
Practice areas: Personal Injury
Licensed in New York since: 1984
Education: University at Buffalo Law School - SUNY

Brown Chiari LLP
2470 Walden AveBuffalo, NY 14225 Phone: 716-681-7190 Email: Donald P. Chiari Visit website
Details
Mr. Chiari is a partner at Brown Chiari LLP. He is a cum laude graduate of the State University of New York at Buffalo Law School and has over 35 years of litigation experience. The focus of his practice is dedicated to those who have sustained catastrophic and life-changing injuries. He currently handles nursing home negligence, medical malpractice, product liability, complex premises liability, construction accidents, and automobile accidents. He has tried numerous cases to verdict throughout Western New York, resulting in multi-million-dollar awards and recoveries. Mr. Chiari has been recognized for obtaining the two largest personal injury verdicts in Niagara County history and has obtained one of the highest nursing home verdicts in the State of New York.
Mr. Chiari is a member of the American Association for Justice, New York State Trial Lawyers’ Association, Western New York Trial Lawyers’ Association, New York State Academy of Trial Lawyers, and Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum. He also holds the elevated rank of Advocate with the American Board of Trial Advocates, an organization that recognizes the skill, integrity, and experience in the special art of advocacy. Mr. Chiari is also a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers. Membership in that organization is by invitation only and is limited to one percent of the lawyers in each state.
Mr. Chiari has received an AV® Peer Review Rating Martindale-Hubbell, the preeminent level of professional excellence. The AV rating is the highest possible rating in legal ability and ethics. He has also been listed in the category of personal injury in the SuperLawyers directory.
Mr. Chiari was selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018 in the fields of Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiff and Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants.
First Admitted: 1984, New York
Professional Webpage: http://www.brownchiari.com/rated-at-the-highest-level-for-ab...
- New York State Supreme Court, United States District - Western District, Erie County Bar Association, American Association for Justice, American Board of Trial Advocates - rank of Advocate, New York State Trial Lawyers' Association, Western New York Trial Lawyers' Association, New York State Academy of Trial Lawyers, Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum, Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, Litigation Counsel of America
- Brown v. Cerrone, Niagara County Supreme Court, $225,000.00 verdict in a boating accident case , 2001
- Kroening v. NYSEG, Niagara County Supreme Court, $1.2 million settlement after commencement of trial in a labor law case, 2007
- Boncore v. Jewish Center, Erie County Supreme Court, $1.8 million settlement after commencement of trial in a premise liability case, 2001
- Wing v. Grand Island High School, Erie County Supreme Court, $750,000.00 settlement following jury selection in a premises liability case , 2009
- Doe v. Doe, Erie County Supreme Court, $975,000.00 million confidential settlement in a medical malpractice case, 2003
- Doe v. Doe, Erie County Supreme Court, $2.5 million confidential settlement in a food poisoning case, 2009
- Marzak v. Watterson, Erie County Supreme Court, $600,000.00 verdict in an automobile accident case, 1998
- Liepler v. Thill, Erie County Supreme Court, $1.4 million settlement in an automobile accident case, 2005
- Nyitrai v. Terhaar, Erie County Supreme Court, $3.375 million settlement regarding an automobile accident with spine injuries, 2011
- Pahuta v. Massey Ferguson, United States District Court, Western District, $3 million settlement after commencement of trial in a product liability case, 1999
- Cardulla v. Galyan’s Sporting Goods, Erie County Supreme Court, $1.1 million verdict in a slip and fall case , 2006
- Doe v. Doe, Erie County Supreme Court, $1.8 million confidential medical malpractice settlement, 2012
