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  • Bio
  • Credentials
  • Notable Work
  • Awards & Accolades
  • Notable Verdicts/Settlements

Derek J. Spada

Attorney

Derek J. Spada was born in Kingston, raised in Saugerties, and currently resides in Woodstock. He has successfully concluded thousands of personal injury cases since becoming an attorney. Mr. Spada is often assigned the most complex aspects of the firm’s cases. He is highly regarded by his peers and has become an especially accomplished appellate attorney.

Derek has handled more than 100 appeals and opposed nearly 1,000 summary judgment motions during his career.

He is also a distinguished trial attorney, having obtained the highest jury verdicts in Ulster County in 2021 and thus far in 2022.

Derek is highly regarded by his peers. He has been voted President of the Ulster County Bar Association for an unprecedented three terms, served as the Chair of the Ulster Country Board of Ethics from 2015 - 2022, and been a member of the Character and Fitness Committee for the Third Judicial Department since 2013. Derek has been active in organizations throughout the community and also coached his son’s Little League baseball team for several years.

Derek was named to the National Trial Lawyers Top 40 Under 40 list for several years and then has been named to the Top 100 Trial Lawyers of New York State since 2018. He has been recognized by his peers as a Super Lawyer since 2018 and given an AV Preeminent rating by Martindale-Hubbell.

    Memberships

    After only four years in practice, Derek J. Spada received Martindale-Hubbell’s highest peer review rating: AV Preeminent. He has since received the following honors:

    Admissions:

    Education

    Derek received his Bachelor of Arts from the College of Saint Rose, Magna Cum Laude, in 1999 and Juris Doctor from Cardozo School of Law at Yeshiva University in 2002. He also studied abroad at Oxford University in Oxford, England.

    In law school, Derek was a member of the Cardozo Moot Court Honor Society from 2000-2002. While a member of Moot Court, he was the Northeast Regional Winner and Winner of the Best Brief Award in the Giles Sutherland Rich Moot Court Competition in Boston, MA, and advanced to semifinalist in the national Giles Sutherland Rich competition held in Washington, D.C. He also clerked for Hon. George B. Daniels in the Federal Southern District of New York.

    At graduation, Derek was awarded the Jacob Burns Medal for Best Brief, which is given to the best writer on the Moot Court Honor Society.

    Teaching Engagements:

    Derek has taught the following topics in continuing legal education courses:

    • How to Lay a Foundation to Get Your Evidence Introduced, October 2021
    • Civil Trial Case Presentation, August 2020
    • Personal Injury Evidence: Social Media, Smartphones, Experts and Medical Records, June 2018
    • Plaintiff’s Personal Injury from Start to Finish, June 2017
    • Litigating Slip, Trip, and Fall Cases in New York, December 2016
    • Voir Dire and Jury Selection, March 2015
    • Applying the Rules of Evidence: What Every Attorney Needs to Know, May 2014
    • Litigating Automobile Accident Cases, July 2012

    Awards and Accolades

    After only four years in practice, Derek received Martindale-Hubbell’s highest peer review rating: AV Preeminent. He has since received the following honors:

