Joseph A. French

Partner

Joseph A. French, the founding partner of French & Casey, LLP, is an experienced litigation and trial attorney with over twenty-five years of experience. 

Mr. French began his career as an Assistant District Attorney in the Office of the District Attorney for Kings County (Brooklyn, New York).  During his tenure with the Kings County District Attorney’s Office, he successfully prosecuted numerous cases, primarily in the Narcotics and Homicide Bureau, and obtained dozens of verdicts.  Following his experience with the Kings County District Attorney’s Office, Mr. French worked with the firm of Flemming Zulack & Williamson, LLP where he defended toxic tort, product liability and commercial litigation defendants.  After working at a prominent New York City insurance defense firm, Mr. French became Special Counsel at Rosenman & Colin, LLP (now Katten, Muchin & Rosenman LLP) in the late 1990s.

Joe began his own practice in 2000 as a partner in Flanagan, Cooke & French, LLP, a predecessor to what eventually became French & Casey, LLP.  He is well-known for representing and defending major New York City scaffold and hoist companies, and he has obtained numerous verdicts and scores of favorable summary judgment decisions for his varied construction clients.  His practice, however, has expanded and has included a variety of clients ranging from rock star Ozzie Osbourne, whom he successfully defended at a three week trial, and Motley Crue, to defending well-known New York City night clubs and restaurants, a prominent religious organization, and many metropolitan area businesses and individuals.

Mr. French’s practice has gradually expanded from the construction and insurance defense arenas to commercial litigation, legal malpractice, railroad law, and trusts and estates litigation.  Many litigation clients now retain the Firm for services ranging from business planning and advice to estate planning.

Mr. French earned his undergraduate degree in American Studies with highest honors from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1979. He received his J.D. from Columbus School of Law, The Catholic University of America in1983, where he was a member of the Catholic University of American Law Review and winner of the Nathan Burkan Award for Copyright, Trademark and Patent Law.

Mr. French is an active participant in numerous community and professional organizations. Since 1990, he has served as a Special Master for the Supreme Court in New York County, working closely with various judges in the Court’s Commercial Law Division to assist in the resolution of disputes between commercial litigants.

Mr. French is a member of the New York State Bar Association, the New York County Bar Association, the Queens County Bar Association, and the Defense Research Institute. Mr. French has also been an active member of the Douglaston (Queens) Civic Association, serving as President between 1991-1995 and Vice President between 1995-2000.  Additionally, Mr. French has served on the Douglas Manor Association Board of Directors, and has been a Coach for Queens County C.Y.O. In recognition for his dedication to his community, Mr. French was the 2007 recipient for the Van Zandt Award for Community Service, Douglaston, Queens.  

Decisions:

Murphy v. Chaos, 26 A.D.3d 231, 810 N.Y.S.2d 39 (1st Dept. 2006)
Aguilar v. NYCHA, Komi Construction, Ace Scaffold Co., 8 Misc.3d 1011A, 801 N.Y.S.2D 776; 2005 App. Withdrawn, 2005 N.Y. App. Div LEXIS 13640 (1st Dept. 2005)
Matter of McDaniel v. 162 Columbia Hgts. Hous. Corp., 2009 NY Slip Op 29047; 2009 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 216, February, 2009
Martinez v. Tishman Construction Corp., 642 N.Y.S.2d 674 (1st Dept. 1996)