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Lawyer Profile

Image of Stephen R. Coffey

Stephen R. Coffey

O'Connell & Aronowitz
  • Recognized Since:
    1993
  • Recognized in:
    Criminal Defense: General Practice
    Criminal Defense: White-Collar...
  • Law School:
    Albany Law School
  • Lawyer Page:
    https://www.oalaw.com/team_mem...
  • Website:
    http://www.oalaw.com
  • Firm's Phone Number:
    (518) 462.5601
  • Phone Number:
    (518) 694.5665
  • E-mail:
    scoffey@oalaw.com
  • Languages:
    English
  • Ethnicity:
    White
  • Location:
    54 State Street
    Albany, NY 12207

Steve is the founding partner and chair of the Personal Injury and Criminal Defense practices at O’Connell and Aronowitz. Under his leadership, our firm has become one of the most active personal injury and criminal defense law firms in upstate New York.

Few lawyers in the area have excelled in both the personal injury and criminal defense fields.  With over thirty five years of experience at the state and federal levels, Steve is considered one of the most successful trial lawyers in these two diverse practice areas. As one of the Capital District’s premiere criminal defense trial lawyers, he has been recognized by his peers for his record setting verdicts and settlements.  Steve has justly earned that reputation through his representation of thousands of clients in both street crime cases and highly complex white collar cases.

In 1975, Steve became fully committed to champion the cause of those unjustly accused after seeing the unfettered power of the government relentlessly pursue innocent people.  His desire to reject the abuse of government has led him to represent the most honest and sincere people, who have remained his friends long after their acquittal.  Former jurors have even called Steve over the years to represent them and their loved ones.

Known for his fearless approach when confronted with injustice, Steve has enjoyed powerful courtroom victories and has consistently garnered million dollar verdicts for his clients in cases that are often highly complex and high profile. Most recently, Steve obtained a $43 million dollar verdict for a brain-injured woman whose case had been turned down by several attorneys. His second largest brain injury verdict came after representing a child in a highly complex product liability case against a corporate giant. The verdict exceeded $20 million dollars. Steve has obtained verdicts in excess of $1M in ten cases and has obtained countless settlements that have exceeded $1M dollars.

Steve’s knowledge, insight and analytical skill have translated easily from the courtroom to the media. Local television and radio stations have looked to him as a regular commentator for highly publicized local and national criminal cases. A former Assistant District Attorney for Albany County and Chief Felony Prosecutor, Steve was the youngest Felony Bureau Chief to serve in Albany County. He also served as Special Prosecutor in Fulton and Albany Counties. Steve has complimented his civil and criminal trial skill with an extensive appellate practice.  He has lectured and written extensively on civil and criminal trial practice. Steve is also an active participant of local and national charitable organizations involving disabled individuals, including the Muscular Dystrophy Association, Living Resources and The Miracle League.

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  • Lawyer Bio
  • Q&A
  • Client Comments
  • Lawyer Practice Areas
  • Firm Details
  • News & Media
  • Case History

Lawyer Bio

Steve is the founding partner and chair of the Personal Injury and Criminal Defense practices at O’Connell and Aronowitz. Under his leadership, our firm has become one of the most active personal injury and criminal defense law firms in upstate New York.

Few lawyers in the area have excelled in both the personal injury and criminal defense fields.  With over thirty five years of experience at the state and federal levels, Steve is considered one of the most successful trial lawyers in these two diverse practice areas. As one of the Capital District’s premiere criminal defense trial lawyers, he has been recognized by his peers for his record setting verdicts and settlements.  Steve has justly earned that reputation through his representation of thousands of clients in both street crime cases and highly complex white collar cases.

In 1975, Steve became fully committed to champion the cause of those unjustly accused after seeing the unfettered power of the government relentlessly pursue innocent people.  His desire to reject the abuse of government has led him to represent the most honest and sincere people, who have remained his friends long after their acquittal.  Former jurors have even called Steve over the years to represent them and their loved ones.

Known for his fearless approach when confronted with injustice, Steve has enjoyed powerful courtroom victories and has consistently garnered million dollar verdicts for his clients in cases that are often highly complex and high profile. Most recently, Steve obtained a $43 million dollar verdict for a brain-injured woman whose case had been turned down by several attorneys. His second largest brain injury verdict came after representing a child in a highly complex product liability case against a corporate giant. The verdict exceeded $20 million dollars. Steve has obtained verdicts in excess of $1M in ten cases and has obtained countless settlements that have exceeded $1M dollars.

Steve’s knowledge, insight and analytical skill have translated easily from the courtroom to the media. Local television and radio stations have looked to him as a regular commentator for highly publicized local and national criminal cases. A former Assistant District Attorney for Albany County and Chief Felony Prosecutor, Steve was the youngest Felony Bureau Chief to serve in Albany County. He also served as Special Prosecutor in Fulton and Albany Counties. Steve has complimented his civil and criminal trial skill with an extensive appellate practice.  He has lectured and written extensively on civil and criminal trial practice. Steve is also an active participant of local and national charitable organizations involving disabled individuals, including the Muscular Dystrophy Association, Living Resources and The Miracle League.

