Stephanie M. Berger joined the firm in May of 2002 and was made a partner in April of 2014. She specializes in both medical and dental malpractice defense and has been working in this field since 2000. Ms. Berger was admitted to the Florida State Bar in 1998, the New Jersey State Bar in 1999 and the New York State Bar in 2000. She is also admitted to the United States District Court for the Eastern and Southern Districts of New York.
She is a member of the New York State Bar Association and the New York State Medical Defense Bar Association. Ms. Berger received a Bachelor of Science in Communication from the University of Miami in 1994 and she graduated cum laude with a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Miami School of Law in 1998. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family, cooking, running and practicing yoga.
Nicole Callahan is a Partner in the White Plains office of Amabile & Erman. She has two decades of experience as a litigator in both State and Federal courts. Nicole graduated cum laude from Pace University School of Law, with a concentration in Health Law. Prior to attending law school, Nicole earned a Ph.D. in Neuroscience from Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine.
Nicole has extensive experience defending hospitals, physicians, nurses, and other healthcare professionals in a wide range of medical malpractice cases, including catastrophic injury, negligence and misdiagnosis. Nicole also successfully defends against claims involving violations of civil rights, and premises and other general liability matters.
Nicole has also co-authored several publications in peer-reviewed journals and teaches neuroscience-related classes at Columbia University. She has presented educational seminars on medical negligence and premises liability litigation to various groups of healthcare and other professionals. On a personal note, Nicole is very involved in the activities of her two daughters, often volunteering in their numerous extracurricular activities.
Ida A. Caputo joined the firm as a Senior Associate in January 2023. She specializes in medical malpractice, focusing on the defense of hospitals, physicians, nursing homes and long and short-term care facilities. She also has experience in handling a vast array of general liability cases with an emphasis on premises liability, labor law, mass tort, and property damage. She was admitted to the New York State Bar in 2001, the United States District Court, Eastern and Southern Districts of New York in 2003, and the New Jersey State Bar in 2020.
She is a member of the New York State Bar Association. Ms. Caputo graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and Italian Literature from New York University in 1995 and received a Juris Doctor degree from Brooklyn Law School in 1999.
Kristen Coohill joined the firm in September 2022. She graduated from the University of Massachusetts School of Law in 2022 and is a member of Delta Theta Phi. Ms. Coohill was admitted into the New York State Bar in 2023. Prior to attending law school, Kristen worked in healthcare for over two decades and brings that extensive experience to the firm. She graduated magna cum laude with a B.S. in Psychology from the College of Staten Island in 2016.
Paul M. DeCarlo has been with the firm since its inception. He was admitted to practice in New York in 1975 and is also admitted to practice in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York and the Southern District of New York. He is a member of the New York State Bar Association. He is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Manhattan College where he received his bachelor’s degree, cum laude, in 1971. He studied law at Fordham University School of Law and received his Juris Doctor degree in 1974.
Jonathan S. Erman has been with the firm since May 1998. In 2006, he was made partner of the firm. His primary focus is on medical malpractice defense, complex claims defense and the representation of physicians and hospitals before various administrative agencies. He was admitted to practice law by the New Jersey State Bar in 1998 and the New York State Bar in 1999. He is admitted before the Federal Courts for both New York and New Jersey. He is a member of the New York State Bar Association, New York County Bar Association, Richmond County Bar Association and Defense Research Institute. Further, he is also acting board member of the New York State Medical Defense Bar.
Mr. Erman received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Miami in 1994 and graduated cum laude, with a Juris Doctor degree from Thomas M. Cooley Law School in 1998. In his spare time, Jonathan can be found at hockey rinks and soccer sidelines watching his kids.
Marc J. Falcone joined the firm in September 1997 and was made a Partner in January 2010. He focuses primarily on medical malpractice, products liability and general liability defense. He has handled all phases of medical malpractice actions from inception through trial and appeal. He is admitted to the Bar in New York and New Jersey and the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York and the Southern District of New York.
He is a member of the American Bar Association, New York State Bar Association and the New York State Medical Defense Bar Association. Mr. Falcone received a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice from St. John’s University in 1994 and a Juris Doctor degree from Brooklyn Law School in 1997. While in law school, Mr. Falcone interned in the Richmond County Supreme Court and in the Office of the District Attorney, Richmond County. Mr. Falcone enjoys spending time with his family.
Alexandra K. Formica joined the firm in November 2014. Her practice focuses on the defense of hospitals, university medical centers, physicians, medical personnel, and nursing/extended care facilities. Following her graduation from New York Law School in 2010, Ms. Formica was admitted to the New Jersey State Bar in November 2010 and the New York State Bar in March 2011. Ms. Formica served as legal intern for the Hon. Judith McMahon in Supreme Court, Richmond County, prior to joining a private practice in Manhattan. She is a 2006 summa cum laude graduate of Wagner College (Business Administration/Economics). Ms. Formica currently serves as an Adjunct Professor of Business Law at Wagner College. Alexandra has been recognized as a Rising Star by Super Lawyers since 2018. Alexandra enjoys spending time with her family, including helping coach her daughters’ soccer team.
Charles A. Franchini joined the firm in 2017. He focuses primarily on medical malpractice and general liability defense. Mr. Franchini graduated cum laude from Brooklyn Law School in 2017 where he served as an Executive Articles Editor on the Brooklyn Journal of International Law.
