Islandia, NY

Charles Rappaport

When we look back at the history of RGLZ Personal Injury Law, there is one thing that’s been a constant since our founding in 1968; the knowledge and leadership of Charles J. Rappaport. We can’t imagine it any other way. Charles has tirelessly pursued his dream of the perfect personal injury firm for the large majority of his life, recently celebrating and being honored for 50 years of practice. Mr. Rappaport came from humble beginnings, growing up in a blue collar neighborhood in New York City. His inspiration to become a trial lawyer came early on in life, during a school field trip to watch a trial in the 6th grade. “Right then and there, I knew I wanted to be a lawyer, and not just any kind of lawyer. I wanted to be a trial lawyer. My clients weren’t going to be banks, big corporations or landlords. My dream was to stand in front of a jury and speak up for people like the folks I grew up with.” So Charles worked tirelessly to pay his own way through both college and law school as a young man, working as a cab driver on nights, and a Fuller Brush man on the weekends. Nothing would stop him from pursuing his dream. “I graduated, and for the first five years of my career I worked for a large law firm that represented (you guessed it) banks, big corporations, and landlords. I loved the law and the work was challenging, but it was dull. It wasn’t what I dreamed about doing when I decided to become a lawyer. So, in June 1968, with a lump in my throat, and the courage and optimism of the young, I left the world of big law firms and hung out my shingle. That marked the beginning of what would become RGLZ.” For over 50 years, Charles Rappaport has maintained a singular focus on sculpting his firm into what it has become today; a benchmark for personal injury firms. Every characteristic of RGLZ is based on the tenets Mr. Rappaport has lived by, and his vision born on the streets of New York City those many years ago. Legal Excellence both in and out of the courtroom, putting the “personal” back into personal injury law through unparalleled access, focusing on getting clients to a better place, and treating clients like family are all the hallmarks of Charles Rappaport’s career. “If I had to choose the one main thing I want our clients to say when they think of RGLZ it’s this: “I can trust them, no matter what. I can count on them.” We will never stop trying to earn that trust.” And if there is one thing that can be said of Charles Rappaport as an attorney, it’s that you can trust him. You can trust that not a single lesson went unlearned during his entire career. You can trust that there are few people out there with the level of experience he brings to the table. You can trust that he’ll always be there to answer your questions.

Michael Levine

Michael Levine is, without a doubt, the prime example of a “Go-Getter”. In his 35 years of practice, Michael has never stopped chasing after perfection, and his reputation and record are a shining reflection of this. If you’re looking for an attorney who is the rare combination of experienced, hard-charging, tactical, spirited, and unfailingly caring, you’ve found him. At RGLZ we sometimes wonder how Michael finds the time and energy to do everything he does. He lectures often on his areas of expertise before the bar associations of Suffolk and New York State, writes articles for legal journals, was elected as Co-Chair for the Long Island Chapter of the Brain Injury Association of New York State, served as Past President of the more than 4000 member strong New York State Trial Lawyers’ Association, stepped down as Mayor in his hometown of Old Field NY, after 12 years, and still finds time to be an active part of the Long Island motorcycle riding community as Motorcycle Mike Esq. This is all on top of a thriving practice here at RGLZ, where Michael handles litigation in numerous types of personal injury cases including motor vehicle accidents, premises liability accidents, construction accidents, and railroad and subway accidents, among others. He is also a friend of labor unions, taking cases for the Transport Workers Union and other large unions in New York. Despite this nearly insane workload, Michael Levine is also well renowned as a true friend to his clients. He prides himself on providing round-the-clock access for his clients, regularly taking their calls personally at all hours of the day. This is backed up by the fact that, in his entire career, Michael Levine has never had a grievance filed against him, and many of his clients remain friends to this day. There simply aren’t many attorneys out there who can make a claim like that. Despite Michael’s dedication to improving both himself and his profession as a whole, his clients always come first, and his priorities are always simple. “In my time as a personal injury attorney, I’ve seen almost all there is to see. A large part of my life is coming into other people’s lives in what is likely their worst moments; and it’s tough. It hurts to see people in these situations. But at the same time it’s what drives me. I know that I can make a difference for these people. And if, at the end of my time with them, I can see them smile, and feel just that little bit better... That’s what I do all of this for.” Michael Levine is someone you can count on to get the job done, no matter what. He is a man of endless drive, ambition, and compassion. A man who will never stop trying to improve himself, his profession, and the lives of the people around him. And someone who simply doesn’t understand the concept of doing things “half-way”.