Read more on firm website
  • Education
  • Bar & Court Admissions
  • Affiliations
  • Award List
  • Lawyer of the Year Badge
  • Lawyer of the Year Badge
  • Lawyer of the Year Badge
  • Lawyer of the Year Badge
  • Lawyer of the Year Badge

Education:

  • Albany Law School
  • Siena College

Bar Admissions:

  • New York, New York State Bar
 

Court Admissions:

  • United States Supreme Court
  • United States District Court, District of Massachusetts
  • United States District Court, District of New Hampshire
  • United States District Court, Southern District of New York
  • United States District Court, Eastern District of New York
  • United States District Court, Western District of New York
  • New York State Courts
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
  • Supreme Court of the State of New York, Appellate Division, Third Judicial Department

Affiliations:

  • Albany County Bar Association - Member
  • American Association for Justice - Member
  • American Bar Association - Member
  • American Board of Trial Advocates - Member
  • New York State Bar Association - Member
  • New York State Defenders Association - Member
  • New York State Trial Lawyers Association - Member

Named "Lawyer of the Year" by Best Lawyers for:

  • Criminal Defense: White-Collar, Albany (2021)
  • Criminal Defense: White-Collar, Albany (2016)
  • Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs, Albany (2014)
  • DUI / DWI Defense, Albany (2013)
  • Criminal Defense: White-Collar, Albany (2011)
 

Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America for work in:

  • Criminal Defense: General Practice
  • Criminal Defense: White-Collar
  • DUI / DWI Defense
  • Legal Malpractice Law - Plaintiffs
  • Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs
 

Awards:

  • Best Lawyers in America

    • 1993-2020
    • Upstate New York Super Lawyers

      • 2007-2019


    • Daniel Mahoney Memorial Award

      • Capital District Trial Lawyers Association
      • 2014
    • AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated

      • Martindale-Hubbell
      • 2013-2019
     

    Q&A

    Tell us a little bit about your practice and what makes it unique.

    • I practice extensively in highly sophisticated medical malpractice, litigation and criminal law. Very few lawyers cross over into each of these areas. I believe in being "hands-on" throughout the entire process. I personally meet with my clients, try cases, do depositions. After a 2-month shutdown due to COVID-19, I have happily been in the office every single day.
     

    What common questions are you asked by clients, and what are your answers?

    • I am most often asked if I am going to be personally involved in their case. Clients want to know that who they are initially meeting with is who they will be speaking to throughout their case. While we do work as a team, I explain to them that I will always be personally involved and available to the best of my ability. If I am unable to attend a meeting, they will hear it from me before hand, and know who is attending on my behalf.
     

    Describe one of your most interesting or memorable cases in the past year.

    • I represented a man in his 40's whose vehicle was side swiped by another car at 65 miles per hour. He was sitting in the backseat and not wearing a seatbelt. After the impact, he was thrown out of the car and landed on the hard ground. New York recognizes a very favorable seat belt defense for the defendant. We settled for $6.2M, the full policy. What a difficult case!
     

    What is most challenging about your area(s) of expertise?

    • The see-saw, back and forth nature. The requirement to keep current on schedules, client calls, return courtesies to opposing counsel and completely evaluating the matters which trusting clients have expected me to do. It is a full time job.
     

    What other interests do you have?

    • I enjoy hiking, walking, reading and camping.
     

    Lawyer Client Comments

    Lawyer Practice Areas

    Key: Awarded in Best Lawyers Not Currently Awarded for this Area in Best Lawyers

    Firm Details

    Image for O'Connell & Aronowitz View Firm Profile
    O'Connell & Aronowitz
    http://www.oalaw.com
     
    Headquarters
    54 State Street
    Albany, NY 12207
    (518) 462.5601
    2 Office Locations
    in 1 Country

    United States

    United States

    New York

    New York

    Saratoga Springs, NY

    One Court Street

    Saratoga Springs, NY 12866

    United States

    (518) 584.5205

    Get Directions

    News & Media

    Related Articles

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    Lawyer Case History

    Second Degree Murder

    Practice Area:

    • Criminal Defense

    Description:

    • Defendant charged with second degree murder in death of infant son

    Outcome:

    • Found Not Guilty


    Motor Vehicle Accident Due to Defective Product

    Practice Area:

    • Personal Injury

    Description:

    • Litigation for injuries sustained in a motor vehicle accident due to defective product design

    Outcome:

    • $20.5 million verdict


    Steve Coffey Wins $350K in Auto/Pedestrian Accident

    After a 2-day trial in Albany County Supreme Court, Personal Injury Attorney Steve Coffey won a $350,000 jury verdict for a client injured in an auto/pedestrian accident.  Theo Palmer of Altamont suffered serious back injuries in December 2015 when he was struck by a vehicle in a crosswalk.

    Jury trials have become increasingly rare. Mr. Coffey refused a settlement offer of $42,000 that was deemed too low to sufficiently compensate for the serious back injuries Mr. Palmer sustained in the collision.  Justice Gerald W. Connolly presided over the trial.

    Mr. Coffey was not interested in mediation. “I am a trial attorney,” he said. “In my experience, juries, not mediators, are best to determine the value of a case.” 

    Mr. Coffey’s entire career reflects that belief.Well known for fearless advocacy on behalf of his clients, Mr. Coffey has multiple million-dollar verdicts and settlements over 40 years.  He has gained a reputation for aggressively advocating for clients injured through another’s negligence.

    Mr. Coffey was named to the first ever Medical Malpractice Verdict Hall of Fame awarded by New York Law Journal for a $43.5-million-dollar verdict for injuries sustained at childbirth.

    Steve Coffey obtains $6.2M Settlement in Personal Injury Case

    Plaintiff was a backseat passenger who was not wearing a seat belt.  He was ejected from the car and is now a quadriplegic.
     
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