During Law School, he interned for the Honorable Joseph Maltese at the New York Supreme Court Appellate Division, Second Department. Mr. Franchini was admitted to the New York State Bar in 2017 and is a member of the New York State Bar Association.
Anthony A. Lenza, Jr. joined our firm in June of 1997 as a summer intern and began working as an associate attorney in September of 1998. Anthony became a partner of our firm in January 2010. His practice focuses primarily on medical malpractice and general liability defense. Anthony was admitted to the New Jersey State Bar in 1998, the New York State Bar in 1999, and the Pennsylvania State Bar in 2021. He is also admitted to the federal courts in the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York and the District of New Jersey.
Anthony received a bachelor’s degree in science comprehensive from Villanova University in 1995 and a Juris Doctor degree from St. John’s University School of Law in 1998. He is on the board of his church and President of Five Fathers Children’s Charity, Inc., a 501(c)(3) organization established to provide financial assistance to children in need.
Some of Anthony’s first chair, jury verdicts in favor of his clients are listed below:
Kaja v. Staten Island University Hospital; NYC Civil Court, Richmond County; Index No. 5370/99; date of verdict: 02/27/2002;
Malecka v. Fietti, MD; NJ Superior Court, Bergen County; Docket No. L-3818-02; date of verdict: 03/11/2005;
Itri v. Downey, MD; NJ Superior Court, Union County; Docket No. L-3576-06; date of verdict: 06/30/2008;
Shectman v. Bransfield, MD; NJ Superior Court, Middlesex County; Docket No. L-4452-03; date of verdict: 01/15/2008;
Hageman v. Mirza; NJ Superior Court, Middlesex County; Docket No. L-2885-07; date of verdict: 06/04/2009;
Bono v. Silverman, MD; Federal District Court, Eastern District of New York; Case No. CV-04-3736; date of verdict: 05/13/2010;
Wegweiser v. Cruz; NY Supreme Court, Richmond County; Index No. 102585/09; date of verdict: 08/22/2012.
Flutra Limani joined the firm in March 2002. She specializes in medical malpractice defense and her focus is defending physicians and hospitals in complex medical malpractice actions. She was admitted to the New York State Bar in 1996, the United States District Court, Southern District in 2003 and the United States District Court, Eastern District in 2003.
She is a member of the New York State Bar Association. Ms. Limani graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor’s degree in history from Brooklyn College in 1992 and received a Juris Doctor degree from Brooklyn Law School in 1995. In her spare time she enjoys traveling with her family and attending her sons’ soccer and football games and tournaments.
John A. Orbon joined the firm in June of 2001 and became partner in September of 2004. He handles all phases of personal injury litigation including construction/labor law matters, medical malpractice and products liability actions in New York State and Federal Courts. He was admitted to the New York State Bar in 1989 and is a member of the American Board Association. Mr. Orbon graduated cum laude from St. John’s University with a bachelor’s degree in History and a bachelor’s degree in Philosophy in 1985 and received a Juris Doctor degree from St. John’s University in 1988.
Judith Priolo joined the firm in 2022 as a senior associate and specializes in the defense of medical, dental, nursing home and podiatric malpractice cases as well as general liability cases. Ms. Priolo has been working in the field since 2004 and was admitted to the New York State Bar in 2005. She is also admitted in the federal courts in the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York. She received her juris Doctor degree from New England School of Law in 2004.
Adriana Solimeo joined the firm in 1998 as a law clerk and began working as an associate attorney in 2001, after graduating Cum Laude from New York Law School. She focused on the defense of medical, dental and podiatric malpractice cases. Recently, Ms. Solimeo has rejoined the firm after working as a per diem consultant in general liability cases. She has extensive experience in providing valuable litigation support to senior counsel, preparing cases all the way up to trial.
Ms. Solimeo is a member of the American Bar Association and the New York State Bar Association. She graduated Magna Cum laude with a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from St. John’s University in 1997.
Shari D. Steinfeld joined the firm as an Associate in September, 2008 and became a Partner of the firm in February, 2018. She specializes in medical, dental and nursing home malpractice and has been working in this field since 2001. Ms. Steinfeld was admitted to the New York State Bar in 2000 and is also admitted to practice in the federal courts in the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York.
She is a member of the New York State Bar Association. Ms. Steinfeld received a Bachelor’s Degree in English and East Asian Studies from Dickinson College in 1995 and graduated cum laude with a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Baltimore School of Law in 1999.
Anthony Venditto is a partner at the firm, who is dedicated to the defense of physicians, hospitals, nursing homes and healthcare professionals throughout the New York region. After graduating from St. John’s University School of Law, Anthony accepted a position as an Assistant District Attorney in the New York County District Attorney’s Office (Robert M. Morgenthau, District Attorney ), while thereAnthony handled many criminal cases from inception through trial. Upon leaving the District Attorney’s Office, Anthony entered into private practice, where he commenced his career as an attorney, defending medical malpractice, nursing home negligence and general liability claims. He has tried cases to verdict throughout the New York area. Anthony has also been a guest speaker on medical malpractice topics for many hospital programs.
Irene P. Ziegler has been with the firm since September of 1989 and became partner in February of 1997. She specializes in the defense of medical, dental and podiatric malpractice as well as general liability in New York State and Federal Courts. Ms. Ziegler was admitted to the New York State Bar in 1990 and is a member of the New York State Bar Association. She graduated cum laude with a bachelor’s degree from Brooklyn College in 1986 and received a Juris Doctor degree from Brooklyn Law School in 1989.
