Michael Anthony Ponterio

Michael A. Ponterio is a founding partner of Lipsitz & Ponterio, LLC. Mr. Ponterio represents families who have suffered injuries as a result of exposure to asbestos, childhood lead poisoning, as well as representing families suffering injuries as a result of defective products.

• 1984 – New York State

• J.D., 1983, New England School of Law

• B.A., 1978, St. Bonaventure

Mr. Ponterio has been representing people suffering from mesothelioma caused by asbestos for over 28 years. He obtained the first personal injury jury verdict in the State of New York for an asbestos victim (Racich v. Celotex Corporation). Mr. Ponterio also obtained the first punitive damage award for an asbestos worker in the State of New York (Racich v. Celotex Corporation). Mr. Ponterio and his partner, John Ned Lipsitz, also received the first personal injury jury verdict in Buffalo, New York, on behalf of an asbestos victim (Wolf v. Celotex Corporation).

In July 2017, Mr. Ponterio obtained a $1.2 million dollar jury verdict in a medical malpractice lawsuit against two doctors at the University of Rochester Medical Center for failing to timely diagnose a female client’s bowel perforation.

In September 2011, Mr. Ponterio, together with Lipsitz & Ponterio attorney Neil McKinnon obtained the first jury verdict in Western New York on behalf of a lead poisoned child. In November 2013, Mr. Ponterio, together with Lipsitz & Ponterio attorney Zachary J. Woods, obtained a verdict on behalf of a Rochester, New York, child for injuries resulting from exposure to lead based paint.

Since 1988, Mr. Ponterio has obtained over $250 million in settlements on behalf of the firm’s mesothelioma clients.

• 2019 –  Listed AV Distinguished Rating by Martindale-Hubbell.  This is the highest peer review rating for both legal ability and ethical standards.
• 2019 – Listed in the National Trial Lawyers Top 100
• 2019 – 2011 – Selected as a Super Lawyer by Thomson Reuters
• 2019, 2017 – 2014 Legal Elite Honoree, Business First of Buffalo, recognized by peers as one of Western New York’s top attorneys
• 2016 – Lifetime Achievement, America’s Top 100 Attorneys®
• 2016 – Lawyers of Distinction, Recognizes the Top 10% of Lawyers in the USA.
• 2016-2015  Member, Nation’s  Top One Percent, National Association of Distinguished Counsel
• 2012 – AVVO Rating of Excellent based on experience, industry recognition and professional conduct.

• American Association of Trial Lawyers
• New York State Trial Lawyers’ Association
• Western New York Trial Lawyers Association
• American Bar Association
• Bar Association of Erie County
• Distinguished Justice Advocates – Top 1% Attorneys in America
• Million Dollar Advocates Forum – The Top Trial Lawyers in America®

• The Buffalo News: Opinion Editorial: Survivors of asbestos victims lose out as deal allows insurance companies to evade responsibility
• The Buffalo News: For families, justice elusive over deadliness of asbestos
• Buffalo Law Journal: Two-step legal process required for worker to collect asbestos judgment
• Michael A. Ponterio Selected as a Member to the 2015 List of the Nation’s Top One Percent by NADC
• Erie County Jury Awards Three Million Dollars to Former Ashland Oil Employee
• Civil Justice Magazine – Interview with Attorney Michael Ponterio
• Erie County Jury Awards $3 Million Dollars to Pipefitter in Mesothelioma Case
• Former Durez Worker Represented by Lipsitz & Ponterio Receives Cash Settlement Over $2.5 Million in Asbestos Mesothelioma Case

• October 2015 – Mr. Ponterio, Founding Partner of Lipsitz & Ponterio, obtained a bench trial decision awarding $5.6 million dollars to a 58 year old engineer who worked two summers as a college student at Durez Plastics in North Tonawanda.
• August 2014 – Mr. Ponterio, together with Lipsitz & Ponterio attorney Mathew Morton, obtained a Bench Trial Decision awarding $3 million dollars to a former Durez worker.
• April 2014 – Mr. Ponterio obtained a Bench Trial Decision in Buffalo awarding $3 million dollars to a former Durez worker  with mesothelioma and his spouse for her loss of services and companionship as a result of his terminal cancer.
• August 2013 – Mr. Ponterio, together with Lipsitz & Ponterio partner John Comerford, obtained a jury verdict in the amount of $3 million dollars on behalf of a former Ashland Oil employee.
• October 2012 – Mr. Ponterio, together with Lipsitz & Ponterio attorney Joseph Kremer, obtained a jury verdict in the amount of $3 million dollars on behalf of a former GM worker.
• March 2012 – Mr. Ponterio together with Lipsitz & Ponterio attorney Matt Morton, obtained a jury verdict in the amount of $325,000 on behalf of a Former Durez Plant Worker in Lung Cancer Case.
• December 2011 – Mr. Ponterio  obtained a jury verdict in the amount of $2 million dollars on behalf of a former Durez factory worker. The jury in this case assigned 100% of the responsibility for damages to defendant Hedman, and the jury also found that Hedman’s actions were taken with reckless disregard for the safety of others.
• July 2011 – Mr. Ponterio obtained a jury verdict in the sum of $2.5 million dollars against Ford Motor Company on behalf of a former chemist.
• November 2009 – Mr. Ponterio served as counsel for a trial in Buffalo, New York, and obtained a $3 million dollar settlement award on behalf of our client, a local union boilermaker for injuries resulting from exposure to asbestos on the job.

• New York State Bar Association
  • 2014 – Honing Your Deposition Skills
  • Products Liability;
  • Vital Aspects of Your Care;
  • Civil Litigators Guide to Discovery Under New York Law