- Crary v. Damon, Cattaraugus County Supreme Court, $400,000.00 settlement after commencement of trial in an automobile accident case, 2000
- Doe v. Doe, Erie County Supreme Court, $1.2 million confidential settlement in a medical malpractice case, 2006
- Kotalik v. City of Lockport, Niagara County Supreme Court, $1.9 million settlement after commencement of trial in a labor law/construction accident case , 2001
- Blanchard v. Lifegear (retrial), Erie County Supreme Court, $3.8 million verdict in a products liability case , 2009
- Miller v. Akins, Niagara County Supreme Court, $9 million verdict in an automobile accident case , 2003
- Sivertsen v. Modern Disposal, Niagara County Supreme Court, $9 million settlement after commencement of trial in an automobile accident case , 2009
- Michalek v. Board of Ed., Erie County Supreme Court, $575,000.00 verdict in a motorcycle accident case, 1997
- Blanchard v. Lifegear, Erie County Supreme Court, $4 million verdict in a products liability case , 2005
- Arvelo v. State of New York, NYS Court of Claims, $9 million settlement for infant plaintiff, 2011
- Cirino v. Manuszewski, Erie County Supreme Court, $150,000.00 verdict in an automobile case, 1999
- Kolbert/Popielski v. Maplewood, Erie County Supreme Court, $1.5 million verdict in a nursing home neglect case , 2006
- McAuliffe v. Niagara Wheatfield Central School District, Niagara County Supreme Court, $710,000.00 settlement for slip and fall on stairs at high school, 2011
- Skinner v. Janus and Ford Credit Corp., Erie County Supreme Court, $4 million settlement after commencement of trial in an automobile accident case, 2000
- Carlson v. DHL and MVP, Niagara County Supreme Court, $20 million verdict in an automobile accident case , 2006
- Eccles v. E.M.I. Corp., Chautauqua County Supreme Court, $2.1 million verdict in a products liability case , 2001
- Doe v. Doe, Erie County Supreme Court, $2.4 million confidential settlement in a medical malpractice case, 2008
- O’Sullivan v. Benderson, Erie County Supreme Court, $1.2 million settlement after commencement of trial in a labor law/construction case, 2002
- Braun v. Visions Place, Erie County Supreme Court, $3.75 million settlement after commencement of trial in a premises liability case , 2009
- Jemiolo v. Zielin, D.D.S., Erie County Supreme Court, $300,000.00 verdict in a slip and fall case, 1996
- Bugman v. Island Chevrolet, Erie County Supreme Court, $2.5 million settlement after commencement of trial in an automobile accident case, 2004
- Doe v. Doe, Erie County Supreme Court, $4.8 million confidential settlement in a medical malpractice claim, 2010
- Brenon v. Modern Disposal, Erie County Supreme Court, $5.1 million verdict in an automobile accident case, 1999
- Kaczmarski v. Leary, M.D., Erie County Supreme Court, $6 million verdict in a medical malpractice case , 2006
- Doe v. Doe, Erie County Supreme Court, $1 million confidential medical malpractice settlement, 2011
- Van Son v. Pennysaver, Erie County Supreme Court, $850,000.00 settlement in an automobile accident case, 1999
- Garland v. Shanor, Erie County Supreme Court, $4 million verdict in a boating accident case , 2006
- Gates v. Nowe & Ulrich Sign Co., Inc., et al., Niagara County Supreme Court, $2 million settlement for automobile accident resulting in spine injury, 2012
- Best Lawyer, Best Lawyers in America, Best Lawyer, Best Lawyers in America, Best Lawyers in America, 2017
- Best Lawyer, Best Lawyers in America, Best Lawyer, Best Lawyers in America, Best Lawyers in America, 2018
- Best Lawyer, Best Lawyers in America, Best Lawyer, Best Lawyers in America, Best Lawyers in America, 2016
- AV Peer Review Rating, Martindale Hubbell
- Best Lawyer, Best Lawyers in America, Best Lawyer, Best Lawyers in America, Best Lawyers in America, 2015
- Best Lawyer, Best Lawyers in America, Best Lawyer, Best Lawyers in America, Best Lawyers in America, 2014
- Best Lawyer, Best Lawyers in America, 2013
- Best Lawyer, Best Lawyers in America, 2011
- Best Lawyer, Best Lawyers in America, 2014
- Best Lawyer, Best Lawyers in America, 2012
- State University of New York at Buffalo Law School, 1983
- Inducted as a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, 2019
Selections
- Super Lawyers: 2010 - 2025