Michael Gangadeen on Success in Litigation

In 2000, Michael Gangadeen founded his firm, Gangadeen & Associates, in Ozone Park, New York. He has a juris doctorate from St. John’s University School of Law. His areas of practice include civil lawsuits, insurance litigation, professional malpractice, and real estate transactions. Litigation is a stressful process for the parties involved so it is important to hire a top attorney. 

                                     

With over twenty years of experience, Gangadeen has a track record of handling personal injury cases successfully. As a result, he is a member of the exclusive Million Dollar Advocates Forum. Membership is limited to trial lawyers who have won million dollar verdicts or settlements. Education and staying current with statutory changes, case law and regulatory requirements are essential for success in litigation.

When a person is involved in an accident with personal injuries or property damages in excess of $5000.00, it is likely that a lawsuit will be filed. The party who initiates that litigation is called the Plaintiff. A petition will be served on the Defendant. Hiring a respected and experience attorney is necessary for success in litigation. From a defendant’s perspective, success equals no judgement against the defendant and no monetary damages are awarded to the Plaintiff. It is possible for an accident to be the basis for both civil and criminal actions. It is usually best to have two attorneys in this instance because criminal and civil have different evidence rules and burdens of proof. 

In any formal legal proceeding or information settlement process, to obtain the best representation as a client, it is important to never lie. Even the smallest lie can be used against a party with severe consequences. Per Gangadeen, “Be honest about how badly you’ve been injured, too, as the other party might enact surveillance to see how much that injury impacts daily life.” He has five years of experience with State Farm Insurance and has seen all methods a party can use to find information and evidence. It is common for parties to hire private investigators to follow the other side and even sift through the person’s garbage. 

As a client, you need to limit the number of persons with whom you discuss the case. Anyone in an official capacity like an insurance adjuster, employee of the other party’s lawyer, or investigator needs to be referred to your attorney. Do not post on social media or blog about active litigation. Remember that a large monetary award and a formal finding of liability are at stake. High levels of negligence or malice can allow for a damage award in excess of insurance policy limits so your personal assets might be taken. Attorney Michael Gangadeen knows this and understands how to advocate with tenacity.

Michael Gangadeen - Slip and Fall Accidents

As a successful personal injury lawyer, Michael Gangadeen has often dealt with slip and fall cases. These types of accidents can occur literally anywhere, and determining the party at fault can be a problematic legal process. In some cases, the responsibility falls on the owner of the property where the accident took place, but that is not always the case.

The Term
Slip and fall implies a personal injury that happened as a result of somebody slipping (or tripping) and falling. These kinds of cases are usually “premises liability” claims, as they are linked to a specific property. Various conditions can qualify as “dangerous”. For example, if there is defective carpet in a property which results in somebody tripping and falling down, the owner of the property more than likely shares liability for the accident. Damaged sidewalks, faulty stairs and icy roads can also qualify as dangerous environments, creating the possibility of a successful claim.

Proving Fault Is another Matter
It is often very hard to prove slip and fall liability, mostly because there is no surefire way or standard to determine how far someone’s liability reaches. There are obvious cases when there is an extreme element - like deliberately freezing a sidewalk -, but it usually comes down to the court, and these tend to be fifty-fifty cases.

Michael Gangadeen often meets with clients who want him to help them with their slip and fall claim, but due to the specific nature of these types of accidents, he always does thorough research to make sure that there is a case.

Sources:
http://injury.findlaw.com/torts-and-personal-injuries/slip-and-fall-accidents-overview.html

Michael Gangadeen - The Million Dollar Advocates Forum

As a member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, Michael Gangadeen has unique insights into the everyday life of the organization. The forum was established in 1993, with two collective goals: First, they wanted to create a platform that recognized the immense skills that the country’s best lawyers possess. The other goal was to bring those lawyers together within the confines of an organization that wants to showcase the abilities of these remarkable people.

Their members are all lawyers who have won big and diverse cases, often earning multi-million dollar settlements in the process. The organization recruits its members in a unique way, first recognizing these people for their abilities, then sending them an invite. The invite is only sent to those who have accomplished big things during their practice, and that is the main reason why the members account for less than 1% of all American lawyers.