    Recent Verdicts/Settlements

    Reported Appeals & Cases

    • Muscato v. Spare Time Entertainment, 74 Misc.3d 1215(A) (Schenectady County, 2022)
    • Capuzzi v. Fuller, 200 A.D.3d 1448 (3d Dep’t 2021)
    • Haggerty v. Northern Dutchess Hospital, 199 A.D.3d 783 (2d Dep’t 2021)
    • Lyall v. Justin Boot Company, 194 A.D.3d 1237 (3d Dep’t 2021)
    • Mesiti v. Martin, 190 A.D.3d 1145 (3d Dep’t 2021)
    • Mesiti v. Knight, 190 A.D.3d 1141 (3d Dep’t 2021)
    • Burns v. Childress, 189 A.D.3d 1939 (3d Dep’t 2020)
    • Cole v. Chun, 185 A.D.3d 1183 (3d Dep’t 2020)
    • Whiteside v. Stachecki, 180 A.D.3d 1291 (3d Dep’t 2020)
    • Mesiti v. Weiss, 178 A.D.3d 1332 (3d Dep’t 2019)
    • Morales v. Digesare Mechanical, Inc., 176 A.D.3d 1442 (3d Dep’t 2019)
    • Sarab v. BJ's Wholesale Club, 174 A.D.3d 933 (2d Dep’t 2019)
    • Ross v. GEICO Indemnity Company, 172 A.D.3d 1834 (3d Dep’t 2019)
    • Pelham v. Moracco, LLC, 172 A.D.3d 1689 (3d Dep’t 2019)
    • Metzger v. Lazala, 171 A.D.3d 1287 (3d Dep’t 2019)
    • Maksuta v. Heitzman, 165 A.D.3d 1550 (3d Dep’t 2018)
    • Pickles v. Hyde Park Central School District, 164 A.D.3d 701 (3d Dep’t 2018)
    • Martinez v. Allen, 163 A.D.3d 951 (3d Dep’t 2018)
    • Pineiro v. Rush, 163 A.D.3d 1097 (3d Dep’t 2018)
    • Mulligan v. R & D Properties of New York Inc., 162 A.D.3d 1301 (3d Dep’t 2018)
    • Torgersen v. A & F Black Creek Realty, LLC, 158 A.D.3d 1042 (3d Dep’t 2018)
    • Freligh v. Government Employees Insurance Company, 158 A.D.3d 858 (3d Dep’t 2018)
    • Freligh v. Government Employees Insurance Company, 30 N.Y.3d 1044 (Court of Appeals 2017)
    • Beck v. Stewart's Shops Corp., 156 A.D.3d 1040 (3d Dep’t 2017)
    • Calvitti v. 40 Garden, LLC, 155 A.D.3d 1399 (3d Dep’t 2017)
    • Freligh v. Government Employees Ins. Co., 152 A.D.3d 1145 (3d Dep’t 2017)
    • Mangra v. Bruck, 60 Misc.3d 1227(A) 14-1315 (Ulster County, 2016)
    • Williams v. State, 140 A.D.3d 1376 (3d Dep’t 2016)
    • Greener v. Town of Hurley, 140 A.D.3d 1285 (3d Dep’t 2016)
    • Billera v. Merritt Const., Inc., 139 A.D.3d 52 (3d Dep’t 2016)
    • Potter v. YMCA of Kingston & Ulster County, 136 A.D.3d 1265 (3d Dep’t 2016)
    • Mayr v. Alvarez, 130 A.D.3d 1199 (3d Dep’t 2015)
    • Clark v. Stewart's Ice Cream Co., 50 Misc.3d 1222(A) (Greene County, 2015)
    • Cicchetti v. Tower Windsor Terrace, LLC, 128 A.D.3d 1262 (3d Dep’t 2015)
    • D.T. v. Rich, 24 N.Y.3d 1103 (Court of Appeals, 2014)
    • Barley v. Robert J. Wilkins, Inc., 122 A.D.3d 1116 (3d Dep’t, 2014)
    • Ryan v. Taconic Realty Associates, 122 A.D.3d 708 (3d Dep’t 2014)
    • Shelley v. McCutcheon, 121 A.D.3d 1243 (3d Dep’t 2014)
    • Lacasse v. Sorbello, 121 A.D.3d 1241 (3d Dep’t 2014)
    • Cicchetti v. Tower Windsor Terrace, LLC, 53 Misc.3d 1216(A) (Ulster County, 2014)
    • Thomas v. Ku, 112 A.D.3d 1200 (3d Dep’t 2013)
    • Jacobs v. Mazzei, 112 A.D.3d 1115 (3d Dep’t 2013)
    • Paterno v. Strimling, 107 A.D.3d 1233 (3d Dep’t 2013)
    • Haire v. Bonelli, 107 A.D.3d 1204 (3d Dep’t 2013)
    • Rosier v. Stoeckeler, 101 A.D.3d 1310 (3d Dep’t 2012)
    • D'Antuono v. Village of Saugerties, 101 A.D.3d 1331 (3d Dep’t 2012)
    • Torres v. Rich, 100 A.D.3d 1300 (3d Dep’t 2012)
    • Vanderlyn v. Daly, 97 A.D.3d 1053 (3d Dep’t 2012)
    • Gibbons v. Pine Bush Cent. School Dist., 97 A.D.3d 724 (2d Dep’t 2012)
    • Inger v. PCK Development Co., LLC, 97 A.D.3d 895 (3d Dep’t 2012)
    • Paterno v. Strimling, 45 Misc.3d 1210(A) (Ulster County, 2012)
    • Rosell v. City of Kingston, 92 A.D.3d 1123 (3d Dep’t 2012)
    • McNally v. Kiki, Inc., 92 A.D.3d 1105 (3d Dep’t 2012)
    • Smith v. Maloney, 91 A.D.3d 1259 (3d Dep’t 2012)
    • Thurber v. Apmann, 91 A.D.3d 1257 (3d Dep’t 2012)
    • Maurer v. John A. Coleman Catholic High School, 91 A.D.3d 116 (3d Dep’t 2012)
