CRIMINAL LAW
As a defense attorney and former prosecutor in the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office, Richard J. Kaufman has been trying felony and other criminal cases since 1977. He has represented clients in a full range of criminal matters, ranging from serious felonies to DWI/DUI and traffic infractions. Below is a partial list of the types of matters handled by our Suffolk County, Long Island criminal law office over the past years:
- Grand Larceny / Robbery
- DWI / DUI
- Drug Sales / Drug Possession
- Sexual Crimes / Rape / Abuse
- Murder / Manslaughter
- Weapons Charges
- Petit Larceny / Shoplifting
- Suspended License / Traffic Violations
- Federal & State Forfeiture Proceedings
- Counterfeiting
- Trademark Infringement
- Professional Malfeasance
Our Long Island criminal law attorneys can be reached for any criminal matter 24 hours a day, seven days a week at our Suffolk County office by calling 631-331-0950
-
Read moreFrom his Suffolk County office located on Main Street, Port Jefferson, New York, Mr. Kaufman has handled criminal law matters in all metropolitan New York state and federal courts and many administrative tribunals throughout Nassau and Suffolk Counties. Mr. Kaufman has provided criminal representation in such nationally prominent cases, among others, as the Long Island environmental terrorist, the Suffolk County husband accused of poisoning his wife through dermal absorption, and the New York City businessman accused of counterfeiting millions of dollars worth of designer products.
If you have been arrested for any type of criminal charge, or are under investigation by the authorities for any criminal matter, it is important that you promptly obtain a Suffolk County criminal law attorney as early in the process as possible. Oftentimes, what may appear to a defendant to be merely innocent cooperation actually provides a prosecutor with what he uses as pivotal evidence in a criminal prosecution or civil forfeiture proceeding. You can rely on the Law Office of Richard J. Kaufman for immediate and experienced advice (regardless of the day of the week or time of day) and for us to be at your side when you appear in court, regardless of how short the notice. Our office provides quality legal services for criminal defendants and maintains a high success rate in defending our clients, both at trial and in negotiations with prosecuting authorities.
PERSONAL INJURY
Our mission has always been to help rebuild the lives of those harmed by the negligent and wrongful conduct of others.
We accept all personal injury and wrongful death cases on a contingency fee basis which mean that if there is NO RECOVERY, NO FEE is charged. Only after your case has been settled or a judgment obtained and satisfied do we deduct legal fees and costs from the amount recovered. Our goal is to achieve fair and just compensation for our clients through understanding and compassion, while using aggressive representation throughout the legal process.
Among the recent successes we have been able to achieve on behalf of our clients are:
- $2,000,000 recovery after liability verdict in trial involving a major Long Island hospital’s failure to warn the client of an FDA recall for a defective TMJ implant prosthetic
- $625,000 recovery for mentally-challenged pedestrian crossing busy roadway
- $450,000 recovery for chemical burn to the scalp of a hair salon customer – believed to be the largest recovery in the nation for an injury of its size
- $450,000 recovery against a school district on behalf of an 8-year old girl for head trauma caused by negligent placement of a rope divider on the playground
- $377,500 recovery against a Suffolk County driver for multiple fractures of the hand and foot, requiring surgery and insertion of hardware
- $260,000 recovery on behalf of a florist delivery person against a homeowner for creating a hazardous slippery condition by having improperly painted the cement front stoop causing back injuries, which required surgery
- $210,000 recovery against the owner of a commercial office building for hand injuries sustained as a result of slipping on ice in the parking lot
- $200,000 recovery for neurological injury suffered by an adult cyclist crossing a Suffolk County roadway against traffic
If you think you have been the victim of an accident or other wrong for which you may deserve compensation, our staff is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to discuss your case at no charge. Please feel free to review the Helpful Information section for general advice about what to do, should you be in an accident.
For the past 30 years, the Law Office of Richard J. Kaufman has been among the leading Suffolk County law firms in the area of personal injury and tort law. Our office located in Port Jefferson, New York, handles each matter thoroughly from the initial investigation through to trial and even through the appeals process if necessary to protect a favorable ruling and to challenge an unfavorable one. Mr. Kaufman’s 34 years of trial experience ranges from having been an assistant district attorney and the Confidential Law Secretary to a New York Supreme Court Justice to having obtained six to seven figure recoveries to clients upon favorable verdicts after trial. In fact, our office’s reputation for quality and personal legal services in this field has often been the source of matters being referred to us by our own colleagues.
- Automobile accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Premises liability
- Slip/trip & fall
- Schoolyard accidents
- Dog bite accidents
- Municipal Liability
- Medical & dental malpractice
- Hospital negligence
- Food poisoning
- Products liability
- Assault and battery
- Wrongful death
If you have any questions regarding your personal injury matter, please feel free to contact our Long Island personal injury attorneys by calling 631-331-0950.
