masiakos, mercurio & associates, p.c. about us
Our firm's focus is on defense litigation including commercial, general and all types of personal injury litigation matters. Our attorneys have combined practical experience exceeding 60 years and some have practiced law with both the defense and plaintiff bars. This varied experience gives our firm's attorneys the very unique perspective of seeing both sides of all cases and thus defending our clients as if we were prosecuting them as plaintiffs. This perspective gives our attorneys a tremendous advantage in anticipating the issues our clients will face. Our firm's reputation in the legal community is a direct result of the excellence of our lawyers and the commitment to all our employees. Our strength lies in the work ethic of all our employees and the diverse backgrounds which they contribute to our firm and which is reflected in our work.
MEDICAL KNOWLEDGE
Our attorneys are well versed in the medical aspect of personal injury cases. We meticulously review all medical records and focus on even the minutest details often hidden in the records and we use this information to discredit Plaintiffs at depositions, mediations, and trials. Our attorneys are experienced in presenting all medical information in a concise manner in our reporting to our clients, mediators, judges and juries.
.jpeg)
preparation
Our attorneys are meticulous in their review and preparation of each and every case whether we are preparing for depositions, mediations, arbitrations or trials. This provides our attorneys with the advantage to debunk defective and fallacious theories that have no merit or have questionable merit. We have the technical know-how to prepare expert and lay witnesses for trial. We know how to be effective advocates and prepare our witnesses for questions concerning their opinions and testimony. Our meticulous preparation allows us to ask appropriate questions that expose the flaws in the opposition's case.
Fearlessness
We pride ourselves on being fearless in the handling of every case. Our adversaries know that we are not afraid to take any case to trial, from the simplest to the most complex matters. We have the techincal expertise to properly prepare experts and lay witness for trial. We are fearless in taking complex matters and translate them into words and concepts that jurors can understand and appreciate.
.jpeg)
.jpeg)
meet our team
Mr. Masiakos is the founder of our firm and has been practicing law for 33 years in the area of personal injury litigation with both the Plaintiff and Defense bars. This unique experience gives him a tremendous advantage in anticipating the issues his clients will face. He initially started his career working with in-house counsel for GEICO Insurance Company where he learned quickly and handled a large caseload of defense cases from inception to conclusion. He also started and successfully ran his own Plaintiff's practice for more than two decades with an emphasis on personal injury matters. During the last nine years, he has focused on the defense aspect of personal injury litigation. Mr. Masiakos has defended litigants in all areas of personal injury matters including motor vehicle, premises liability, and labor law cases. He has been responsible for the firm’s growth, expansion, and recognition by numerous boards and institutions. His leadership and vast knowledge in the defense field make him perfectly suited to represent the firm with our insureds and carriers and to successfully mentor the associates who join the practice. He is admitted to the New York State Bar, the Eastern District of New York, and the Southern District of New York, and he is also Admitted Pro Hac Vice in Texas and Nevada with pending admissions in several other states. He is a member of the New York State Bar Association, a member of the National African American Insurance Association, and a member of The Defense Association of New York.
Mr. Mercurio is the firm’s Managing Partner and has been practicing law for 17 years. He brings with him a vast array of experience in general defense litigation given his prior employment. He handles all aspects of litigation from inception up until trial. He has handled multiple areas of defense litigation including construction accidents, motor vehicles, premises, and professional liability. He has been essential to the growth and success of our firm and has proven himself in Court, mediations, and arbitrations obtaining successful results for our clients. He is admitted to the New York State Bar, the Federal Courts of New York - Eastern and Southern District.
ERIC D. MERCURIO, ESQ.
Managing Partner
emercurio@mmdlawgroup.com
Mr. Gebhard is a partner in the firm and has been practicing law for 17 years. He handles all aspects of the defense of personal injury matters from inception up to trial. His background in handling the defense of medical malpractice cases makes him uniquely suited to research and review medical records and thus attack the faulty broad-based assumptions of our adversaries. His focus on valuations based on his meticulous reviews adds to the firm’s ability to back up with facts and the necessary arguments to successfully defend our cases and save our clients hundreds of thousands of dollars. He is admitted to the New York State Bar. He is a member of the New York State Bar Association.
ROBERT E. GEBHARD, ESQ.
Partner
.jpg)
GARREN R. SMALL, ESQ.
Senior Trial Counsel
gsmall@mmdlawgroup.com
ANDREW J. CICCARONI, ESQ.
Associate Attorney
ajciccaroni@mmdlawgroup.com
Mr. Small is our firm's Senior Trial Counsel. He graduated from Hofstra University with a degree in Political Science. He also holds a Juris Doctorate from The Hofstra University School of Law. He is admitted in New York, as well as in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District, and the Eastern District of New York.
He previously served as a Planner at the Vera Institute of Justice in Manhattan working on civil and criminal justice matters. He was in the Corporate Law Department of The National Broadcasting Company, Inc., as Assistant General Attorney to the Broadcast Standards and Owned Stations groups, and “Saturday Night Live”, among other clients. He then founded a not-for-profit devoted to promoting tolerance and worked closely with community groups and The Holocaust Memorial Center in Glen Cove.
Mr. Small was an Associate and Partner at the Law Firm of Cannon and Acosta, LLP, on Long Island from 2001 to 2015. He left to form his consulting firm in Manhattan. While at Cannon and Acosta, he litigated matters involving motor vehicle accidents, construction accidents, and premises liability cases. He also argued matters before the Appellate Division, 2nd Department, and has independently won recognition from Long Island-based news organizations for environmental work.
He lives in Manhattan with his wife and twin sons and enjoys writing poetry, hiking on the beach, and coaching.
He previously served as a Planner at the Vera Institute of Justice in Manhattan working on civil and criminal justice matters. He was in the Corporate Law Department of The National Broadcasting Company, Inc., as Assistant General Attorney to the Broadcast Standards and Owned Stations groups, and “Saturday Night Live”, among other clients. He then founded a not-for-profit devoted to promoting tolerance and worked closely with community groups and The Holocaust Memorial Center in Glen Cove.
Mr. Small was an Associate and Partner at the Law Firm of Cannon and Acosta, LLP, on Long Island from 2001 to 2015. He left to form his consulting firm in Manhattan. While at Cannon and Acosta, he litigated matters involving motor vehicle accidents, construction accidents, and premises liability cases. He also argued matters before the Appellate Division, 2nd Department, and has independently won recognition from Long Island-based news organizations for environmental work.
He lives in Manhattan with his wife and twin sons and enjoys writing poetry, hiking on the beach, and coaching.
Mr. Ciccaroni is an associate attorney with our firm. He graduated from St John’s University School of Law in 2014 and has been practicing law for 9 years. He has practiced personal injury litigation from the plaintiff and defense sides. He also has experience handling no-fault collections litigation for medical providers. He has handled all aspects of litigation from the inception of a case until trial. His experience on both sides of personal injury litigation has allowed him to evaluate cases fairly and accurately. He is admitted to the New York State Bar and the Federal Court of New York in the Eastern and Southern Districts.