Our Accident Attorneys In The News

Washington, D.C., Maryland, & Virginia

Listed below are examples of press coverage involving Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata, & Siegel P.C.

Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel Ethiopian Heritage College Scholarship Fund

In 2008, the Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel Ethiopian Heritage College Scholarship Fund was created in order to help members of the Ethiopian community pay for their college education. The purpose of the fund is to find and then help youngsters with few financial resources obtain a much-desired college degree so that they may then go serve the public. CSCS, P.C. strives to encourage the development of intellect, wisdom, and integrity in those they help, and the firm strongly believes this can be accomplished as can any other goal you long to achieve.

The 2008 Scholarship application process is now closed. Please check back in Spring 2009 for details about next year's scholarship opportunity.

Partners Achieve Prestigious Honors

The law firm of Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel, P.C. is proud to announce the recent, impressive accomplishments of two of its partners. Joseph Cammarata has been named to Washington, D.C. Super Lawyers 2008 by Law & Politics magazine and was also named to Super Lawyers in 2007. This prestigious honor involves a selection process that evaluates peer recognition and professional achievement.

In other exciting news, Allan M. Siegel will take over as President of the Trial Lawyers Association of Washington, D.C. beginning May 10, 2008. On this date, he will be inducted at the Annual Awards Dinner held at the National Press Club in D.C. Other honorees at the awards dinner include American Association of Justice President Kathleen Flynn Peterson; Retired Maryland Court of Appeals Judge Howard Chasanow; and Robert Peck of the Center for Constitutional Litigation.

The Trial Lawyers Association of DC (TLA-DC) is dedicated to preserving the rights of, and advocating on behalf, of those who are injured by the negligence of others. Its members are committed to maintaining a justice system that allows citizens to have their claims for full and fair compensation adjudicated by a trial by jury. Allan Siegel will have served as Secretary, Treasurer, Vice-President, and President-Elect of TLA-DC before taking over the Presidency on May 10.

Siegel is the third member of the firm to hold this honor, following Donald Chaikin, Partner Emeritus, and current partner Ira Sherman

Washingtonian Magazine Features Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel, P.C.

The October issue of Washingtonian Magazine featured Partners Ira Sherman and Joseph Cammarata. Many of your are aware of the involvement of Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel in the Ethiopian community. The law firm is associated with esteemed counsel of Ethiopian heritage, Aseged Yimer, whose offices are located in Silver Spring, Maryland. The law firm has also established the “CSCS Ethiopian Heritage Scholarship Fund”, which will be awarded to the successful applicant in the summer of 2008, providing a subsidy for a successful college applicant entering into their freshman year in the Fall of 2008.

We also have real life experiences helping members of this community. One day, Mr. Cammarata was speaking with the owner/operator of the frankfurter stand at the corner of Connecticut and N Street, N.W. She was complaining that because the high rise building was being resurfaced her stand had been moved down Connecticut Avenue approximately 25 feet. The effect of being 25 feet from the corner was the difference of having shade from the tree at the corner and not having the shade. This was of particular significance to the lady owner of the frankfurter stand. Mr. Cammarata quickly swung into action utilizing his most effective lawyering skills and he convinced the management to return the lady to the shaded spot on the corner of Connecticut and N Street. CSCS prides itself on representing individuals who have valid claims that are significant to them although, they may not have monetary value. All people and every claim that we serve as advocates for, are treated with equal fervor. When a Washingtonian Magazine reporter heard about this, he found it newsworthy and put the story on page 15 of the October edition.

Washington Post 10/11/07

On October 11, 2007 the Washington Post reported on the successful conclusion of the case of Frank Harris, Jr. v. the District of Columbia. A copy of the Post article is attached. In summary, the Post reported that the District of Columbia gave up its fight to receive up to a $2.5 million lien from the compensation awarded to Mr. Harris as a result of the negligence of the District of Columbia. The District of Columbia gave up that claim and paid Mr. Harris, a ward of the District of Columbia and a resident of St. Elizabeth’s Hospital since 1973, presumably for the rest of his life, $650,000. For those who are interested, see the Legal Blog which is part of this website on the interesting story that unfolded regarding this case and the involvement of the District of Columbia city council members as well as the Washington Post in advocating on behalf of the position taken by the law firm of Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel, P.C.

Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel, P.C. Partner Joseph Cammarata to Testify Before the D.C. City Council

Joseph Cammarata, co-counsel with partner Ira Sherman in the Harris v. District of Columbia case, provided testimony involving the negligent care of Mr. Harris resulting in Mr. Harris successfully tearing both of his eyes out. The District of Columbia Council Member-at-Large Phil Mendelson, chairman of the Judiciary Committee, requested that the law firm participate in hearings held regarding legislation, introduced by Mr. Mendelson as well as ten other co-sponsors, prohibiting the District of Columbia from seeking reimbursement for services rendered to an individual institutionalized as a result of a finding of not guilty by reason of insanity when that individual is also the subject of negligent care. As many of you already know, this law firm has been instrumental in lobbying the District of Columbia City Council to stop Mayor Adrian Fenty from seeking reimbursement from Mr. Harris’ guardian for the cost of services rendered to him since 1973 when he was found guilty of a non-violent property claim by reason of insanity. Mr. Harris has been institutionalized ever since and there is little to no hope that he will ever be discharged from St. Elizabeth’s Hospital. Although the matter has successfully settled with a payment to Mr. Harris, the District of Columbia City Council, in its wisdom, continued to persevere in its effort to adopt legislature to stop this unfair effort on the part of the District of Columbia. We are proud of Mr. Cammarata’s participation in these hearings on behalf of the law firm.

Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata, & Siegel P.C. Accident Attorneys are Recognized as the Metropolitan Area's Best

• Allan M. Siegel named one of Washington's Top Lawyers (Washingtonian Magazine, December, 2004)
• Joseph Cammarata named one of Washington's Top Lawyers (Washingtonian Magazine, December, 2004)
• Joseph Cammarata named one of Washington's Top Seventy-Five Lawyers (Washingtonian Magazine, April, 2002)
• Joseph Cammarata named one of the Top Forty Lawyers under Forty in the Washington Legal Establishment (Washingtonian Magazine, September, 1998)
• Joseph Cammarata named one of the Top Fifty Lawyers in the D.C. Metropolitan Area (Washingtonian Magazine, February, 1997)

CNN's Larry King Asks Joseph Cammarata to Write an Essay For King's New Book

• Read Mr. Cammarata's "Access to Justice" essay

Ira Sherman to Speak to the American Association for Justice at their Mid-Winter Convention in Miami, Florida

• Press Release

Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel Represent Patient Who Gouged Out Own Eyes While In The Care of D.C

• The Washington Post, Plea Made for Patient who Gouged Out His Eyes, Keith L. Alexander, August 30, 2007
• The Examiner, Fenty Backs $2M Bill to Patient Who Blinded Himself, Scott McCabe and Bill Myers, August 30, 2007

Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata, & Siegel P.C. Represented the Families of Mentally Retarded Wards Who Died in D.C. Funded Group Homes to Show That Their Lives Mattered

Click here for a transcript of Joseph Cammarata's testimony in front of D.C. Council.

Click here for photos of plaque and dedication ceremony.

• The Washington Post, Fenty Rebuffed in Obtaining Facts In Probe of D.C. Group Home Deaths, Karilyn Barker, March 12, 2006
• The Washington Post , Fenty Urges Investigation of D.C. Care of Disabled, Karilyn Barker, March 7, 2006
• The Washington Post , DC Plaque to Honor Group Home Deaths - Agreement on Memorial Part of Settlement of Lawsuit, Karilyn Barker, March 10, 2004
• The Washington Post , Showing 'Their Lives Mattered' - Plaque Memorialized people Who Died in D.C. Group Homes, Karlyn Barker, September 10, 2004
• The Washington Post , D.C. Bills Estate, February 24, 2000
• WRC-TV, Washington, D.C., February 24, 2000
• www.NBC4.com, February 24, 2000
• WTOP-Radio, Washington, D.C., February 24, 2000
• NewsChannel 8-TV, Washington, D.C., February 24, 2000
• The Washington Post , Families Sue D.C. in 2 Deaths; Abuse of Retarded Alleged in 10 Cases, Bill Miller, July 4, 2000
• The Associated Press, Washington Metro Day Book, July 3, 2000
• WTOP-Radio, Washington, D.C., July 3, 2000
• WRC-TV, Washington, D.C., July 3, 2000
• WUSA-TV, Washington, D.C., July 3, 2000
• WTTG-TV, Washington, D.C., July 3, 2000
• www.washingtonpost.com, July 3, 2000
• www.wtopnews.com, July 3, 2000
• The Associated Press , "Washington Metro Day Book," December 6, 2000
• The Associated Press , "D.C. Metro Wire," December 6, 2000
• WRC-TV, Washington, D.C., December 6, 2000
• WJLA-TV, Washington, D.C., December 6, 2000
• WTTG-TV, Washington, D.C., December 6, 2000
• WUSA-TV, Washington, D.C., December 6, 2000
• NewsChannel 8-TV, Washington, D.C., December 6, 2000
• WTOP-Radio, Washington, D.C. December 6, 2000
• WAMU-Radio, Washington, D.C., December 6, 2000
• The Washington Post, "City to Investigate Deaths," Peter Slevin and Michael Cottman, December 7, 2000
• The Washington Post , Invisible Deaths, The Fatal Neglect of D.C.'s Retarded, Katherine Boo, December 5, 1999

Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata, & Siegel P.C. Represents Man Beaten by Prince George's County Police Officers

• The Washington Post , Lawsuit Alleges Police Brutality - Man Accuses Two Prince George's Officers, Rubin Cataneda, March 8, 2002
• Prince George's Journal , Man's suit says officers beat him, Eric Hartley, March 8, 2002

