Rheingold Giuffra Ruffo Plotkin & Hellman LLP

Biography

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“Growing up with a father who was a trial lawyer inspired me to pursue trial practice. I discovered very early on in my career that I identified more with plaintiffs than I did with the big corporations and insurance companies. This led me to make the very difficult decision to leave my father’s firm and pursue a career representing plaintiffs. I believe that this was the best decision that I have made in my career.”
— Thomas P. Giuffra

Thomas P. Giuffra is an internationally recognized trial attorney and a partner at Rheingold Giuffra Ruffo Plotkin & Hellman LLP, one of New York’s preeminent plaintiff’s litigation firms. Over the course of a distinguished three-decade career, Tom has established himself as one of the most accomplished civil trial lawyers in the country, with a particular focus on representing survivors of sexual abuse and sex trafficking and individuals who have suffered severe, life-altering injuries due to negligence, malpractice, and institutional failure.

Tom has recovered over $250 million on behalf of survivors of sexual abuse and sex trafficking, including a largest single sex trafficking settlement of $14 million. His civil sexual abuse practice has placed him at the center of some of the most consequential cases in the nation, including representation of survivors of Harvey Weinstein, Sean “P. Diddy” Combs, and Dr. Darius Paduch. He has also represented survivors of doctor sexual abuse, institutional abuse, clergy abuse, and abuse in educational settings.

Beyond his sexual abuse practice, Tom has secured landmark results across a range of catastrophic injury cases. His trial record includes over 20 verdicts and numerous settlements in excess of one million dollars, including a record-setting $58 million verdict in a lead paint poisoning case—the largest lead paint verdict in New York State history. Additionally, Tom holds the third largest lead poisoning verdict in New York State history. Tom has had one of the largest verdicts in New York State every year from 2008 to 2018, as reported by the New York Law Journal, and one of the largest verdicts in the United States in 2008, 2013, and 2018, as reported by the National Law Journal.

Tom earned his reputation early, obtaining his first million-dollar verdict just four years after graduating from law school. He is widely regarded as one of the youngest trial lawyers in New York to amass such a record of success at trial.

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Primary Practice Areas

Tom leads the firm’s Sexual Abuse and Civil Litigation Department, representing survivors of sexual abuse, assault, and trafficking in high-profile civil cases against powerful individuals and the institutions that enable them. His approach is grounded in trauma-informed advocacy—working alongside a psychotherapist to ensure that each client is treated with dignity, compassion, and care throughout the legal process. Tom has represented survivors in cases involving:

Entertainment industry figures, including survivors of Harvey Weinstein and Sean “P. Diddy” Combs
Medical professionals, including Dr. Darius Paduch and Dr. Robert Hadden
Clergy abuse and Diocese of Syracuse litigation
Institutional abuse in schools, daycare facilities, and foster care systems
Workplace sexual harassment and gender-motivated violence

Severe Tort & Catastrophic Injury Litigation

Tom has extensive experience trying complex tort cases involving catastrophic injuries, including:

Lead paint poisoning ($58 million landmark verdict, $21 million verdict)
Traumatic brain injuries and birth trauma
Medical malpractice (cancer misdiagnosis, surgical errors, hospital negligence)
Construction accidents and labor law violations
Product liability
Premises liability and civil rights violations
Maritime accidents and toxic torts
Significant personal injury matters

Trial Philosophy

Tom’s philosophy as a trial lawyer is built on the principle that every case should be prepared as if it is going to trial. This approach—combining meticulous investigation, forensic precision, and a deep commitment to each client’s story—produces stronger negotiating leverage and better results, whether a case resolves via negotiation or before a jury. For survivors of sexual abuse and trafficking, Tom brings a particular sensitivity to the process, ensuring that clients are supported at every stage and that their voices are heard.

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Professional Honors & Accolades

Advocate, American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA)

In 2015, Tom was inducted as an Advocate of the American Board of Trial Advocates—the organization’s highest rank, requiring lead counsel experience in a minimum of fifty jury trials to verdict. Fewer than 125 attorneys in New York have qualified for ABOTA membership, and only 28 New York City lawyers hold the Advocate rank.

Fellow, International Society of Barristers

Tom was elected a Fellow of the International Society of Barristers, a membership limited to fewer than 700 lawyers worldwide selected by peers and judges as “outstanding in the field of advocacy.”

Barrister, Order of Centurions

Tom holds the rank of Barrister in the Order of Centurions, reserved for attorneys who have tried 100 or more jury trials to verdict.

New York Law Journal Verdict Hall of Fame

In 2014, the New York Law Journal selected four of Tom’s verdicts for its Malpractice Verdict & Settlements Hall of Fame. In 2016, six of Tom’s verdicts were selected for the Verdict Hall of Fame. In 2015 and 2016, the New York Law Journal presented him with an award for obtaining one of the top 20 verdicts in New York.