Michael G. Glass

It is not an uncommon thing at the RGLZ offices to catch a good earful of Michael Glass on the phone with his clients. He takes as much time as is necessary to explain things to them, and has a tendency to make absolutely sure that the phone call does not end until the client is satisfied with the explanation. It is just part of who he is. Michael Glass is always going to give you every bit of information you need to have. He also is not the type to sugar-coat things, or dance around an issue. You are always going to get a 100% honest appraisal of things from him, and there is never any hesitation in it. It is the sort of sure-handed delivery that comes from the confidence of a 35+ year career. Michael Glass always seems to know the answer to every question. “Lawyers have to think in terms of the elements necessary to prove a claim, and how those elements can be proven. Each element is like a key in a lock, and when all the keys are in all the locks, and the locks are opened, the door opens to the injured Plaintiff’s recovery in Court. Often, injured Plaintiffs do not think of their case in these linear terms, and they can’t be blamed for that. It is my job to make sure each client knows the elements of proof in their claim, and any challenges we may have in proving an individual element.” Typically, Michael Glass is the first person to arrive in the morning, and the last one to leave at night. He is fond of quoting one great trial lawyer in the past who always said, “there is no genius in the courtroom who is not first a drudge in the office, preparing.” It is a level of commitment to his craft that speaks volumes about the sort of attorney he is. All of this is on top of a body of knowledge which few can boast of having. When it comes to medical malpractice, nursing home malpractice, and other personal injury cases, Michael Glass is a firm leader. He is a regular lecturer for various New York State Bar Associations, and has published numerous legal articles and seminar pieces on litigation related subjects. What Michael enjoys most about the law though, is trial work. This is where his skills truly come to life. Michael Glass always prepares every case as though it were going to trial. He is a fighter through-and-through, and is a staunch believer that sometimes taking a case to trial is the only way to ensure a suitable settlement offer or recovery. Without a doubt, Michael finds trial work the most rewarding and challenging aspect of his practice. “The most important lesson I have learned in 35 years of practice, is that there is no substitute for careful preparation of the case for trial. A trial is like producing a complex play, although the actors are the witnesses recounting the truth of their observations, and the stage is the courtroom. The lawyer needs to master the facts of the case, master the law that governs those facts, and then fully understand the medicine which proves the damages. In addition, the trial lawyer must cerebrate as to how to present those facts in a powerful and compelling narrative. It is a human drama and the concluding lines are written by the jury.” If you are looking for an attorney who will, without a doubt, give you the attention your case deserves, then Michael Glass is your man. You can depend on the level of honesty and commitment that Michael Glass is known for, as the countless people whom Michael has recovered compensation for would attest to.

Kurt P. Widmaier

Kurt P. Widmaier is a partner with Russo, Karl, Widmaier & Cordano PLLC and has been a member of the firm for over 30 years in different capacities. Mr. Widmaier began his legal career with the firm in 1985 as an intern. Mr. Widmaier focuses his practice in all areas of estate planning, both basic and sophisticated, including wills, trusts, estate and gift taxation issues, business succession planning and asset protection. Kurt also helps individual clients to become Medicaid eligible, including the drafting of Medicaid Qualifying Trusts. Kurt and his staff prepare and file applications on behalf of clients for home care Medicaid as well as chronic long term nursing home Medicaid and related needs. In addition, Kurt regularly practices before the Surrogate’s Court in both Suffolk and Nassau counties. Kurt handles various litigated matters, including complex contested matters, contested accountings, guardianship proceedings and other miscellaneous proceedings in the Surrogate’s Court across New York State. Kurt and his staff also serve as counsel to numerous fiduciaries, including executors carrying out their duties in the probate process, trustees in various lifetime trusts, as well as testamentary trusts and those trustees who are serving beneficiaries with special needs under a Supplemental Needs Trust. Kurt is a member of the New York State Bar Association Trust and Estates Section and Elder Law Section, the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA), Suffolk County Bar Association Trusts and Estates Section, as well as being a member of the Estate Planning Council of Suffolk County. He is former Co-Chairman of the Suffolk County Surrogate’s Court Committee, and regularly serves as a court-appointed Guardian ad Litem to protect the interests of infants and minors, as well as people under a disability. Kurt provides advice to families to help protect their loved ones with special needs which is something that has increased dramatically over the last 30 years. Protecting those who can not protect themselves has been a passion for Kurt and the firm from the outset of his career. Kurt graduated Stony Brook University with honors and received his Law Degree from Touro College, Cum Laude. Kurt was the recipient of several prestigious American Jurisprudence awards throughout his law school career. Kurt has lived on Long Island his entire life and currently resides in East Northport with his wife and three children.

