Elyssa Fried-De Rosa
Personal Injury | Managing Attorney Department Supervisor
Education
Vassar College, B.A.
Pace University, J.D.
Admissions
New York
Winning Case Highlights
$11,100,000 Settlement Against Town Police
Police can never instruct someone to violate the law when no emergency exists. After stopping 5 teenage boys on a icy, snowy day when schools were closed due to weather, Town of East Fishkill Police officers instructed a junior licensed driver to violate the Graduated Driver’s License Law rather than impound the vehicle. The purpose of the Graduated Driver’s License Law is to allow inexperienced drivers to drive in a safe environment. Statistics show that once there are two or more people under the age of 21 in the car with an inexperienced driver, the chance of a serious car crash triples. After arresting the 18 year old driver and one of the passengers, Town of East Fishkill Police officers instructed a 17-year-old to drive the other two minors home in violation of the Vehicle and Traffic Law that prohibits a junior licensed driver from driving with more than one underage passenger. Predictably, a crash occurred and our client, who was seated in the rear, suffered life threatening injuries. After seven years of litigation, which included an appeal to the Appellate Division which we won, the case was set for trial. Just prior to jury selection the insurance company for the Town offered their full $11,000,000 of insurance and the insurance company covering the car offered their full $100,000 of insurance. The case was handled by Managing Partner Andrew Finkelstein, Trial Attorney Brian Acard and Partner Elyssa Fried.
$2,500,000.00 Settlement Motor Vehicle Crash Settlement
A 23-year-olddriving in Monticello crossed over a double yellow line and crashed into our client’s car. Ms. Fried-De Rosa assisted in settling this case prior to depositions.
$2,300,000.000 Distracted Driving Settlement
A distracted driver struck our client, a Rockland County resident. Ms. Fried-DeRosa assisted in settling this case prior to depositions for the full amount of insurance coverage.
$1,500,000.000 Motor Vehicle Crash Settlement
A construction contractor ordered a dumpster for industrial waste during renovations of a Newburgh commercial building, but the garbage company left the dumpster in the public street without cones or warning signs. our client, a motorcyclist, struck the dumpster and was seriously injured. Thanks in part to Ms.Fried-DeRosa, the insurance company agreed to settle for $1,500,000.
$1,300,000 Full Policy Collected
This tragic case involves the wrongful death of our 28-year-old married woman who, when returning home from her close friend’s birthday party, a drunk driver was driver was driving the wrong way on Sunrise Highway in East Quogue and struck her car head on killing her. The drunk driver also was killed in the crash. While our client had no children yet, she left a loving husband whom she was planning on starting a family. The insurance company tried to rely upon the existing NYS Wrongful Death law that limits recoveries to financial loss and does not recognize the widowers’ emotional losses. Ultimately, we were able to persuade the insurance company to offer their full policy limits totaling $1,300,000. The case was handled by Managing Attorney and Partner Elyssa Fried and Trial Partner Michael Feldman.
$275,000 Settlement – Hotel Fails to Remove Ice
Our client, a 25-year-old Newburgh resident, was walking through a hotel parking lot when she fell and slipped on ice. The owners of the hotel failed to properly salt or sand the parking lot, creating a dangerous situation. Our client sustained broken bones, a dislocated fibula and torn ligament which required surgery with hardware (plates and 16 screws). Attorneys Brian Acard and Elyssa Fried-De Rosa were able to settle the case for $275,000.
In her spare time Elyssa enjoys gardening, pottery, swimming, theatre, and she is passionate about animal rescue. Ms. Fried –De Rosa spearheads an annual fundraiser for the local SPCA (casual for claws).
Elyssa Fried-De Rosa is the Managing Attorney Department Supervisor Partner at Finkelstein and Partners. She has worked at the Firm for over 25 years.
In 1981 Ms. Fried-De Rosa earned her Bachelors degree from Vassar college-having graduated cum laude.
In 1987 Ms. Fried-De Rosa earned her Juris Doctor degree-from Pace University School of Law having graduated with honors. She is the recipient of three American Jurisprudence awards in the fields of Property, Remedies and New York practice respectively.
Admitted to the New York State Bar in 1988 she practiced both plaintiff and defense work until joining Finkelstein and partners in 1992. In her position with previous law firms she has handled cases from inception to trial which included conducting legal research and writing, drafting motions and pleadings, undertaking court appearances and conducting depositions, arbitrations and mediations.
As a managing attorney with Finkelstein & partners Elyssa has handled thousands of plaintiff’s personal injury cases. She now practices strictly in house and attends primarily to the needs of her clients and the management of cases. She has been instrumental in securing multi million dollar settlements and verdicts on behalf of her clients. She has assisted in teaching a CLE course in municipal law and currently assists with the Law Firms CLE program and is the past editor of the “Results” publication for the Law Firm. She is a member of the Women’s Bar Association.
Prior to law school Ms. Fried-De Rosa worked as a social worker and assisted families who were struggling to care appropriately for their children. She met her husband Nicholas while she was a social worker and he was a practicing attorney.