Additional Honors

Associate Justice of the Village of Scarsdale, 2024–Present
NY State Magistrates Association, 2024
Senior Fellow, Litigation Counsel of America, 2021
National Law Journal Elite Trial Lawyer – Top 50 Verdict in the United States
National Trial Lawyers – Top 100 Trial Lawyers in New York, 2011–Present
Irish Voice – Irish Legal Top 100, 2017 & 2018
Lawdragon 500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers, 2019–2021
Best Lawyers in America, 2019–2021
Lawyer Monthly – Maritime Accidents Lawyer of the Year, 2016
Six verdicts in NYLJ Verdict & Settlements Hall of Fame, 2016
NYLJ Verdict Hall of Fame Top 20 Verdict Award, 2015 & 2016
Four verdicts in Malpractice Verdict & Settlements Hall of Fame, NYLJ, 2014
National Academy of Personal Injury Attorneys – Top 10 NY Attorney, 2013 & 2016
National Association of Distinguished Counsel – Nation’s Top 100 Attorney, 2014
Life Fellow, American Bar Foundation, 2013
Top 100 New York Metro Super Lawyers, 2012–Present
New York Metro Super Lawyers (Personal Injury & Medical Malpractice), 2008–Present
A/V Preeminent Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell (Highest Possible Rating), 2011–Present
National Institute for Trial Advocacy, Trial Advocacy Skills Diploma, 2004
Rated “Superb” by AVVO Attorney Rating Service

Notable Case Results

Sexual Abuse & Sex Trafficking

$250 Million+ recovered for survivors of sexual abuse and sex trafficking
$14 Million settlement – Largest single sex trafficking case settlement
Lead counsel for survivors in civil cases against Harvey Weinstein, Sean “P. Diddy” Combs, and Dr. Darius Paduch

Catastrophic Injury & Medical Malpractice

$58 Million verdict – Lead paint poisoning (largest lead paint verdict in New York State history)
$21 Million verdict – Three children with brain damage from lead poisoning
$20 Million verdict – Infant traumatic brain injury
$11 Million verdict – Child brain damage from lead poisoning
$9 Million verdict – Traumatic brain injury in motor vehicle accident
$6.1 Million verdict – Hepatitis C transmission from improper Propofol use
$4.194 Million verdict – Failure to diagnose lung cancer
$3.25 Million verdict – Failure to treat MRSA
$2.5 Million verdict – Cancer misdiagnosis
$2 million settlement – Construction accident due to defective scaffolding
$2 million settlement – Settlement for a labor law action at an unsafe construction site

Education

St. John’s University School of Law, Jamaica, New York

J.D., 1994
Best Advocate, Civil Trial Institute, 1993
Phi Delta Phi: International Legal Honor Society
Member, Trial Advocacy Team

Boston College, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts

A.B., 1991
Departmental Honors in History
Phi Alpha Theta: National History Honor Society
Dean’s List, 1988–1991

Bar Admissions

New York, 1995
New Jersey, 1994
Utah, 2020
U.S. Supreme Court, 2009
U.S. Court of Appeals, 2nd Circuit, 1995
U.S. Court of Appeals, 3rd Circuit, 2014
U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, 1995
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York, 1995
U.S. District Court, Northern District of New York, 2015
U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey, 1994
U.S. District Court, District of Connecticut, 1998
U.S. Court of International Trade, 1995
U.S. Tax Court, 1995

Professional Associations & Memberships

Barrister, Order of Centurions (100+ jury trials to verdict)
Advocate, Order of Certus
NY State Magistrates Association, 2024
Trial Law Institute
Diversity Law Institute
New York State Trial Lawyers Association, Board of Directors, 2006–Present
John’s University School of Law Alumni Association, Board of Directors, 2018
New York City Bar Association, Medical Malpractice Committee
American Association for Justice
New York State Bar Association
American Bar Association
Maritime Law Association of the United States
Brooklyn Bar Association

Public Service

Associate Justice of the Village of Scarsdale, 2024–Present

Select Media Mentions & Press Coverage

Play

Jane Doe v. Cornell University, Chi Phi Fraternity Litigation

Sean “P. Diddy” Combs Litigation

Dr. Darius Paduch Sexual Abuse Litigation

Harvey Weinstein Litigation

Clergy & Institutional Abuse

Expert Commentary & Profile Features

“Lawyer Limelight: Thomas Giuffra” – Lawdragon (April 2020)
Expert legal commentator on “Primetime Justice” and “Court TV Live”
Featured in Dutch documentary “Claiming Justice” on U.S. personal injury litigation

Thomas P. Giuffra