Rose M. Cotter,
Rose Cotter is an experienced trial and appellate attorney for Chubb's White Plains, New York House Counsel firm of Varvaro, Cotter & Bender. Ms. Cotter conducts a diverse defense practice that calls upon her trial and advocacy skills in State and Federal courts. She is experienced in litigating complex, high exposure product liability, construction site, premises liability, motor vehicle and other personal injury matters. Ms. Cotter is among the firm's most experienced trial and appellate attorneys.
Before joining Varvaro, Cotter & Bender, Attorneys at Law, Ms. Cotter was a partner in the mid-sized Manhattan firm of Wade Clark Mulcahy which also specializes in insurance law and insurance litigation defense and is comprised primarily of former prosecutors and government counsel.
EDUCATION
Law:
Seton Hall University School of Law (J.D. 1993)
Undergraduate:
State University of New York at Binghamton (B.A. 1989)
BAR ADMISSIONS
States:
New York State Bar, 1993
New Jersey State Bar, 1995
District Courts:
U.S. District Court for the Southern, Eastern and Northern Districts of New York, 1995
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
Bronx County Bar Association
Westchester County Bar Association
New York State Trial Lawyers Association
ADDITIONAL PROFESSIONAL HIGHLIGHTS
Ms. Cotter has given several continuing legal education lectures, including one which included a mock direct and cross-examination of a medical expert. Throughout her career she has assisted on many occasions with the training and supervision of attorneys and staff.
Ms. Cotter has taken many verdicts in pro-plaintiff venues such as Bronx County. Despite the associated risks, she has achieved excellent results. A few of her published verdicts include the following:
Widdowson v. Modine (Dutchess County Supreme Court, 2005): This was a property damage suit involving the actor, Matthew Modine. Plaintiff, a neighbor of Modine, alleged that Modine negligently started a brushfire which spread onto the neighbor's property, causing damage. The jury agreed with the defense that plaintiff's property recovered and new tree growth replaced the damaged trees. Plaintiff was awarded nothing.
Gittens v Parisi (Bronx County, Supreme Court, 2004): This was a damages-only trial in that the client hit plaintiff's truck in the rear and liability in favor of plaintiff was determined by motion practice. Plaintiff's trial counsel was Howard Borowick, an aggressive plaintiff's attorney known for achieving large verdicts in damages trials involving the New York Labor Law. Plaintiff claimed injuries to his knee, neck and back. Defendant called a bioimechanical expert and convinced the jury to award plaintiff only $70,000 when his attorney asked for more than $2.3 million.
Jones v Kaplan Glass and James Mansour (Bronx Supreme Court, 2007): This was a case involving a door at the SONY Store in midtown Manhattan which fell onto a 23 year-old plaintiff. Plaintiff claimed injuries to her back and neck which resulted in permanent pain, limitations, incontinence, and bowel/bladder dysfunction. Her lawyer was Ivan Schneider of the Corcoran Firm. After a lengthy, contentious battle, plaintiff's counsel asked the jury to award approximately $2.5 million to his client. The jury did not credit plaintiff's claim of future pain and suffering or lost earnings and awarded her only $250,000 for past losses.