The organization reserves its membership to those who are really the best at what they do. The certification that invited lawyers earn upon joining the society, allows them to get in touch with other members of the organization. This is a huge advantage, and one of the main reasons why the Million Dollar Advocates Forum is so popular. Once someone gets the invite, they can choose from different types of memberships, all bringing something new to the table. As one of the prominent members of the MDAF, Michael Gangadeen hopes that more and more lawyers will join the society.

Sources: http://www.milliondollaradvocates.com/
http://www.milliondollaradvocates.comFAQ.html#1._THE_MILLION_DOLLAR_ADVOCATES_FORUM
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Michael Gangadeen on Mediation and Arbitration

There are now various methods to resolve disputes short of going to trial, and Michael Gangadeen knows these methods really well. They are often used after a lawsuit has already been filed, but they can be a viable solution even before it. Collectively, these methods are called alternative dispute resolutions. They are primarily used to provide an alternative dispute resolution to other, fairly common legal solutions.

                                              

Mediation

There are mediation and arbitration tools, and while both can be effective, they are fairly different. Mediation is when an independent person is selected, usually by the agreement of everybody involved. Often that person is a retired judge or an experienced lawyer, and everyone gathers with that person who then seeks to facilitate the group of people getting together in order to resolve their dispute, or at least part of it. In essence, a mediator - in the legal sense - is a person who brings the two sides together in hoping to reach a resolution. 

Arbitration

Arbitration is quite different compared to mediation. In an arbitration, every party selects an arbitrator – again, often a retired judge or an experienced lawyer -, and the case is submitted to that person, following pretty much the usual, informal process, although sometimes there is written documentation instead of live witnesses. The arbitrator then makes a decision similarly to how a judge would, and that decision is binding for everyone. As a result, lawyers often call this a binding arbitration. Arbitrations can also be high-low agreements. Let’s say there is an automobile accident where the plaintiff believes that their claim is worth $200.000, but the insurance company thinks that it only worth $40.000. In this case, they might make a binding high-low agreement in the range of $120.000 to $220.000. They make an agreement not to tell the arbitrator what the highest and lowest amounts are. Their cases then get submitted to the arbitrator, who decides the value. If the value decided by the arbitrator is between $20.000 and $220.000, that is the amount that the insurance company will pay on the claim. If the amount is below of $20.000, the insurance company will pay the minimum ($20.000). On the other hand, if the arbitrator decides that the claim is worth more than $220.000, the insurance company is guaranteed to not have to pay more than the highest amount they agreed on (which, in this case, would be $220.000)

The Reason Why These Methods Are Popular

Since it’s fairly common that either an insurance company, or another party that would have to pay the claim involved, they often seek some kind of limitation that would eliminate the possibility of a jury making a drastic decision. They basically cover their bases by eliminating the worst case scenario. That is the main reason why these high-low agreements are popular. The plaintiff gets his or her money, and the other party eliminates the worst case scenario, taking it out of the equation. Michael Gangadeen often relies on these methods, due to the simple fact that they usually represent the best solution for his clients.

Sources:
http://study.com/academy/lesson/arbitrator-definition-role-qualifications.html
https://www.hg.org/mediation-definition.html

Michael Gangadeen - What to Do after a Construction Accident

Michael Gangadeen is a personal injury and general litigation lawyer who has won many cases throughout his career. A good portion of these cases have been claims that involved clients who suffered construction accidents. Such misfortunes are very different from to car accidents and other injuries, simply because a construction site is a constantly changing environment, as opposed to a road that will likely remain in the same condition after an accident, a construction site could be completely different after a couple of hours. This often makes the legal process quite a bit harder.

Important Steps after an Accident

There are a number of details that should be taken account of. All of the following points imply that the person in question not only survived the accident, but got away with relatively minor injuries that would allow the completion of the following protocol:

- Save any evidence that could be important. This can mean keeping physical objects, or taking as many photographs as possible.

