Founding Partner Jeffrey A. Block was recently named the 2023 Lawyer of the Year in Personal Injury – Plaintiffs in New York City, a distinction that is awarded to just one lawyer in each region per practice area.
Each year, Best Lawyers® evaluates New York State attorneys based on peer-review evaluation. Over 116,000 lawyers are eligible to cast their votes for the awards, and over 12.2 million votes were analyzed for the 2023 edition of The Best Lawyers in America®. This award requires a large amount of positive feedback from their peers, making it an important distinction
“It is an honor to have our work recognized by the industry,” said Mr. Block. “The clients we work with are honest, hardworking people whose lives have been upended because of tragic accidents. I’m very proud of our team for doing everything we can to get each and every client the best resolution possible.”
Mr. Block has also been recognized as a “Super Lawyer” in New York State, which means he is among the top 5% of New York personal injury trial lawyers. The National Trial Lawyer named Mr. Block as one of the Top 100 Trial Lawyers in New York State. And since 2014, Mr. Block has been included in the Best Lawyers® list for Personal Injury – Plaintiffs.
In 1989, Mr. Block created what is now known as Block O’Toole & Murphy, LLP to wage battle for the underdog, fighting for the rights of injury victims. To Mr. Block, every case was the most important case in the office.
“We want a better result and a better experience for our clients. That’s why we take fewer cases and spend more time with our clients.” says Mr. Block
Over the years, he has won cases for construction workers, traffic accident victims, and other victims harmed in serious personal injury matters. Bringing his ethos all the way to 2022, he has attained hundreds of personal injury verdicts and settlements exceeding $1,000,000 for clients. Recently, the firm passed the $1.5 billion mark in resolutions.
Mr. Block’s personal injury results include:
- $14,000,000 jury verdict for a motorcycle rider in Nassau County who was in an accident that resulted in a below-the-knee amputation—the highest non-medical malpractice verdict ever in Nassau County
- $12,000,000 settlement for an 8-year-old child who was injured in a motor vehicle accident—with a structured payout in excess of $70 Million
- $10,875,000 jury verdict for a union laborer who was injured while constructing a rooftop and as a result, suffered serious internal injuries
Mr. Block’s drive to help the community goes beyond the courtroom. When Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico in 2017, Mr. Block sought out ways to provide much-needed assistance to the island’s residents whose homes were ravaged by the storm.
He spearheaded a drive to collect essential supplies that included baby formula, batteries, diapers, cases of water, boxes of cereal, and 2,400 pounds of rice. Mr. Block drove the truck to the Bronx County Courthouse himself and unloaded supplies alongside several Block O’Toole & Murphy staff members.
Alongside his firm partners, Mr. Block has raised over $6 million for St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital. Mr. Block and his partners are also major donors to two other charities that offer support and relief to families of children with cancer, Candlelighters of New York City and The Frances Pope Memorial Foundation.