of Hobbs v. Ochs in Supreme Court, Queens County, was featured as the “Verdict of the Week” in the July 16th issue of Verdict Search New York. The Hobbs case was a wrongful death action brought on behalf of a 41 year old woman who alleged that she bled to death following multiple tooth extractions.
This was the third time within the last year that a defense verdict by Mr. Fumuso has been specifically highlighted in a legal journal. The New York Law Journal in it’s issue of April 17th 2007 gave a case description at length of the case of Clark v. Schattner, a medical malpractice case tried in Supreme Court Nassau County alleging failure to timely diagnose prostate cancer in a 61 year old plaintiff’s medical malpractice attorney. Also, the New York Law Journal featured Mr. Fumuso’s defense verdict in the case of Fleiger v. Pottanat in it’s May 9th 2006 edition. The Fleiger case involved an allegation of failure to diagnose colon cancer in a 43 year old woman, and was tried in Supreme Court Suffolk County.