Resources

When it comes Legal Advice, the New York law firm of Rosenberg, Minc, Falkoff & Wolff, LLP has the experience to give you the answers you need. From our offices conveniently located in midtown Manhattan, we will provide you with free resources, legal articles, and links to get the legal help and information needed to protect your rights.

Free Legal NYC Resources

Get Free Legal Help! In debt? Sued for credit card, cell phone or hospital bills? Go to the Resource Center, 111 Center Street, Room 104, New York, NY and ask to see a volunteer lawyer. Open Mondays, Thursdays & Fridays. Bring copies of your court papers and any other paperwork you have about your debt. Learn more information by visiting the New York City Civil Court Volunteer Lawyers Project.

Bringing a Claim or Lawsuit Against the City of New York for Personal Injury (Municipal Claim)

The first step in any claim against the city of New York is to file a notice of claim within 90 days of the injury or you are out! You can seek permission from the court to file a late claim late but it is extremely difficult and you need a valid legal excuse. All notices of claim must be served in person or by certified mail.

Next, you must start the lawsuit within one year and 90 days of the accident or you are out. This includes accidents on New York City owned or operated buses, subways, sidewalks, police misconduct cases and even municipal hospital medical malpractice claims. Any claim against the city must be initiated by filing a notice of claim within 90 days.

Where to File in New York City:

It is extremely critical to file your notice of claim with the correct agency, or it may be considered defective and you will lose your right to sue. Always make sure you obtain a time-stamped copy or receipt proving that you served the claim in a timely fashion.

Depending on the nature of your claim, you will be required to file a claim at the proper location and with the proper NYC agency representative.

General NYC Notices of Claim:

Sidewalks, trip & fall, roadway, police, etc.100 Church St. Corp. Counsel, 5th Floor New York, NY (Manhattan)

NYC Health & Hospitals Corporation

All claims against city municipal hospitals and health care facilities346 Broadway, Room #146New York, NY

New York City Transit Authority and MTA

The New York City Transit Authority is a New York State Authority that operates buses and subway trains in New York City. Note: also, the Manhattan and Bronx Surface Transit Operating Authority (MaBSTOA) operates buses on some routes. With this, it's important who operates your specific bus. Serve notices of claim with the proper agency listed by the MTA at:

130 Livingston St., 10th Floor Brooklyn, NY 11201

HPD

A municipal agency involved in code enforcement100 Gold St.

NYC School Construction Authority

Office of Board Secretary30-30 Thomson St.Long Island City, NY 11101

New York City Housing Authority

For public housing issues, provides public housing for residence throughout the five boroughs250 Broadway New York, NY

New York City Housing Development Authority

Legal Department75 Park Place, 11th floor New York, NY 10007

New York City (Brooklyn) Board of Education

Claims involving public schools.110 Livingston St., Room 1134Brooklyn NY, 11201

NYC Parks & Recreation

100 Church St. Corp. Counsel, 4th Floor New York, NY or The Armory in Central Park 5th Avenue at 63rd Street

What's on a New York City Notice of Claim?

A notice of claim form can be obtained at a legal stationer that sells "Bloomberg" forms. A two-sided single page form is sufficient if it contains the critical information needed to alert the city as to the specifics of what you're claiming and who you are. The purpose is to afford the City of New York an opportunity to investigate your claims.

Typically a New York City Notice of Claim Form includes:

• Your Name
• Your Address
• Date & Time of the incident
• The exact location
• Any identifying features such as; a bus number, or a police badge, building address and so forth
  • If it involves a sidewalk, the distance from a landmark should be included, such as; "18 feet from the southwest corner"
• The nature of your damages, such as; personal injuries or property damage
  • The claimed negligence or improper conduct
  • And it must be signed and notarized

New York City Court Locations

New York City Personal injury lawsuits are generally heard at the following NY locations:

• Manhattan Personal Injury Lawsuits - Supreme Court, New York County, 60 Center St., New York, NY
• Brooklyn Personal Injury Lawsuits - Supreme Court, Kings County, 360 Adams St., Brooklyn, NY
• Bronx Personal Injury Lawsuits - Supreme Court, Bronx County, 851 Grand Concourse & E. 161st St., Bronx, NY
• Queens Personal Injury Lawsuits - Supreme Court, Queens County, 88-11 Sutphin Blvd. (Near Hillside Ave.), Jamaica, NY Long Island City, Courthouse Square, Queens, NY
• Staten Island Personal Injury Lawsuits - Supreme Court, Richmond County, Richmond Terrace, Staten Island, NY

Office of the Mayor of New York City

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, City Hall New York, NY 10007

Municipal Building1 Center Street New York, NY