Lawsuit Seeks $11 Million for Teenager Seriously Burned and Permanently Disfigured in a Prince George's County High School Welding Class

• The Washington Post , Pr. George's Sued Over Student's Accident - Teen Was Burned in Welding Class, David Nakamura, December 28, 2000
• The Prince George's Journal , Student seeks $11M compensation for accident, Stephanie Nazzaro, December 28, 2000
• The Prince George's Journal, December 28, 2000
• The Associated Press - Washington Metro Day Book, December 27, 2000
• The Associated Press - Broadcast Wire, December 27, 2000
• The Associated Press - DC Metro Wire, December 27, 2000
• The Associated Press - Maryland State Wire, December 27, 2000
• WJLA-TV, Washington, D.C., December 27, 2000
• WRC-TV, Washington, D.C., December 27, 2000
• WUSA-TV, Washington, D.C., December 27, 2000
• WTTG-TV, Washington, D.C., December 27, 2000
• NewsChannel 8-TV, Washington, D.C., December 27, 2000
• www.washingtonpost.com, Live Online Discussion, December 27, 2000
• www.fox5.com, December 27, 2000
• www.NBC4.com, December 27, 2000
• www.wmal.com, December 27, 2000
• WTOP-Radio, Washington, D.C., December 27, 2000
• WMAL-Radio, Washington, D.C., December 27, 2000
• WAMU-Radio, Washington, D.C., December 27, 2000

Building Maintenance Company Pays $330,000 to Toddler Who Fell After Failing to Properly Replace Apartment Window

• Tiempo Latino, "Un Golpe de Suerte," December, 2000.

When A Drunk Driver Recklessly Killed His Brother and Niece, Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata, & Siegel P.C. Client Brian Thomas Turned to accident attorney, Ira Sherman to Help Him Fight for the Maximum Prison Term Possible

• The Washington Post, "Drunk Driver Get 14 Years in Crash that Killed 2," Maureen O'Hagan, September 20, 2000
• WJZ-TV, Baltimore, MD, September 19, 2000
• WBAL-TV, Baltimore, MD, September 19, 2000
• WBFF-TV, Baltimore, MD, September 19, 2000

Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata, & Siegel P.C. Client is Featured in People Magazine Describing Her Tragic Struggle For Justice After Her Husband is Killed by a Hit and Run Driver in Virginia

• The Washington Post , Hit-Run Unresolved, Family Undettered, August 8, 2000
• People Magazine, "Tragedy: A Stunning Twist Of Fate Helps The Widow Of Hit-and-Run Victim Efrain Marquez Seek Justice," December 18, 2000
• The Washington Post, "Saab Suspected in Hit-and Run," Tom Jackman, September 4, 1999

The Law Offices of Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata, & Siegel P.C. is Subject of National News After Filing a Class Action Lawsuit Charging the Nation's Largest Auto Insurers With Fraud

• USA Today, "Maryland Lawsuit Takes Auto Insurers to Mat," August 19, 1999
• The Associated Press, "Insurance Lawsuit" August 18, 1999
• The Washington Times, "Leading Insurers Sued for Medical Expenses," August 19, 1999
• Prince George's Journal, "Suits Seek Money for Injury Claims - Actions name 3 area auto insurance firms," Erik Linden, August 19, 1999
• The Associated Press - Washington Metro Day Book, August 18, 1999
• The Associated Press - Broadcast Wire, August 18, 1999
• The Associated Press - DC Metro Wire, August 18, 1999
• The Associated Press - Maryland State Wire, August 18, 1999
• The Associated Press - National Wire, August 18, 1999
• CNNfn, "Auto Insurers Sued," August 18, 1999
• NBC Newschannel, August 18, 1999
• MSNBC - Attorney Joseph Cammarata featured in live television interviews, August 18, 1999
• WJLA-TV, Washington, D.C., August 18, 1999
• WRC-TV, Washington, D.C., August 18, 1999
• WUSA-TV, Washington, D.C., August 18, 1999
• WTTG-TV, Washington, D.C., August 18, 1999
• WTOP-Radio, Washington, D.C., August 18, 1999
• NewsChannel 8-TV, Washington, D.C., August 18, 1999
• Univision, Washington, D.C., August 18, 1999
• www.insure.com, August 18, 1999
• www.cnnfn.com, "Auto Insurers Sued," August 18, 1999

Accident attorney Joseph Cammarata Charges GOP with Abandoning Principles, in Health Care Reform Proposals, on Op-Ed page of The Washington Times

• The Washington Times, "Forget Patient's Rights," Joseph Cammarata, October 7, 1999

Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata, & Siegel P.C. Represents Man Permanently Disabled as a Result of Being Attacked by Security Guard

• The Washington Post, Man Settles Suit with Hotel, Security Firm, March 9, 1999
• USAE, Lawsuit Over Injury at EconoLodge Settled in Va., Christopher Cole, March 16, 1999

Plaque and Dedication Ceremony

Accident attorney Ira Sherman at plaque dedication ceremony.

Plaque dedicated in memory of those who died.

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