Attorneys Profiles

Joseph E. Donat

Joseph Donat is a Member of the firm, having joined H&R in 1995. A seasoned trial attorney, Mr. Donat has specialized in the defense of serious personal injury and death litigation in both the state and federal courts of New York. Since his admission to practice in New York, Mr. Donat has specialized in litigation involving admiralty and maritime law, products liability law, and construction liability law. He has personally handled numerous jury trials and has argued appeals on both the state and federal appellate court levels in New York. Mr. Donat is a graduate of Fordham University School of Law and is admitted to practice before the United States District Courts for the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York, the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, and the United States Supreme Court.

Recognizing, however, that the interests of the firm’s clients could often be more economically and expeditiously served through alternate dispute resolution (ADR) Mr. Donat also became involved in that field and was appointed as a Mediator in the United States District Courts for the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York where he has served for over 15 years. In addition, for over 20 years, Mr. Donat has been repeatedly appointed as an Arbitrator by the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York. Mr. Donat has received official appreciation by the United States District Courts for his pro bono work as an Arbitrator and Mediator. He has been certified as a Proctor in Admiralty by the United States Maritime Law Association, and has received the highest “AV” rating issued by Martindale Hubble, which equates to a “preeminent” rating that indicates “the highest level of legal ability and ethics.”

Representative Cases:
Quam v. Mobil Oil Corp., 599 F.2d 42 (2d. Cir.,1979) cert. den. 444 U.S. 550 (1979).
Escobar v. Seatrain Lines, Inc., 573 N.Y.S. 2d 498 (A. D. 1st Dept., 1991).
Claudio v. United States of America, 907 F. Supp. 581 (E.D.N.Y. 1995).
Vasquez v. G.M.D. Shipyard Corp., 2008 U.S. Dist, LEXIS 91767 (E.D.N.Y. 2008), affirmed 582 F.3d 293 (2d Cir., 2009)