JAMES WILKENS JOINS DUFFY, DUFFY & BURDO AS COUNSEL

-- One of New York's Top Medical Malpractice Trial Litigators, Wilkens
Known for Obtaining Some of the State's Highest Medical Malpractice
Verdicts in History --

Uniondale, NY, November 19, 2003 -- James Wilkens, who is one of the most highly regarded medical malpractice trial litigators in the region and known for obtaining historic plaintiff's jury awards in complex medical malpractice cases, has joined the Uniondale, Long Island medical malpractice law firm of Duffy, Duffy & Burdo, Esqs. Wilkens brings years of medical malpractice litigation expertise and reputation for history-making jury verdicts to one of the preeminent medical malpractice firms in the nation.

Wilkens, of Gerritsen Beach, Brooklyn, was previously a Senior Trial Attorney at the Yonkers-based medical malpractice law firm of Fitzgerald & Fitzgerald. During his 11 years there, Wilkens obtained some of the largest and most significant jury verdicts in New York State history. Last year, Wilkens gained attention for obtaining a $94 million verdict for a 9 year old Brooklyn boy with cerebral palsy as a result of the failure of the defendants to administer tocolytics and corticosteroids. Not only was this one of the highest medical malpractice jury awards ever obtained in Brooklyn, but it was the largest medical malpractice verdict in the United States in the year 2002, and is believed to be the fourth highest medical malpractice verdict in New York State history.

The same year that Wilkens obtained his $94 million dollar jury verdict in Brooklyn, James R. Duffy -- Senior Trial Partner at Duffy, Duffy & Burdo -- also made medical malpractice litigation history, by obtaining an $80 million jury award for a girl born with cerebral palsy as a result of birth-related injuries. This award set records as the highest medical malpractice jury award ever obtained in Suffolk County. The move of Wilkens to Duffy, Duffy & Burdo brings together two of the most successful and experienced medical malpractice trial litigators in one law practice.

I am grateful for the opportunity to have accomplished so much during my career so far, and to have helped so many of the victims of medical malpractice get the compensation they deserve, says Wilkens. However, in order for me to develop further as a trial lawyer, I knew that I'd have to go someplace else. The results that I've achieved for my clients have given me the chance to explore what other firms are doing in the field of medical malpractice, and Duffy, Duffy & Burdo has clearly stood out as a leader. By all reports, the people at DD&B are uncompromisingly committed to fighting for medical malpractice victims rights and have made it the place that I wanted to be.

In addition to his 2002 $94 million verdict, Wilkens medical malpractice litigation career has been filled with many other history-making verdicts. In 1998, he obtained a $15 million verdict for a 9 year old Nassau County girl with cerebral palsy resulting frombirth injury -- which became the highest medical malpractice award in Nassau County at the time. Also in 1998, he obtained a $7.5 million award for a 12 year old Westchester girl with cerebral palsy, taking its place as the highest jury award at the time in Westchester County.

During his career at Fitzgerald & Fitzgerald, Wilkens was also a driving force behind the development and subsequent success of the firm's lead poisoning litigation program. Since founding Fitzgerald & Fitzgerald's lead poisoning practice in 1992, he was responsible for growing the practice to make it the leading law firm for people who have been victims of lead poisoning and, in 2001, obtained a groundbreaking $9.7 million dollar verdict for two Bronx schoolchildren who were victims of lead poisoning as a result of the negligence of their landlord. He will be bringing his expertise -- and proven results -- in this important area to Duffy, Duffy & Burdo, helping to expand the firm's lead poisoning practice, as well as helping to grow the firm through his role in the litigation of a wide range of medical malpractice cases.

We're thrilled to have Jim join us at Duffy, Duffy & Burdo and know he will bring a great deal to our firm, and to our clients, says Michael Duffy, who co-founded the firm in 2001. Not only does he have a tremendous amount of experience and incredible accomplishments in helping the victims of medical malpractice, but he also has the strong commitment, drive and integrity that are so important to our firm as we continue to fight for victims rights.

Before joining Fitzgerald & Fitzgerald, Wilkens was a partner at Corash, Hollender & Wilkens for eight years. Prior to that, he was in private practice. He clerked at Shea & Gould in Manhattan from 1975 to 1981.

A member of the Faculty of the National Institute for Trial Advocacy and a Member of the Board of Directors for the New York State Trial Lawyers Association, Wilkens is a frequent lecturer for both the New York State Bar Association and the NYS Trial Lawyers Association. He is a member of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America and the New York State Bar Association, and has been published in the New York Law Journal. In addition, he has been active in coaching children's athletics in his community.