Daniel R. Santola is a senior partner and co-founder of Powers & Santola, LLP. His practice is limited to the representation of catastrophically injured individuals, the field of law in which he has over 25 years experience.

Born in Syracuse, New York, Dan received his undergraduate degree in Economics from the University of Buffalo in 1971. After graduating from Albany Law School, he became an assistant professor at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute School of Management in Troy, New York, until 1976, when he decided to concentrate his legal efforts in the field of personal injury law. Dan accepted an associate position with one of the Capital Region's top trial lawyers and after five years became a partner in the firm of Bloomberg & Santola.

In 1987, he and longtime friend and colleague, John K. Powers, decided to form the firm of Powers & Santola, with a simple mission statement: To provide our clients with the best possible legal representation. This requires treating each case on an individual basis and developing the unique facts of each case, rather than processing a large number of claims.

In the pursuit of his goal, Dan has achieved several awards of distinction. He has consistently been named as one of the "Best Lawyers in America," and is listed in the "Martindale-Hubbell Bar Registry of Pre-eminent Lawyers," "New York's Top Lawyers," "Who's Who in American Law," "Who's Who in America," "Who's Who in the East," "Who's Who in the World" and "Who's Who in Finance and Industry."

Dan has spent more than twenty-five years teaching various topics within the specialty of personal injury law, covering subjects such as construction accidents, medical malpractice, trial tactics, evidence and products liability. He has lectured for the Office of Court Administration in its Continuing Legal Education programs for judges and court attorneys, the New York State Academy of Trial Lawyers, the New York Trial Lawyers Association, the New York State Bar Association, the Albany County Bar Association, the American Board Of Trial Advocates, Albany Law School, the Capital District Trial Lawyers Association, Albany Medical Center, Syracuse University Law School, and a number of other scholastic and professional institutions.

Dan has been on the cutting edge in the use of technology and experts in personal injury trials. He is among the first in New York to use video animation and computer graphics as evidence in personal injury trials, computer graphics and SPECT scans to document and display brain injuries and "Day In The Life" films to bring into the courtroom the every day consequences of a permanent injury. Dan has been at the forefront in the use of highly specialized experts such as placental pathologists, pediatric neuroradiologists and neonatologists to illustrate negligence in obstetrical cases; human factors engineers and biomechanics to demonstrate defective product designs; and physiatrists, vocational rehabilitationists and economists to calculate and document the full extent of losses caused by a devastating injury.

Dan has always been active in professional organizations and has served in numerous leadership roles. He is a past-president of the Capital Region Affiliate of the New York State Trial Lawyers Association, the Albany County Bar Association, The Capital District Trial Lawyers Association and the Albany Affiliate of the American Board Of Trial Advocates. Dan also holds the rank of Master Trial Advocate in the Albany Law School's American Inns of Court.

Areas of Practice:

Personal Injury - Plaintiff Only
Medical Malpractice - Plaintiff Only
Construction Accidents - Plaintiff Only
Products Liability Law - Plaintiff Only

Bar Admissions:

New York State - 1975
United States Federal District Court, Northern District of N.Y. - 1975
United States Federal District Court, Eastern District of N.Y. - 1993
United States Federal District Court, Southern District of N.Y. - 1993
United States Federal District Court, Western District of N.Y. - 1992
United States Federal District Court of Vermont, 1986

Education:

Albany Law School Union University, Albany, New York, 1974
Juris Doctor

University of Buffalo, 1971
B.A.
Honors: Dean's List

Published Works:

Daniel R. Santola, Medical Equipment Products Liability Practice Guide, 1987

Daniel R. Santola, "Medical Equipment," Products Liability Practice Guide, Matthew Bender & Co., Inc., 1988

Daniel R. Santola, John K. Powers, "Construction Accidents," New York Negligence Guide, Matthew Bender & Co., Inc., 1989

Daniel R. Santola, John K. Powers, "Construction Accidents, How to be a Winner," Tri-Cities Building & Construction Trades Council, Fall 1989 Issue

Daniel R. Santola, John K. Powers, "Compensating the Catastrophically Injured," 1989

Daniel R. Santola, Timothy J. Higgins, "Using SPECT Scans to Show Head Injuries," New York Law Journal, May 4, 1998

Daniel R. Santola, "Section 240(1) Labor Law Made Clear by Rupert Blake v. Neighborhood Housing Services of New York City, Inc.," NYSTLI Bill of Particulars, Spring 2004 Issue

