S. Joseph Donahue

Proven Verdicts
New York, NY28 years experience

About S. Joseph Donahue

S. Joseph Donahue is a partner at Block O'Toole & Murphy in New York City who has secured more than $200 million in jury verdicts and settlements over his career. His practice focuses on construction accidents, motor vehicle accidents, tractor-trailer accidents, and medical malpractice. He joined Block O'Toole & Murphy in 2005 and became a partner in 2012.

Mr. Donahue began his legal career in 1997 as an Assistant District Attorney in Brooklyn, where he investigated thousands of criminal cases and prosecuted violent felonies. He was later promoted to Senior Assistant District Attorney, handling homicides, shootings, and robberies. In 2003, he transitioned to civil practice at a prominent New York City firm specializing in medical malpractice litigation, where he represented hospitals and physicians in cardiology, obstetrics, neurosurgery, and failure-to-diagnose cases - experience that informs his current plaintiff-side medical malpractice work.

Mr. Donahue earned his undergraduate degree from Loyola University in Baltimore in 1994 and his Juris Doctor from City University of New York School of Law in 1997. He is admitted to practice in the federal and state courts of New York and New Jersey.

He has been recognized as a New York Super Lawyer from 2011 through 2023 and ranked among the Top 1% of Trial Counsel for Medical Malpractice in New York State. He is a member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum and the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum.

Proven verdicts and settlements

$53.5 millionVerdict

A Brooklyn jury found general contractor Mecca Contracting failed to protect Alan Moonsammy from a fall that left him paralyzed and awarded him $53.5 million.

Kings County Supreme Court, Brooklyn, NY · 2023Workplace InjuryRead the full story →

Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Each case is unique and depends on its own facts.

Practice areas

Education

City University of New York School of Law
JD, 1997
Loyola University Maryland
Undergraduate, 1994

Bar admissions & credentials

State Bar of NY
State Bar of NJ
Million Dollar Advocates Forum
Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum

Awards & recognition

New York Super Lawyers (2011-2023)
Top 1% Trial Counsel for Medical Malpractice in New York State
Million Dollar Advocates Forum
Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum

Other attorneys at Block O'Toole & Murphy

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Proven verdicts and settlements from other New York firms

Weitz & Luxenberg
Weitz & Luxenberg
$10.9 billion · Weitz and Luxenberg Helps Win $10.9 Billion Roundup Settlement for 125,000 Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma Claimants
Levy Konigsberg LLP
Levy Konigsberg LLP
$43.1 Million Verdict Against R.J. Reynolds for Brake Mechanic's Lung Cancer From Menthol and Asbestos
Kramer Dillof Livingston & Moore
Kramer Dillof Livingston & Moore
$265 million · The Amtrak 188 Derailment and the $265 Million Fund for Its Victims
Jacoby & Meyers, LLP
Jacoby & Meyers, LLP
$34 million · Jury Awards $34 Million After Prempro Hormone Therapy Causes Breast Cancer and Double Mastectomy

Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Each case is unique and depends on its own facts.