| Legal Talk Show, Law Firm Websites - Stephen J. Murphy, Charles D. Naylor | |
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Chuck Naylor is a highly experienced attorney who has practiced admiralty and maritime law in the San Pedro, Los Angeles, and Long Beach harbor areas since 1974. In this interview, he discusses his work in the case of Marz v. DaimlerChrysler, which resulted in a $55 million verdict. On April 13, 2004, Mr. Mraz suffered fatal head injuries when the 1992 Dodge Dakota pickup truck he had been driving at his work site, the San Pedro/Long Beach Maritime Terminal, ran him over after he exited the vehicle believing it was in park. The jury found that a defect in the Dodge Dakota’s automatic transmission, called a park-to-reverse defect, played a substantial factor in Mr. Mraz’s death, and that DaimlerChrysler was negligent in the design of the vehicle, for failing to warn of the defect, and then for failing to adequately recall or retrofit the vehicle. Chuck also specializes in the Jones Act, Longshore and Harbor Worker Compensation Act, cruise ship passenger cases, as well as maritime law, admiralty law and maritime personal injury. Stephen J. Murphy joined the firm Block & O'Toole in early 2005 after a successful and rewarding career as a homicide prosecutor. He is best known for his work in the courtroom, now focusing on catastrophic construction accident and personal injury trial work. In this interview, he discusses his work in the case of Dunne v. Lloyd, which resulted in a $32 million verdict. On March 13, 2004, the plaintiff, a Vietnam Veteran, was a Good Samaritan helping accident victims at the scene of an unrelated motor vehicle collision in Port Jefferson, New York. The defendant was driving her car while impaired by marijuana and prescription painkillers. She drove through a police barricade and struck the plaintiff, propelling him 30 feet in the air. In 2008, Stephen began the year resolving greater than an average of $5,000,000 worth of cases per month. He also successfully negotiated a $15,500,000 settlement on behalf of an injured client. He was named a partner in July 2008 and the firm name was then changed to Block O’Toole & Murphy. He began his legal career working as an Assistant District Attorney under Brooklyn District Attorney Charles J. Hynes. He honed his skills in the criminal courtrooms in Brooklyn, prosecuting persons accused of violent crimes. Stephen earned a reputation from the judiciary and his colleagues as a tough, but fair, prosecutor. In early 2002, District Attorney Hynes, recognizing Stephen’s talents and achievements, appointed him to his elite Homicide Bureau. Stephen, the youngest member of Brooklyn's Homicide Bureau, successfully handled several high profile cases, including double and triple murders, arson homicides, gang murders and highly publicized murders of children and members of the New York City Police Department. ??He is an adjunct professor of law at the St. John's University School of law. He teaches trial advocacy and lectures on criminal and civil trial practice and evidence. Stephen also serves as an instructor for their nationally regarded trial advocacy program. |
