Current Employment Position(s)

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Lawyer Overview

DENNIS A. FIRST (AV Rated)

Dennis A. First attended Vassar College and graduated with honors from Ohio State University in 1975. He received his J.D. from Albany Law School of Union University in 1978. After serving as law clerk to the Hon. Joseph Harris of Albany County Court, he entered private practice in 1979.

Dennis is a trial lawyer whose practice emphasizes the defense of products liability, toxic torts, professional liability and general liability cases. In the products liability and toxic torts defense arena, Dennis has experience with a broad array of products including asbestos, chemicals, automotive, trucking, medical devices and a variety of industrial machines and consumer products. Dennis has defended a wide range of professional liability cases including medical, psychiatric, dental, podiatric and legal malpractice cases.

In the environmental field, Dennis' practice focuses on the defense of cost recovery litigation brought under CERCLA/RCRA by governmental entities and private parties. He has served on steering committees and acted as liaison counsel.

Dennis is a member of the Albany County, New York State (Insurance, Negligence and Compensation Law and Environmental Law Sections) and American Bar Associations. He is an appointed member of the State Bar Association's Special Committee to Confer with the State's Medical Society. He is also a member of the Defense Research Institute and Trial Lawyer's Association. Dennis frequently lectures for the New York State Bar Association and other organizations in the areas of trial practice and procedure, products liability and professional liability.

Areas of Practice

• Professional Liability (Medical, Legal, Dental, Architectural, Chiropractic)
• Products Liability
• General Liability
• Commercial Litigation
• Toxic Torts Defense
• Environmental Law

Representative Cases

• Tryon v. Square D, 712 NYS2d 676 (Appellate Division Third Department 2000)
• Farm Family Mut. v. Allstate Ins., 179 AD2d 965 (Appellate Division Third Department 1992)
• Dean v. Glens Falls County Club, 170 AD2d 798 (Appellate Division Third Department 1991)
• People v. Kinnard, 98 AD2d 845 (Appellate Division Third Department 1983)
• Sawyer v. Pepe, 90 AD2d 647 (Appellate Division Third Department 1992)
• Gordon v. County of Albany, 115 Misc.2d 302 (Supreme Court County of Albany 1982)
• Radtke v. Yokose, 87 AD2d 220 (Appellate Division Third Department 1982)
• Nack v. Town of Ghent, 88 AD2d 1007 (Appellate Division Third Department 1982)
• A.T. & M. Development Corp. v. Hawver & Ewasick, Inc., 87 AD2d 965 (Appellate Division Third Department 1982)
• Cumberland Farms v. State Liquor Authority, 86 AD2d 742 (Appellate Division Third Department 1982)

West Practice Categories

Directors' & Officers' Liability, Americans with Disabilities Act -- Employer, Employment Discrimination -- Employer, Employment Law -- Employer, Sexual Harassment -- Employer, Wrongful Termination -- Employer, Hazardous Waste, Bad Faith Insurance, Errors & Omissions Insurance, Insurance Law, Insurance Malpractice, Insurance Subrogation, Motor Vehicle, Property & Casualty, Class Actions -- Plaintiff, Complex Litigation, Federal Appellate Practice, Federal Trial Practice, Litigation & Appeals, State Appellate Practice, State Trial Practice, US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, Animal Bites -- Defense, Assault & Battery -- Defense, Aviation Accidents -- Defense, Defamation & Privacy -- Defense, Motor Vehicle Accidents -- Defense, Personal Injury -- Defense, Premises Liability -- Defense, Property Damage -- Defense, Slip and Fall -- Defense, Wrongful Death -- Defense, Motor Vehicle Accidents -- Plaintiff, Personal Injury -- Plaintiff, Premises Liability -- Plaintiff, Property Damage -- Plaintiff, Slip and Fall -- Plaintiff, Wrongful Death -- Plaintiff, Asbestos, Chemicals & Cosmetics, Food & Agricultural Products, Medical Products & Devices, Motor Vehicle Defects, Pharmaceutical Products, Products Liability Law, Recreational Products, Dental Malpractice, Legal Malpractice, Medical Malpractice, Other Professionals Malpractice, Professional Malpractice Law, Pesticides, Toxic Torts

Bar Admissions

• New York, 1979
• U.S. Court of Appeals 2nd Circuit, 1985
• U.S. District Court Northern District of New York, 1979
• U.S. District Court Western District of New York, 1979

Professional Associations and Memberships

• American Bar Association (Member)
• New York State Bar Association, Insurance, Negligence and Compensation Law and Environment Law Sections (Member)
• Albany County Bar Association (Member)
• State Bar Association, Appointed Member (Special Committee to Confer with the State's Medical Society)
• Defense Research Institute and Trial Lawyer's Association (Member)

Honors and Awards

• New York State Bar Association 1998 President's Pro Bono Service Law Firm Award

Classes and Seminars

• Lecturer, Medical Malpractice, New York Psychiatric Association (Eastern & Central Chapters), 1993, 2000
• Lecturer, Federal Court Practice, New York State Bar Association, 1997
• Lecturer, Federal Court Practice, New York State Bar Association, 1996
• Lecturer, Medical Malpractice, Lorman Associates, 1996
• Lecturer, Basic Trial Techniques, New York State Bar Association, 1994
• Lecturer, Products Liability, Albany County Claims Association, 2000
• Lecturer, Trial Preparation Secrets, New York State Trial Lawyers Institute, 2001

Past Employment Positions

• Supreme Court, Hon. Joseph Harris, Law Clerk, 1979 - 1980
• Carter, Conboy, Blackmore, Maloney & Laird, P.C., 1980 - 1994

Education

• Albany Law School Union University, Albany, New York, 1978
  J.D.
• Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, 1975
  B.A.
  Honors: With Distinction
  Major: Political Science
• Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, New York

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Address

20 Corporate Woods Boulevard
Albany, NY 12211-2396

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877-886-4029
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518-444-4172

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