OTHER AREAS
Mr. Kaufman has litigated matters involving millions of dollars, and disputes involving more than one hundred million dollars, including business transactions, white-collar crimes, trust matters and corporate shareholder litigation. Mr. Kaufman has litigated against billion-dollar corporations, insurance and financial institutions, individuals and local and state governments. Mr. Kaufman also handles the most common matters that may arise. Below are a few of those practice areas.
-
Real Estate
Of all of the services that the Law Office of Richard J. Kaufman offers, probably none is more satisfying to all concerned than our Suffolk County real estate law services, especially when the transaction is the purchase or sale of a home. Nothing can be more fraught with confusion or concern than a house closing involving numerous professionals such as real estate brokers, mortgage brokers, bank underwriters, title closers, and attorneys for the seller, purchaser and the bank (to name a few), together with the transfer of hundreds of thousands of dollars. The role of your attorney should be to make the process understandable and reduce the tension and risk that naturally surrounds such a process, especially where you are both buying and selling at the same time.
At the Law Office of Richard J. Kaufman, we do not look at your real estate purchase or sale as simply a legal matter. We recognize our clients’ concerns and try to make the process as simple and understandable as possible by offering these services:
-
SAME DAY CONTRACTS – as a seller’s attorney we generally will have contracts prepared and to the purchaser’s attorney within hours; as purchaser’s attorney, we are available for immediate signing with weekend and evening appointments available.
-
IMMEDIATE CALL RESPONSE – we recognize that the success of a real estate transaction often depends upon prompt communication amongst the various people involved and we have staff and after-hours service to respond quickly.
-
FULL COORDINATION WITH ALL OTHER PROFESSIONALS – we recognize that the purchase or sale of real estate is a team effort and we believe we have established a fine reputation in the field with our colleagues and other professionals, which oftentimes translates into resolving issues before they arise.
-
EXPERIENCE – as a practicing attorney for 35 years in real estate and related fields, issues are oftentimes anticipated and avoided with solid (and sometimes creative) solutions.
-
REASONABLE FEES – once the scope of the transaction is understood by answering a few simple questions, in most instances we are able to quote you a reasonable flat fee competitive with our colleagues.
Whether it is myself or my staff assigned exclusively to a real estate matter, there is always someone available to answer your questions or concerns promptly. Even after hours, we are available by telephone and for evening appointments. If you are a seller, the initial draft of your contract will be forwarded to the purchaser’s attorney within hours of receiving the basic information from you or the broker. If you are the purchaser, we try to give you a realistic evaluation of the actual costs involved and alternative strategies so you do not risk your down payment if a problem arises.
Besides helping to buy and sell your home, our Long Island real estate law firm offers a wide range of other real estate services, including commercial real estate, IRS 1031 tax-free exchanges, landlord and tenant matters, title issues and bank closings. Because of the experience built over a 34-year career, we not only handle the transactional aspects of real estate, but in the event that litigation is the route to resolve a conflict, you can rely on our office to develop a sound and efficient strategy for success in the courtroom. Our results reflect such a high success rate in both prosecuting and defending cases that oftentimes these matters have been referred to our office by other real estate attorneys or by clients whose attorneys do not handle litigation. Frequently, understanding if and when going to court is necessary gives us the ability to help our client avoid the costly, anxiety-provoking and time-consuming process.
-
-
Civil Litigation
It is an unfortunate fact of life these days that many of us, our family and friends, are experiencing serious financial difficulties, oftentimes due to circumstances well beyond our own control. A lot of people fear that, with the changes in the bankruptcy law that took effect in 2005, the law is no longer on their side. While it is true that credit card companies pushed hard for the kinds of changes that took effect, the reality is that a knowledgeable and effective Suffolk County bankruptcy attorney can help people get a fresh financial start.
At the Law Office of Richard J. Kaufman, for the past 30 years we have worked with clients from every walk of life: executives, doctors, office workers, secretaries, construction workers, small business owners and countless others who have, for whatever reason, found themselves overwhelmed by debt. When you rely on our client-focused law firm for your bankruptcy, you work directly with professionals whose first priority is to help you change your life for the better.
We primarily help clients take advantage of Chapter 7 bankruptcy protection which allows individuals and even small business owners to liquidate their assets to discharge debts. There are important differences between a Chapter 7 bankruptcy, which oftentimes will not require payments to creditors or forfeiture of assets, and a Chapter 13, which generally requires a schedule of payments and is most often employed where a home is in arrears and facing foreclosure. We will guide you through every step of your case and may even be able to help you get rid of your debt without losing your home or car.
If bankruptcy is the right alternative for your situation, we should be able to address issues that matter to you by providing relief from:
- creditor harassment
- credit card debts
- medical bills
- foreclosure
- tax issues
- wage garnishments
It is important to work with a Suffolk County bankruptcy lawyer who has the skill, experience and tools to evaluate all aspects of your situation and build a strategy for your bankruptcy case that meets your specific needs.
