New Hyde Park, NY

Richard S. Jaffe

For over 25 years, Richard S. Jaffe has dutifully earned and vigorously maintained his reputation as a fierce trial attorney and litigator. There is no mistaking his calling. However, beneath the legal theory and courtroom savvy is an enthusiasm for medicine that persistently fuels this native New Yorker. Today, Richard has combined this passion for law and medicine by completing his certification as a Certified Brain Injury Specialist (CBIS). ... Richard Jaffe has handled thousands of personal injury cases and is a lifetime member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, recognized for achieving multiple settlements or verdicts exceeding $1 million. He holds an AV Preeminent* rating from the Martindale-Hubbell peer review system and was listed in the 2012 New York Super Lawyers for his professional standards and consistently favorable outcomes. Licensed to practice in New York, New Jersey, and the District of Columbia, including federal courts in New York, Richard is a member of several professional organizations, such as the Nassau County Bar Association, New York State Trial Lawyers Association, and the Association of Trial Lawyers of America. He is also fluent in Spanish, allowing him to serve a broader range of clients.

Stephen M. Cohen

Stephen Cohen grew up in working-class Queens, where he learned about the importance of hard work from his family and neighbors. He also learned that bad things can happen to good people - and that when they do, they oftentimes need a helping hand. “I had an understanding that everyday people had accidents through no fault of their own,” he recalls. “I think that’s what pushed me into becoming a lawyer.” He has carried that commitment to helping everyday working people throughout his legal career. After receiving his B.S. degree at Bradley University in 1971, he enrolled at St. John’s University School of Law and got his J.D. there in 1974. He joined a small law firm for a time before venturing out to create his own solo law practice, which was located in a third-floor walkup in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood of Brooklyn. Initially, Cohen handled a wide variety of cases. But early on, he realized that personal injury law was his passion and began to focus his practice in that area. In the ensuing years, that concentration has never wavered. For a time he moved his practice to lower Manhattan, but after he started a family and moved to Long Island he decided to set up shop closer to home. He opened an office in Great Neck and then moved to the firm’s current location in New Hyde Park. Over the years, his solo practice grew into a multi-lawyer firm that now has six attorneys and a support staff of more than 20. Cohen believes that the key to the firm’s success and growth has been its focus on providing the best possible service. “I take great pride that the firm is really people-related,” he says. “I want the firm to convey the idea that when they come in to see us, we’re no better than they are - that this is just what we do and that we respect what they do.” He has represented thousands of injured parties in automobile accidents, trip and fall cases, construction accidents, and the like. He divested the practice into No-Fault collection in both the arbitration and judicial forums, representing health care providers against insurance carriers for collection of bills relating to the treatment of individuals injured in automobile accidents.

Allan J. Ahearne, Jr.

Since 2004, Allan J. Ahearne, Jr. has represented clients throughout New York City, Long Island, the Hudson Valley, and federal district courts throughout the United States. He is a seasoned litigator and negotiator, known for his direct and honest nature, and uncompromising principles. Allan founded The Ahearne Law Firm in 2012, focusing on serious personal injury cases. He is admitted to practice in New York, New Jersey, the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, and the United States Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation.

Stephen B. Tiger

Stephen B. Tiger is a firm believer in doing whatever is necessary to secure the best possible recoveries for his clients. “I take a lot of pride in helping people,” he says. “I do my best for them and try to make a change for what’s right.” After receiving a Bachelor of Business Administration degree at Hofstra University in 1987, Tiger worked in the field of finance for several years before realizing that he wanted to practice law. He enrolled at Touro College Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law Center and got his J.D. there in 1994. Tiger clerked for two criminal court judges and began his legal career handling criminal defense cases, but then began to move into the area of plaintiff’s personal injury law, which he prefers. He practiced solo and also in a small partnership before joining The Law Office of Cohen & Jaffe, LLP in 2011, where his career has thrived, leading to his promotion to partner as of 2024. Tiger’s practice concentrates almost exclusively on plaintiff-side civil litigation. “I represent injured persons,” he says. “I attempt to get them fairly compensated, usually from big insurance companies or other big corporate entities that have harmed them through negligence.” His efforts have resulted in numerous sizeable outcomes for his clients, including $3 million for an injured motorcyclist, $1.45 million for a child who suffered a head injury in a motor vehicle accident, $1.8 million for an automobile passenger who suffered spinal injuries in an accident, and $875,000 for a passenger whose injured knee required multiple surgical procedures. Usually, the defendants in these cases are reluctant to admit fault, but Tiger has years of experience in knowing how to deal with them. “I’m appalled that the insurance carriers have managed to negatively influence the public’s perception of injured parties going for recovery,” he says. “I really don’t like to take what the insurance companies do lying down, so I’m happy to fight with them for the people.” Tiger is particularly known for his relentlessness in the discovery process. Often, defendants are dishonest, and do not exchange documents that they are lawfully required to. Only through Tiger’s persistence and perseverance are these materials uncovered, often leading to favorable results, even in circumstances that at first glance seem unfavorable to injured clients.

Jeffrey David Herman

Jeffrey D. Herman founded Jeffrey D. Herman & Associates, P.C. in 1994. He has over 30 years of experience in Personal Injury, Real Estate, Landlord Tenant, Criminal Law, Traffic Matters, Wills & Trusts, and General Litigation, successfully handling complex proceedings to settlement and trial.

Katherine Sawicki

With a passion for helping accident victims and a commitment to maintaining close communication with her clients, Katherine Sawicki has been a dedicated personal injury attorney with the Law Office of Cohen & Jaffe since 2019. She graduated from St. John’s University in 2016 with a Bachelor’s Degree in History and a minor in Philosophy of Law, while also working as a paralegal at a personal injury firm. She continued working full-time as a paralegal and attending night classes at St. John’s University School of Law, earning her Juris Doctor degree in 2020. Katherine’s hard work ethic and commitment to her clients are evident in her practice. She takes pride in being readily available to communicate with and assist her clients in all aspects of their roads to recovery. Her exceptional skills and experience have been recognized through the Red Storm Scholars Scholarship she received while attending St. John’s University School of Law, as well as her participation in several mock trial competitions during her studies. Katherine also served as a legal intern under Justice Vito M. DeStefano at the Commercial Division of Nassau County Supreme Court during the summer of 2018, further enriching her legal expertise.

Caitlin McNaughton

Ms. Caitlin McNaughton is a tough litigator who chose a career as an attorney because she firmly believes in standing up for those who cannot stand up for themselves. She has always believed that while flawed, the American judicial system represents the best force for justice in the world. During law school, as a part of her LL.M. degree, Caitlin worked in Tanzania with the Tanzanian government and various non-government organizations on legislative reform to expand legal rights for Tanzanian women and children. Caitlin is licensed in three states as well as admitted to practice in both federal and Appellate courts; she takes pride in her work, zealously representing clients at all stages of litigation, arbitration, and in pre-litigation matters. Caitlin has achieved over $12 million in settlements and verdicts for her clients. In her spare time, Caitlin enjoys reading and political activism.