Classes/Seminars Taught:

11/83 - Capital District Trial Lawyers Association
"Trial Tactics Seminar"

2/84 - Capital District Trial Lawyers Association
"New York State Procedures for Video-Taped Depositions"

3/84 - Capital District Trial Lawyers Association
Trial of a Personal Injury Action"

5/85 - Capital District Trial Lawyers Association
"Trial of a Construction Accident"

6/87 - Albany County Bar Association
"Dynamics of Evaluating Damages in a Head Injury Case"

11/87 - New York State Bar Association
"Hi-Tech Trial Tactics"

11/87 - New Medico Rehabilitation and Skilled Nursing Center The Head Injury Center at Highgate
"Head Injury Real Issues Practical Answers"

11/88-91 - New Medico Rehabilitation and Skilled Nursing Center, Boston, Massachusetts
"Insurance Issues Affecting Catastrophically Injured Persons"

1/88 - New York State Bar Association
"Art of Discovery Proceedings Under New York State Civil Practice"

3/88 - New York State Bar Association
The Law of Medical Malpractice"

10/88 - New York State Bar Association
"Personal Injury Litigation"

11/88 - New Medico Rehabilitation and Skilled Nursing Center/The Head Injury Center at Highgate
"Insurance Coverage for Head Injured Victims"

7/89 - New Medico Rehabilitation and Skilled Nursing Center/The Head Injury Center at Highgate
"Sources of Recovery for the Head Injured"

8/89 - New Medico Rehabilitation and Skilled Nursing Center/The Head Injury Center at Highgate
"Real Issues Caused by Head Injury"

11/89 - New York State Trial Lawyers Institute
"Law of Construction Accidents" Albany, Buffalo and Ithaca Locations

11/89 - Pharmacy School of Union University
"The Pharmacist's Tort Liability"

11/89 - Albany Law School
"Trial Tactics"

10/90 - New York State Trial Lawyers Institute Decisions Seminar
"Updating Construction Accident Law and Medical Malpractice" New York City, Albany, Rochester, Ithaca, Buffalo and Nassau County locations

10/90 - New York State Bar Association
"Medicine in the Courtroom"

5/91 - New York State Bar Association
"Personal Developments in Personal Injury Litigation and Insurance Law"

9/91 - New York Chapter of the National Association of Rehabilitation Professionals in the Private Sector
"Breakthroughs in Rehabilitation"

10/91 - New York State Trial Lawyers Institute Decisions Seminar
"Updating Construction Accident Law and Medical Malpractice" New York City, Albany, Rochester, Ithaca, Syracuse, Buffalo and Nassau County locations

11/91 - New Medico Rehabilitation and Skilled Nursing Center, Boston, Massachusetts
"Insurance Issues Involving Head Injury"

1/92 - Albany County Bar Association
"Presenting the Testimony of the Accident Reconstructionist"

4/92 - New Medico Rehabilitation and Skilled Nursing Center, Boston, Massachusetts
"Insurance Funding"

10/92-10/03 - New York State Trial Lawyers Association Decisions Seminar
"Updating Construction Accident Law and Medical Malpractice" New York City, Albany, Rochester, Syracuse, Buffalo and Nassau County locations

10/92 - New Medico Community Re-Entry Services of Cortland, Litigating The Brain Injury Case
"Evaluating The Losses Sustained By The Head Injured" Cortland, New York

5/93 - New York State Trial Lawyers Institute and Albany County Bar Association
"Conducting and Defending Depositions In Personal Injury Cases"

11/94 - New York State Bar Association Medical Malpractice Seminar
"Pre-suit Activities and Pleadings"

11/94 - Capital District Trial Lawyers Association
"Updating the Law on Construction Accidents"

2/95 - Albany County Bar Association
"Construction Accidents in New York State"

5/95 - New York State Trial Lawyers Institute
"Labor Law after Ross" New York City location

3/96 - Albany County Bar Association
"Discovery in Civil Lawsuits"

3/96 - Albany County Bar Association
"Laying a Proper Foundation for Expert Testimony"

5/96-05/03 - "Practical Reports of Handling Construction Site Accidents"

5/96 - Albany Law School
"The Use of Technology in The Court Room"

6/96 - New York State Trial Lawyers Association Annual Convention in Bermuda
"New York All-Star Litigators Forum"