    • Finnigan v. Lasher, 90 A.D.3d 1286 (3d Dep’t 2011)
    • Whalen v. New York City Dept. of Environmental Protection, 89 A.D.3d 416 (1st Dep’t 2011)
    • Budik v. CSX Transp., Inc., 88 A.D.3d 1097 (3d Dep’t 2011)
    • Cantwell v. Fox Hill Community Ass'n, Inc., 87 A.D.3d 1106 (2d Dep’t 2011)
    • Miller v. Kingston Diagnostic Center, 33 Misc.3d 496 (Ulster County, 2011)
    • Bodge v. Red Hook Senior Housing Development Fund Co., Inc., 85 A.D.3d 1073 (3d Dep’t 2011)
    • Hightower v. Ghio, 82 A.D.3d 934 (2d Dep’t 2011)
    • Simmons v. Saugerties Cent. School Dist., 82 A.D.3d 1407 (3d Dep’t 2011)
    • Crespo v. City of Kingston, 80 A.D.3d 1124 (3d Dep’t 2011)
    • Roebuck v. State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co, 80 A.D.3d 1126 (3d Dep’t 2011)
    • Kittner v. Eastern Mut. Ins., Co. 80 A.D.3d 843 (3d Dep’t 2011)
    • Kruger v. State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins., Co. 79 A.D.3d 1519 (3d Dep’t 2010)
    • Lawrence v. Pelkey, 27 Misc.3d 1215(A) (Columbia County, 2010)
    • Haggerty v. Brady, 71 A.D.3d 1281 (3d Dep’t 2010)
    • Bright v. McGowan, 14 N.Y.3d 745 (Court of Appeals 2010)
    • Smith v. Prazenica, 28 Misc.3d 1219(A) (Ulster County, 2010)
    • Champ-Doran v. Lewis, 69 A.D.3d 1101 (3d Dep’t 2010)
    • Godfrey v. Town of Hurley, 68 A.D.3d 1527 (3d Dep’t 2009)
    • Blanc v. City of Kingston, 68 A.D.3d 1525 (3d Dep’t 2009)
    • Perry v. Cumberland Farms, Inc, 68 A.D.3d 1409 891 (3d Dep’t 2009)
    • Crespo v. City of Kingston, 42 Misc.3d 1216(A) (Ulster County, 2009)
    • Farley v. Town of Rhinebeck, 65 A.D.3d 1279 (3d Dep’t 2009)
    • Colavito v. Steyer, 65 A.D.3d 735 (3d Dep’t 2009)
    • Bright ex rel. Bright v. McGowan, 63 A.D.3d 1239 (3d Dep’t 2009)
    • Boice v. City of Kingston, 60 A.D.3d 1140 (3d Dep’t 2009)
    • Hoffman v. Perry, 23 Misc.3d 1125(A) (Ulster County, 2009)
    • Hammond v. GMAC Ins. Group, 56 A.D.3d 882 (3d Dep’t 2008)
    • Cantwell v. Rondout Sav. Bank, 55 A.D.3d 1031 (3d Dep’t 2008)
    • Rose ex rel. Rose v. Onteora Cent. School Dist., 52 A.D.3d 1161 (3d Dep’t 2008)
    • Kleeschulte v. Blair, 20 Misc.3d 1114(A) (Ulster County 2008)
    • Scott v. Aponte, 49 A.D.3d 1131 (3d Dep’t 2008)
    • Mosquera v. Orin, 48 A.D.3d 935 (3d Dep’t 2008)
    • Rieker v. Encompass Ins. Co., 19 Misc.3d 1116(A) (City of Kingston 2008)
    • Poser ex rel. O'Brien v. Varnovitsky, 46 A.D.3d 1295 (3d Dep’t 2007)
    • City of Kingston v. Harco Nat. Ins. Co., 46 A.D.3d 1320 (3d Dep’t 2007)
    • Todaro v. GEICO General Ins. Co., 46 A.D.3d 1086 (3d Dep’t 2007)
    • Gibbs v. Harp, 46 A.D.3d 1010 (3d Dep’t 2007)
    • Motrie v. Reid, 45 A.D.3d 941 (3d Dep’t 2007)
    • Felton v. Kelly, 44 A.D.3d 1217 (3d Dep’t 2007)
    • Cahill v. Lat, 39 A.D.3d 1013 (3d Dep’t 2007)
    • Scott v. Aponte, 19 Misc.3d 1124(A) (Ulster County, 2007)
    • DeCicco v. Longendyke, 37 A.D.3d 934 (3d Dep’t 2007)
    • Schacker v. County of Orange, 33 A.D.3d 903 (3d Dep’t 2006)
    • Campo v. Holland, 32 A.D.3d 630 (3d Dep’t 2006)
    • Tuna v. Babendererde, 32 A.D.3d 574 (3d Dep’t 2006)
    • Saunders v. Bryant's Towing,27 A.D.3d 992 (3d Dep’t 2006)
    • Gokey v. Decicco, 24 A.D.3d 860 (3d Dep’t 2005)
    • Fitzgerald v. Adirondack Transit Lines, Inc., 23 A.D.3d 907 (3d Dep’t 2005)
    • Castiglione v. E.A. Morse & Co., Inc., 22 A.D.3d 934 (3d Dep’t 2005)
    • Fairchild v. J. Crew Group, Inc., 21 A.D.3d 523 (2d Dep’t 2005)
    • Van Leuvan v. Rondout Valley Cent. School Dist., 20 A.D.3d 645 (3d Dep’t 2005)
    • Nelson v. Sweet Associates, Inc., 15 A.D.3d 714 (3d Dep’t 2005)
    • Lynch v. Progressive Ins. Co., 12 A.D.3d 570 (2d Dep’t 2004)
    • Chiarini ex rel. Chiarini v. County of Ulster, 9 A.D.3d 769 (3d Dep’t 2004)
    • Wolf v. Holyoke Mut. Ins. Co., 3 A.D.3d 660 (3d Dep’t 2004)
    • Randolph v. Warnecke, 1 A.D.3d 731 (3d Dep’t 2003)

