Freddie Fender

Freddie Fender Verified Attorney

Richard M. Kenny

Personal Injury

New York, NY
No Disciplinary History · Licensed since 1991
English, Spanish
5.0360 Google Reviews

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When 9/11 First Responders Needed Justice, Richard Kenny Answered Their Call

When you break down what it actually means to hire a personal injury lawyer in New York, the decision usually comes down to a single question: What happens if this case doesn’t settle over a phone call? When you’re dealing with a life-changing injury, you need to know your attorney can look an insurance company in the eye, reject a lowball offer, and walk confidently into a courtroom. Richard M. Kenny has spent more than 35 years building exactly that reputation.

Since his admission to the New York Bar in 1991, Kenny has tried more than 200 cases, including well over 100 personal injury matters that went all the way to a jury or judicial verdict. At a time when relatively few civil cases ever make it to trial, that kind of courtroom experience stands out. Insurance companies know which lawyers are willing to fight and which ones are built to settle. Kenny’s decades in the courtroom give his clients leverage long before a jury is ever seated.

The results tell the story. Kenny secured a remarkable $25 million recovery for first responders impacted by the September 11 attacks, followed by a $13 million appellate verdict that held negligent highway designers accountable for a catastrophic automobile collision. He also obtained an $11 million verdict involving the deaths of three New York City firefighters, along with numerous other multi-million-dollar recoveries, including a $6.2 million construction accident resolution and a $4.35 million scaffold fall recovery. These aren’t just impressive numbers—they represent families who were given the financial resources to rebuild after devastating tragedies.

His credibility extends beyond the verdict sheet. The Appellate Division of the New York State Supreme Court appointed Kenny to the First Department Departmental Disciplinary Committee, trusting him to help oversee the ethical conduct of fellow attorneys. His peers have consistently recognized his work as well, selecting him to the New York Super Lawyers list every year from 2011 through 2026. He is also an active member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum and the New York State Trial Lawyers Association, and has shared his courtroom experience as an adjunct professor at Long Island University, helping prepare the next generation of trial lawyers.

For consumers, however, the strongest endorsement comes from the people who have trusted him during some of the most difficult moments of their lives. Kenny’s firm maintains a flawless 5.0-star Google rating across more than 350 reviews. Clients consistently praise the firm’s responsiveness, honesty, and relentless commitment to securing the best possible outcome. The firm also provides bilingual representation in English and Spanish, ensuring more New Yorkers have access to experienced legal guidance when they need it most.

That combination of experience, reputation, verified professional standing, and public credibility is why Richard M. Kenny was included on FreddieFender.com.

Credentials

  • Education: Juris Doctor, St. John's University School of Law (1990)
  • Education: Bachelor of Arts, State University of New York at Oneonta (1985)
  • Former Appointed Member of the Departmental Disciplinary Committee for the Supreme Court of New York, First Judicial Department
  • Courtroom experience including more than 200 total trial environments
  • Completed over 100 personal injury cases completely to a final jury or judicial verdict
  • Founder and Managing Partner of The Law Office of Richard M. Kenny (Established 2002)
  • Member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum
  • Member of the New York State Trial Lawyers Association
  • Officer and Member of the National Association of Distinguished Counsel
  • Certified Member of the Lawyers of Distinction (2024)
  • Selected to Super Lawyers (2011–2026)

Career Highlights / Proven Experience

Career Highlights

  • Super Lawyers Selection (2011–2026): Selected to the New York Super Lawyers list for sixteen consecutive years, recognizing sustained professional excellence and peer recognition among the top attorneys in New York.
  • More Than Three Decades of Legal Experience: Licensed to practice law in New York since 1991, Richard M. Kenny has devoted more than three decades to representing individuals and families in personal injury litigation.
  • Founder of The Law Office of Richard M. Kenny: Founded The Law Office of Richard M. Kenny in 2002 after practicing at one of New York City’s largest personal injury law firms.
  • Extensive Trial Experience: Has participated in more than 200 trials and successfully tried more than 100 personal injury cases to jury or judicial verdict throughout his career.
  • Service to the Legal Profession: Appointed as a member of the Departmental Disciplinary Committee for the Supreme Court of the State of New York, First Judicial Department, helping oversee attorney ethics and professional conduct.
  • Advocate for First Responders and 9/11 Families: Has represented firefighters injured in the line of duty and provided pro bono legal representation to families affected by the September 11 attacks.

Proven Experience

  • Historic Highway Negligence Verdict: Secured a verdict exceeding $13 million in a negligence case involving catastrophic injuries caused by an unsafe highway design. The verdict was reported as the highest sustained non-medical malpractice negligence verdict in the history of New York’s Appellate Division, Second Department at the time.
  • Firefighter Wrongful Death Verdict: Served as co-counsel in obtaining a verdict exceeding $11 million on behalf of the families of three New York firefighters who lost their lives in the line of duty.
  • Catastrophic Injury Litigation: Represents clients in cases involving catastrophic injuries arising from motor vehicle collisions, construction accidents, premises liability, medical malpractice, and other negligence-related incidents.
  • Construction Accident Litigation: Represents injured workers in complex construction accident claims, including matters involving New York Labor Law.
  • Wrongful Death Representation: Has spent more than three decades representing families pursuing compensation following fatal accidents caused by another party’s negligence.

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