Steven B. Ferber

A founding partner of Davis & Ferber, Steven leads our Personal Injury and Medical Malpractice Group. He has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars on his clients’ behalf. Unlike attorneys who settle cases at a lower value to avoid trial, Steven has taken over 200 cases to verdict, making him well known for only settling cases for their true value. Steven served on the Judicial Screening Committee, screening candidates for Judgeship. He holds the highest possible rating of “AV” from Martindale Hubbell, and was co-chair of the Supreme Court committee of the Suffolk Bar as well as Boss of the Year, Suffolk County Legal Secretaries Association.

Christopher Glass

Christopher Glass specializes in representing clients who have been injured as a result of medical malpractice, nursing home negligence, car accidents, construction accidents, defective or unsafe products, and trips/slips and falls. For over 10 years, Christopher has been helping his clients recover from the aftermath of terrible accidents and injuries, guiding them through the process to hold those responsible financially accountable. Christopher is an experienced litigator and negotiator, and will handle your case from the initial intake through trial. He always keeps an open line of communication and prides himself on being accessible and taking the time to thoughtfully answer his clients questions and guide them through the litigation process. Since joining Rappaport, Glass, Levine and Zullo in 2013, Christopher has secured multiple six and seven figure settlements for his clients. He has been named a “Rising Star” by Super Lawyers and been awarded “Top 40 Under 40” in the category of Civil Plaintiff Lawyers by The National Trial Lawyers. Christopher has published articles and lectured in the field of personal injury and trial practice.

Charles C. Russo

Charlie Russo is the senior partner of the firm of Russo, Karl, Widmaier & Cordano, PLLC. Charlie is a graduate of the University of Vermont, received a Master’s Degree from C.W. Post in 1974 and his Juris Doctorate from Hofstra Law School in 1978. Following law school, Charlie spent several years as an assistant district attorney prosecuting major felonies in Suffolk County and he continues to be active in the practice of criminal law. Charlie has embraced a lifelong dedication to young people, especially those facing the crisis of addiction. For the past 38 years he has served as both Chairman of the Board of Directors and legal counsel to Hope House Ministries in Port Jefferson which provides family services, counseling and residential facilities for young men, the homeless, and families in need. His roots in this area of service stem from his days at Melville House, a residential home for young men where he lived for six years. He credits that experience, combined with his employment as a social worker at the Nassau County Children's Shelter, as being a significant influence in shaping his sensitivity and commitment to the homeless and youth in crisis. For the past 34 years Charlie has been the founder, fundraiser, and "man in the red suit" for a project known as Christmas Magic, which seeks to enhance the holiday spirit for families in crisis and for children within those families who seek only to experience the magic of Christmas. During the Fall and early Winter each year, Charlie works incessantly, to raise the funds necessary to provide Christmas to thousands of underprivileged kids and their families living in various shelters and programs throughout Suffolk and Nassau Counties. He has touched the lives of so many children by etching in their memory, a positive and loving picture of Christmas despite the problems that plague them and their families during the holidays. Last year Christmas Magic reached over 12,000 deserving children. Charlie is proud to serve as Board Chair for the Long Island Coalition for the Homeless and enjoys the synergy between the Coalition, Hope House, and Christmas Magic which has been created and has helped to enhance the lives of so many. Through his charitable activities, Charlie has developed an area of legal expertise unique to Long Island. He has vast experience in New York State Not-For-Profit Corporate Law- guiding corporations through the legal and bureaucratic maze of complicated financing, which is necessary for providing millions of dollars in revenue to create housing for the disabled and homeless. He is also a Founder and Board Member of the Empire National Bank in Islandia, New York. As a result of his efforts, he has been recognized by numerous community service agencies and most recently was presented with the prestigious New York State Bar Association Root/Stimson Award.