    hUNDREDS Of millions of dollars recovered for our CLIENTS

    • $4,000,000 | Tractor Trailer Accident

      A truck driver was rear-ended by another trucker and suffered failed back syndrome.

    • $4,000,000 | Motorcycle Accident

      Our client was a 34-year-old driving a motorcycle into work when she struck a pothole with her front tire causing her to lose control and impact a guardrail. Our client was transported by helicopter to Albany Medical Center, having suffered serious injuries.

    • $3,850,000 | Post-Operative Complication

      Attorneys John A. DeGasperis and Eli B. Basch negotiated a multi-million dollar settlement on behalf of an Albany County woman who sustained a traumatic brain injury (TBI) due to hospital and physician malpractice.

    • $3,750,000 | Slip & Fall

      After a long and difficult battle, justice was obtained. Our client was a grandmother visiting a museum with her grandchildren. She tripped and fell on a ramp that led from one room to another within the museum.

    • $3,300,000 | Floor Collapse

      Our client literally fell through the floor.

    The Opinions that matter Most

    Serious injuries require genuine representation
    • This firm will fight for you and get results! We cannot recommend them enough!

      “Above everything, John and Katie showed genuine concern for me and my family. It’s clear how passionate John is about his work and doing what’s best for his clients.”

    • I will certainly recommend Maureen Keegan in the future!

      “Throughout the 2+ years, Maureen Keegan continued to persevere on my behalf, contacting doctors, etc. and continually informing me of the status of my case.”

    • Derek was extremely helpful and informative through every step of the way.

      “Everyone in the firm was pleasant. Thank you for helping to achieve this victorious win! I highly recommend this amazing firm!”

    • Your first mistake would be not to call Basch & Keegan because they truly are the very best in every way.

      “All of the attorneys treated me like family which is very important when you are injured. Derek Spada has become my personal friend and holds a special place in my heart forever.”

    What sets us apart?

    • Here to Help Win the Fight

      Backed by our experience and insight, we’ve become known for taking on the toughest claims. If you or someone you love has been injured by the negligence or wrongful acts of another, we’re here to help you fight for the justice you deserve.

    • HERE TO HELP Get Results

      At Basch & Keegan LLP, we have the resources and experience to help victims level the playing field with even the most powerful adversaries – and we have the record of success to back it up.

    • HERE TO HELP When You’re Hurt

      We serve as the support system you can rely on as you begin your recovery. We go the extra mile to ensure you can focus on getting better while we work on the legal aspects of your claim.

    • HERE TO HELP Regardless of Who You Ask

      We place an emphasis on personal attention. This approach allows us to create legal strategies custom-tailored to each client’s unique circumstances and has earned us the respect of our peers.

    • HERE TO HELP The Community

      Our Kingston-based lawyers have deep roots in the community and a lengthy history of giving back to Ulster County. When the community needs us, we are always here to help.

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