9/96 - New York State Bar Association
"Basic Civil Practice The Trial"

10/96 - New York State Bar Association
"Medical Malpractice Litigation Pre-Suit Activities and Pleadings"

11/96 - New York State Bar Association
"Premises Liability/Construction Work-Site Accidents"

12/96 - New York State Bar Association
"Practical Evidence"

3/98 - Capital District Trial Lawyers Association
"Computer Animation"

4/98 - Northeastern Subcontractors Association
"Safe Place to Work Law"

4/98 - Albany County Bar Association
"Handling The Auto Accident Case"

10/98 - The American Board of Trial Advocates Masters In Trial Program
"Cross Examination of an Expert"

11/98 - New York State Bar Association
"Practical Skills Basic Tort and Insurance Law Practice"

12/98 - Lorman Education Services
"Federal Civil Litigation in New York"

3/99 - New York State Trial Lawyers Institute
"Summary Judgment Practice in Construction Accident Cases" New York City

11/99 - New York State Bar Association
"Construction Site Litigation" Tarrytown, New York

5/00 - Capital District Trial Lawyers Association
"Demonstrative Evidence"

7/00 - Unified Court Systems: Judicial Summer Seminars
"Construction Accidents Under New York's Labor Law," Rye Brook, New York

9/00-yearly through 2004 - New York State Unified Court System: Legal Update for Court Attorneys
"Selected Civil Issues Labor Law" Various locations and dates through out New York State

10/00 - New York State Unified Court System: Legal Update for Court Attorneys
"Selected Civil Issues Labor Law" Rochester, New York

12/00 - American Board of Trial Advocates
"Masters on Jury Selection" Albany, New York

6/01 - New York State Nurses Association Annual Awards Banquet
"Avoiding the Legal Pitfalls" Guilderland, New York

3/02-yearly through 03/04 - Syracuse University Law School - Guest Lecturer
"The Law of Construction Accidents in New York State"

4/03 - New York State Bar Association CLE Seminar
"Managing Tough Issues in a Personal Injury Case" Albany, New York

5/03 - New York State Bar Association CLE Seminar
"Pre-Suit Activities and Pleadings" Albany, New York

5/03 - New York State Trial Lawyers Institute
In collaboration with Albany Law School Institute of Legal Studies
"Direct Examination of The Project Manager In a Labor Law Case" Albany, New York

1/04 - New York State Trial Lawyers Institute
"Advanced Personal Injury Practice" New York City

1/04-02/04 - Office of Court Administration: Legal Update Seminar for Court Attorneys
Labor Law Update, White Plains and Uniondale locations

7/04 - New York Sate Trial Lawyers Institute
Summary Judgment Motions New York City

7/04 - NYS Supreme Court Judges' Association
Road Map To A Safer Place To Work Gideon Putnam Hotel, Saratoga Springs, New York

9/04 - Office of Court Administration: Legal Update Seminar for Court Attorneys
Labor Law Update Saratoga Springs, New York

10/04 - CityBar Center for CLE
Absolute Liability: Labor Law 240(1) & Related Statutes New York City

10/04-11/04 - New York State Academy of Trial Lawyers
Labor Law/Construction New York City, Albany

Honors and Awards:

Listed in: "The Best Lawyers In America" (continuously since 1989)

Listed in: "Martindale-Hubbell Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers"

Listed in: "New York's Top Lawyers"

Listed in: "Who's Who in American Law"

Listed in: "Who's Who in America"

Listed in: "Who's Who In The World"

Listed in: "Who's Who in Finance and Industry"

Listed in: "Who's Who in the East" Awarded Highest Rating (AV) by Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory

Professional Associations and Memberships:

New York State Bar Association, 1986 - Present
Member

New York State Trial Lawyers Association - Past President of the Capital Region Affiliate

The Albany County Bar Association
Past President

Capital District Trial Lawyers Association
Past President

American Board of Trial Advocates
Past President of the Albany Chapter

Albany Law School's American Inns of Court
Master Trial Advocate

New York State Academy of Trial Lawyers
Charter Member

Past Employment Positions:

Bloomberg & Santola, Albany, NY
Partner, 1981-1987
Associate Attorney, 1976-1981

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute School of Management
Assistant Professor, 1976- 1977

Birth Information:

October 25, 1949, Syracuse, New York