-
Wills, Estates & Probate
Of all of the services that the Law Office of Richard J. Kaufman offers, probably none is more satisfying to all concerned than our Suffolk County real estate law services, especially when the transaction is the purchase or sale of a home. Nothing can be more fraught with confusion or concern than a house closing involving numerous professionals such as real estate brokers, mortgage brokers, bank underwriters, title closers, and attorneys for the seller, purchaser and the bank (to name a few), together with the transfer of hundreds of thousands of dollars. The role of your attorney should be to make the process understandable and reduce the tension and risk that naturally surrounds such a process, especially where you are both buying and selling at the same time.
At the Law Office of Richard J. Kaufman, we do not look at your real estate purchase or sale as simply a legal matter. We recognize our clients’ concerns and try to make the process as simple and understandable as possible by offering these services:
SAME DAY CONTRACTS – as a seller’s attorney we generally will have contracts prepared and to the purchaser’s attorney within hours; as purchaser’s attorney, we are available for immediate signing with weekend and evening appointments available.
IMMEDIATE CALL RESPONSE – we recognize that the success of a real estate transaction often depends upon prompt communication amongst the various people involved and we have staff and after-hours service to respond quickly.
FULL COORDINATION WITH ALL OTHER PROFESSIONALS – we recognize that the purchase or sale of real estate is a team effort and we believe we have established a fine reputation in the field with our colleagues and other professionals, which oftentimes translates into resolving issues before they arise.
EXPERIENCE – as a practicing attorney for 35 years in real estate and related fields, issues are oftentimes anticipated and avoided with solid (and sometimes creative) solutions.
REASONABLE FEES – once the scope of the transaction is understood by answering a few simple questions, in most instances we are able to quote you a reasonable flat fee competitive with our colleagues.
-
Bankruptcy
Of all of the services that the Law Office of Richard J. Kaufman offers, probably none is more satisfying to all concerned than our Suffolk County real estate law services, especially when the transaction is the purchase or sale of a home. Nothing can be more fraught with confusion or concern than a house closing involving numerous professionals such as real estate brokers, mortgage brokers, bank underwriters, title closers, and attorneys for the seller, purchaser and the bank (to name a few), together with the transfer of hundreds of thousands of dollars. The role of your attorney should be to make the process understandable and reduce the tension and risk that naturally surrounds such a process, especially where you are both buying and selling at the same time.
At the Law Office of Richard J. Kaufman, we do not look at your real estate purchase or sale as simply a legal matter. We recognize our clients’ concerns and try to make the process as simple and understandable as possible by offering these services:
SAME DAY CONTRACTS – as a seller’s attorney we generally will have contracts prepared and to the purchaser’s attorney within hours; as purchaser’s attorney, we are available for immediate signing with weekend and evening appointments available.
IMMEDIATE CALL RESPONSE – we recognize that the success of a real estate transaction often depends upon prompt communication amongst the various people involved and we have staff and after-hours service to respond quickly.
FULL COORDINATION WITH ALL OTHER PROFESSIONALS – we recognize that the purchase or sale of real estate is a team effort and we believe we have established a fine reputation in the field with our colleagues and other professionals, which oftentimes translates into resolving issues before they arise.
EXPERIENCE – as a practicing attorney for 35 years in real estate and related fields, issues are oftentimes anticipated and avoided with solid (and sometimes creative) solutions.
REASONABLE FEES – once the scope of the transaction is understood by answering a few simple questions, in most instances we are able to quote you a reasonable flat fee competitive with our colleagues.
-
Landlord/Tenant
-
Worker’s Compensation & Social Security Disability
When an employee gets hurt on the job, problems often arise over proper compensation. To prevent instability in the workplace, New York State does not generally allow an employee to sue his/her employer or a fellow employee and a worker is left with only his claim under the Worker’s Compensation system. However, that does not necessarily mean there are no other avenues to pursue and it is these other areas that our office investigates vigorously. Where your claim involves a Worker’s Compensation law firm in whole or in part, we rely on our affiliation with one of the leading worker’s compensation on Long Island, Grey and Grey, LLC of Farmingdale, New York, which maintains a satellite branch at our Port Jefferson office. Similarly, almost everyone has a story these days about Social Security Disability claims also becoming more and more difficult to resolve successfully, especially during the first stages of the application. Because of the special and complicated nature of worker’s compensation and Social Security Disability practice, we coordinate with these extremely able attorneys to assist and prosecute these aspects of your matter, knowing that the best results possible will be obtained.
-
Matrimonial & Family Matters
Of the areas of legal counseling, none is more sensitive than that involving family and divorce issues. For that reason, our Suffolk County law office provides a local branch affiliation with the Law Offices of James J. O’Rourke and Associates, PLLC, of Hauppauge, New York, one of the leading matrimonial practitioner firms in Suffolk and Nassau Counties. These professionals specialize in contested and complicated matrimonial, custody, support and all domestic relations matters, including prenuptial and separation agreements, and maintain a team of professionals, including forensic accountants, psychologists and pension appraisers in order to obtain justice for their clients.