- If one is capable of taking notes, they should always do it, as this factor can absolutely represent the difference between a winning case with a hefty settlement fee, or a very small settlement that’s not in line with the severity and consequences of the accident. Writing down certain factors becomes even more important if the afflicted person suffered a head injury, as the aftereffects could later hinder their memory.

- Collecting the names and contact information of potential witnesses is one of the most important aspects of the preparation. If they saw something that the injured did not, that information should also be written down.

- After filing a claim for possible compensation, the next step is hiring a legal expert who will deliver the claim. It’s important to wait before contacting the insurance company until one has secured their legal representation.

Ways a Construction Injury Lawyer Can Help
Once the legal expert knows the facts and has had a chance to evaluate the severity of the injury, not from a medical, but a legal standpoint, they are able to come up with the right strategy based on facts and evidence, and therefore have the highest chance of winning a claim in court. The recovery process can be grueling as well, and someone who understands the pressure and what the injured goes through, can provide much needed hope and positivity during the hard times.

Potential Third Parties Could Be Involved
Sometimes third parties end up being held accountable for an accident (subcontractors for example), and that brings another component into the already complex legal process. In these cases, the attorney can evaluate the legal situation based on the potential outcomes, and select the best course of legal action. When Michael Gangadeen takes on a case, he always makes sure to learn all the details and build the claim based on them.

Sources:
https://www.capcitylaw.com/what-you-should-know-construction-accident/
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Michael Gangadeen – Helpful Tips for Smoother Commercial Real Estate Transactions

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When you are looking to purchase a commercial building or leasing office space, it is easy to get caught up in the drama. The journey can end up being anything but simple. Michael Gangadeen is a New York lawyer that has dealt with many real estate transactions over his 20+ career. To help you avoid some of the common nightmare scenarios here are some useful tips to keep in mind as you navigate through the process.

• Make sure that the seller is 100 percent positive that the property is actually for sale or lease.

• Always know the person you are dealing with. Make sure that you are speaking with the owner of the property and not someone who is renting the space.

• Be sure the deal has closed before moving boxes and equipment into space.
• Be careful when dealing with buyers that don't have boundaries.
• Watch out for fraudulent buyers. To avoid receiving forged documents, always verify proof of funds and pre-qualification letters.

• Know exactly what you are getting. Take tours of the property and perform thorough inspections.
• Ask questions to ensure you are 100 percent certain that the property is the right one for you. Purchasing real estate is an expensive endeavor, and it is important that if you have any questions about the property that you get them answered before closing the deal.

If you want to ensure you avoid some of the common nightmare scenarios of purchasing or leasing commercial buildings, consider hiring a trusted attorney. Michael Gangadeen and other attorney experienced in real estate transactions can help you avoid mistakes that could cost you millions.

Michael Gangadeen – The Pros and Cons of Arbitration

In recent decades, the process of arbitration has become a mainstay when it comes to resolving legal disputes. For Michael Gangadeen and other attorneys, arbitration allows them to resolve legal disputes for their clients without having to be subjected to the trials and rigors of court proceedings. There are great reasons to enter into arbitration to settle a dispute, as well as some drawbacks.


Pros

• There are a number of advantages arbitration has over litigation, court hearings, and trials. They are:
• It can help to avoid hostility. When participating in arbitration, both parties are encouraged to fully participate and can help structure the resolution. This allows a more peaceful and amicable experience as opposed to entering into litigation.
• Arbitration is cheaper than litigation. The process is usually quicker and less complicated than a court proceeding.
• It is faster than litigation. According to a recent study by the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Services, the average time for arbitration to be completed was around 475 days, as opposed to the typical 18 months to three years when a case went to court.

Cons

• In order to make an informed decision, it is important for you to understand the drawbacks associated with arbitration.
• There is limited recourse to arbitration. You may be stuck with an unfair or illogical award that can't be challenged in court.
• The playing field is uneven, often working in the favor of large corporations, making it more difficult to get a fair settlement for employees or consumers.
• There is a lack of transparency with arbitration. This leaves things open to being tainted or biased.

When it comes to dealing with a legal dispute, you may not have a choice when it comes to arbitration. You do, however, have the choice of hiring an experienced attorney like Michael Gangadeen to help you through the process.
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