Freddie Fender Verified Attorney

Michael S. Lamonsoff
Personal Injury
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Freddie's Review
Nearly $1 Billion Later, Michael “The Bull” Lamonsoff Is Still Charging
There comes a moment in every serious injury case when an ordinary person realizes they are up against something much bigger than themselves. The insurance company has an army of lawyers. A city agency refuses to accept responsibility. Settlement offers arrive that barely scratch the surface of what has been lost. In New York, many injured victims turn to Michael S. Lamonsoff at that exact moment. Known throughout the city’s legal community as “The Bull,” Lamonsoff has spent more than three decades building a reputation around one simple philosophy: prepare every case as though it is going to trial. That approach alone changes the conversation, forcing insurance companies and corporate defendants to evaluate cases very differently from the start.
His courtroom reputation is built on more than determination. Before opening his own firm in 1994, Lamonsoff gained a rare perspective from inside the legal system, serving as a law clerk for the U.S. Attorney’s Office before representing insurance companies as a defense attorney for AIG. That experience gave him firsthand knowledge of how insurers assess risk, defend claims, and decide when to fight or settle. Combined with dual master’s degrees in Psychology from Columbia University and a law degree from Cardozo School of Law, he brings an uncommon understanding of both the legal and human sides of trial advocacy, particularly when selecting juries and presenting complex injury cases.
The results speak for themselves. Over the course of his career, Lamonsoff has helped recover nearly $1 billion for injured clients. When New York City offered just $350,000 to settle a school sexual abuse case, he rejected the offer and ultimately secured a $16 million jury verdict. In another landmark case, he represented Fernando Bermudez after his wrongful conviction, helping obtain an $11.75 million recovery, which became the largest wrongful conviction settlement in New York State Court history at the time. Those victories reflect an attorney who is willing to take difficult cases the distance when justice demands it.
Lamonsoff’s influence extends well beyond the courtroom. He is a frequent legal analyst for CNN, MSNBC, Fox News, ABC, CBS, and international media outlets, helping explain major legal stories to audiences around the world. Within the legal profession, he serves on the Board of Directors of the New York State Trial Lawyers Association, maintains lifetime membership in the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum, and has earned repeated recognition from Super Lawyers for his work on behalf of injured victims.
Despite his national profile, the firm’s focus remains on serving everyday New Yorkers. The office provides representation in English, Spanish, Arabic, Mandarin, French, and Russian, ensuring clients from diverse communities can navigate the legal process with confidence. That commitment is reflected in the firm’s 4.7-star Google rating across nearly 600 reviews, where clients consistently praise the team’s dedication, communication, and willingness to fight for the best possible outcome.
That combination of experience, reputation, verified professional standing, and public credibility is why Michael S. Lamonsoff was included on FreddieFender.com.
Credentials
- Education: Juris Doctor, Yeshiva University Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law (1990)
- Education: Dual Master's Degrees in Psychology, Columbia University
- Education: Bachelor of Arts, University of Arizona
- Former Law Clerk for the U.S. Attorney’s Office under Rudolph Giuliani
- Former Insurance Defense Litigator for AIG
- Board of Directors, New York State Trial Lawyers Association
- Member, Million Dollar Advocates Forum
- Member, Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum
- Selected to Super Lawyers (2014, 2018, 2020–2026)
Career Highlights / Proven Experience
Career Highlights
- Founded a Powerhouse Practice: Started The Law Offices of Michael S. Lamonsoff, PLLC in 1994, building it from a solo operation into one of New York's largest plaintiff personal injury firms.
- Earned "The Bull" Moniker: Nicknamed "The Bull" by peers and the judiciary for his relentless courtroom presence and absolute refusal to accept lowball insurance settlements.
- Elite Insurance Insider Knowledge: Worked early in his career as an insurance defense litigator for AIG, gaining insider knowledge on how corporate giants try to minimize claim values.
- Frequent National Media Analyst: Widely sought after for expert legal commentary on major national networks, making frequent television appearances on CNN, MSNBC, Fox News, ABC, NBC, and CBS to dissect high-profile litigations.
- International Legal Commentary: Provided broadcasted legal commentary for international news outlets in Germany, China, and Brazil regarding trending American legal matters.
- Institutional Legal Leadership: Serves an active term on the Board of Directors of the New York State Trial Lawyers Association, actively shaping litigation standards across the state.
- Consistent Peer Distinction: Inducted as a lifetime member of both the Million Dollar Advocates Forum and the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum.
- Psychological Trial Edge: Earned dual post-graduate Master's degrees in Psychology from Columbia University, a credential he weaponizes during jury selection and witness cross-examinations.
- Top Industry Recognition: Repeatedly named to Super Lawyers (2014, 2018, 2020–2026) and consistently featured in VerdictSearch’s Top New York Verdicts.
Proven Experience
- $37,000,000 Construction Accident Settlement: Secured for an elevator mechanic who sustained catastrophic, life-altering injuries on a job site.
- $16,000,000 Sexual Abuse Verdict: Won against the New York City Department of Education for an abused student, completely rejecting the city's minor $350,000 pretrial settlement offer.
- $11,750,000 Wrongful Conviction Recovery: Secured for Fernando Bermudez; the $4.75 million state portion set the record for the highest wrongful conviction settlement in New York State Court history.
- $11,000,000 Bus Accident Award: Obtained a $10 million trial verdict plus $1 million in pre-trial interest for a severely injured transit commuter.
- $10,000,000 Car Accident Verdict: Secured what stood as the 5th largest auto accident award in New Jersey history.
- $12,157,000 Train Derailment Settlement: Recovered on behalf of multiple victims injured in a major, high-profile commuter rail disaster.
- $4,155,000 Slip and Fall Verdict: Tripled the City of New York's maximum pretrial settlement offer of $1.25 million by taking a complex sidewalk trip-and-fall case all the way to a jury.
- High-Profile Disaster Representation: Retained by victims of major public catastrophes, including the crash of American Airlines Flight 587, the Harlem gas explosion, and multiple Metro-North train derailments.
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