David Scher

Attorney

22 yrs experience
·
New York, NY

Bar admissions

Education

JD: Fordham University School of Law
Undergraduate: Tufts University

Awards and recognition

01{"name":"Super Lawyers","year":null,"description":"Top 5% personal injury attorneys, NY Metro, 2016-present"}
02{"name":"Best Lawyers","year":null,"description":"Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs, 2024-present"}
03{"name":"City & State New York Trailblazers in Law","year":2024,"description":null}
04{"name":"Million Dollar Advocates Forum","year":null,"description":"Member"}
05{"name":"Multimillion Dollar Advocates Forum","year":null,"description":"Member"}
06{"name":"National Trial Lawyers Top 100","year":null,"description":null}

Memberships

{"name":"New York State Trial Lawyers Association","role":"Past President (2024); Co-Chair, Labor Law Committee; Judicial Committee Member"}
{"name":"American Association for Justice","role":"Member"}
{"name":"NY State Unified Court System, AI and the Courts Advisory Committee","role":"Member (2023)"}

Publications

{"title":"Justice Suffers Without Pay Parity for New York's Judges","year":null,"description":"NY Law Journal"}
{"title":"Court of Appeals Refuses to Limit Scope of Labor Law Section 240(1)","year":null,"description":"NY Law Journal"}
{"title":"The Tragic Limitations of New York's Outdated Wrongful Death Law","year":null,"description":"Best Lawyers"}
{"title":"Don't Fall for Scare Tactics: The Grieving Families Act Will Help New Yorkers","year":null,"description":"Albany Times Union"}
{"title":"Can Injured, Undocumented Construction Workers Recover Lost Wages?","year":null,"description":"NY Law Journal"}
{"title":"Still Debating What 'Falls' Within Labor Law 240(1)","year":null,"description":"NY Law Journal"}

Background

David L. Scher is a Partner at Block O'Toole & Murphy and a past President of the New York State Trial Lawyers Association (NYSTLA). He has secured hundreds of millions of dollars in resolutions for clients injured in serious construction, commercial vehicle, and premises liability accidents, and heads the firm's appellate practice with numerous appellate victories and Court of Appeals appearances. David joined Block O'Toole & Murphy in 2003 and became a partner in 2012. He has handled landmark matters including a $65,000,000 settlement on behalf of a Brooklyn cyclist struck by subway construction debris, which is reported to be the largest individual personal injury settlement in New York State history. Other notable results include a $15 million wrongful death recovery for an HVAC technician, a $13.5 million Long Island pedestrian settlement believed to be the largest in Suffolk County, a $12 million Local 147 tunnel worker recovery, a $9.95 million amputation case, and an $8.8 million traumatic brain injury settlement (2014) ranked among the ten largest in the U.S. that year. His appellate work, including Ortiz v. Varsity Holdings, has shaped New York construction safety law. A native of Albany, New York, David earned his Juris Doctor from Fordham University School of Law and his Bachelor of Arts from Tufts University. Before joining the firm, he served in the New York State Attorney General's Office, clerked for New York Supreme Court Justice Shirley Kornreich, and volunteered at a civil rights legal aid clinic. He has been recognized by Super Lawyers (top 5% in New York Metro), Best Lawyers in Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs (2024-present), and as a 2024 City & State New York Trailblazer in Law. He is a member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, the Multimillion Dollar Advocates Forum, and the National Trial Lawyers Top 100.

Notable cases

—$65M
Brooklyn cyclist struck by subway construction debris; largest reported individual personal injury settlement in New York State history
—$15M
Wrongful death of HVAC technician installing cooling unit at Bronx hospital
—$13.5M
Pedestrian struck by vehicle in Long Island; believed to be the largest Suffolk County settlement
—$12M
Local 147 tunnel worker fell into open shaft causing orthopedic and neurologic injuries
—$9.9M
Social worker in Buffalo lost leg after being struck by out-of-control van
2014$8.8M
Queens pedestrian suffered traumatic brain injury after being struck by van on sidewalk; tenth largest U.S. settlement that year

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