Joseph J. Manna

Over his 25-year career, Joseph Manna has distinguished himself as a tenacious trial attorney who aggressively pursues and obtains the best possible results for his clients.

Joe’s legal skill and track record of results has led peers to name him to some of the legal industry’s most prestigious recognitions. He has been selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America, Super Lawyers, America’s Top 100 Attorneys–Lifetime Achievement Membership, the National Trial Lawyers Top 100, Legal Elite of Western New York, and Buffalo Business First’s Who’s Who in Law.

In 2020, Joe was elected by fellow trial lawyers to serve as the President of the Western New York Trial Lawyers Association. He is also an adjunct instructor of law at the State University of New York at Buffalo Law School, where he teaches trial techniques.

Due to his reputation as an effective litigator and trial lawyer has led many prominent individuals, including federal and state court judges, to retain Joe as their own lawyer. He has handled numerous high-profile cases and represented a wide spectrum of individuals and organizations, including other lawyers, doctors, certified public accountants, police officers, victims of catastrophic injuries, and some of the largest construction companies in the world.

Joe’s clients are assured by his extensive trial experience, which includes arguing cases before the Court of Appeals, New York State’s highest appellate court, as well as New York State Supreme Court, Appellate Division, 4th Department. He has represented clients across New York State, including in New York City, Buffalo, Albany, and Syracuse as well as in Ohio and California.

The scope of Joe’s practice is unique. He focuses on representing victims of serious personal injuries, including medical malpractice, nursing home abuse, and construction worker injury cases, and on business litigation, primarily involving construction disputes.

Bar & Court Admissions

• State of New York
• United States Court of Federal Claims
• United States District Court, Western District of New York
• United States District Court, Northern District of New York

Education

• New England School of Law, J.D., cum laude, 1995
• New England Boston Law Review, 1993-1995
• State University of New York at Oswego. B.S., cum laude, 1992

Professional Association

• President, Western New York Trial Lawyers Association
• Member, New York State Bar Association
• Member, Bar Association of Erie County
• Member, American Association of Justice
• Former Chairman, Rushford Lake Recreational District

Publications

Mr. Manna has published many articles in various trade journals and in the Temple Political and Civil Rights Review

Practice Areas

• Accidents and Personal Injury
• Medical Malpractice
• Business Litigation
• Construction Litigation
• Birth Injury
• Cancer
• Diagnosis Error
• Emergency Room Error
• Medical Devices
• Medication Error
• Mesothelioma and Asbestos
• Nursing Home Neglect
• Nurse Error
• Surgery Error
• Vaccine Injury Compensation

Medical Malpractice

Joe’s reputation as a leading medical negligence trial lawyer has lead physicians, nurses and fellow attorneys, as well as their families, to frequently retain him to pursue medical malpractice claims on their behalf.

Joe brings unique insight and perspective to enhance the fight for his clients due to his previous experience litigating on the defense side of medical malpractice matters.

For many years now, Joe focuses only on pursuing claims of medical negligence against healthcare professionals. He has recovered tens of millions of dollars for his clients, with most of his cases resolving between $250,000 to over $1,000,000. He has obtains as much as $7,200,000 for a client in a single case.

Joe applies his legal skill, tenacious approach, and significant experience as a trial attorney to achieve justice and results for his clients. He represents victims of all forms of medical malpractice, including:

• Birth injury cases resulting from hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy
• Medications errors including negligent use of Gentamicin & Levaquin
• Botched eye surgeries and negligent cataract removal
• Botched thyroidectomy/parathyroidectomy causing vocal cord injury and paralysis
• Delayed diagnosis of Charcot foot
• Medication errors
• Emergency room errors
• Cardiac errors including failing to order blood thinners for atrial fibrillation patients

Delayed or misdiagnosis of:

• Cancer
• Aortic Aneurysms
• Pulmonary embolism and deep vein thrombosis
• Stroke
• Heart Attack
• Bowel and other organ perforations
• Testicular and other torsions
• Infection
• Giant cell arteritis/temporal arteritis

Commercial Litigation

Joe has extensive experience in breach of contract disputes, commercial leases, construction contracts and claims, joint venture agreements, non-competition and non-solicitation agreements, shareholder agreements and disputes as well as buy/sell and supply contracts. The following is a sample of cases he has handled:

• Obtained jury verdict of $1.64 million against the Town of Clarence for its de facto taking of a resident’s land;
• Invalidated a $25 million real estate purchase and sale agreement, and obtained a $500,000 deposit refund for his client;
• Obtaining judgments of over $3.5 million for a joint venture between two of the world’s largest construction companies;
• Securing a $3 million settlement against a surety on behalf of an international bridge and tunnel contractor;
• Representing a Florida based company in a joint venture dispute involving a $19 million construction contract to supply and install goods in Russia;
• Successfully defending a well-known Los Angeles based entertainment company in a $14 million international licensing dispute;
• Gaining possession of commercial property valued at over $1 million for a shareholder in a corporate dissolution proceeding;
• Obtaining summary judgment for a large specialty contractor in a labor law dispute in which the plaintiff sought more than $10 million;
• Obtaining a $500,00 settlement against a local municipality for a utility contractor;
• Securing a $240,000 settlement for a local general contractor against a condominium association; and
• Successfully representing the manufacturer of a well-known line of sports supplements and nutritional aids in a claim alleging trademark and copyright infringement. 

Speaking Engagements

Professors at the University of Buffalo frequently call upon Mr. Manna to speak to classes at the graduate and undergraduate level in the academic disciplines of construction and engineering/architectural law. He is also a frequent lecturer and instructor for continuing education providers such as Lorman and the National Business Institute. Seminars instructed by Mr. Manna include:

Tricks, Traps and Ploys used in Construction Scheduling (October 20, 2005)

Managing Construction Projects (April 12, 2006)

What to do When Construction Jobs Go Bad (June 7, 2006)

Resolving Problems and Disputes on Construction Projects in New York (2006)

Professional Activities

Member of the Home Improvement Council, the Association of Bridge Construction and Design, and the CFMA

Member of The Construction Exchange of Buffalo & Western New York, Inc.

In the News

• Mr. Manna handles many high-profile cases that draw media attention. Click on any of the descriptions below to view articles Mr. Manna or that feature comments from him.
• Mr. Manna commences a bid protest dispute for an aggrieved contractor, as reported by The Buffalo News
• Business First and Buffalo Law Journal feature Mr. Manna in an article on business divorce
• NBC affiliate WGRZ-TV interviews Mr. Manna regarding his representation of three doctors suing D’Youville College for false and deceptive business practices
• Courthouse News Service reports on Mr. Manna’s representation of three doctors against D’Youville College for false and deceptive business practices
• Mr. Manna appears on WGRZ-TV, commenting on the legal options of Toyota lessees following a recall
• The Buffalo News reports on a $1.89 million verdict obtained by Mr. Manna at trial for a Clarence property owner
• The Buffalo News reports on Mr. Manna’s nearly $2 million jury verdict against the Town of Clarence
• The Buffalo News interviews Mr. Manna about the wrongful termination of a former bank CEO
• Business First interviews Mr. Manna about a former bank CEO’s wrongful termination
• The Buffalo News interviews Mr. Manna concerning a leadership coup at Waterford Village Bank
• The president of Larry Flynt’s company lauds Mr. Manna for his successful defense against a $23 million international licensing dispute, as reported by Reuters
• San Diego Union-Tribune interviews Mr. Manna concerning Satai Group’s dispute involving publisher Larry Flynt’s ten-story office building in Beverly Hills