Vincent P. Pozzuto

Co-Chair, Strategic Risk & Complex Litigation
Regional Manager, Global Insurance Department – Northeast

Vincent is an experienced civil litigator who defends corporations, property owners, general contractors, construction managers, and lower tier contractors in all types of casualty cases, including construction accidents, toxic torts, premises liability claims, product liability claims, construction defect claims, and ground surface accidents. His practice also includes insurance coverage analysis and litigation. Vince is the co-chair of the Strategic Risk & Complex Litigation practice in the Global Insurance Department. 

Vince concentrates his practice on the defense of catastrophic injury claims and large exposure property damage claims. He also has experience representing corporate directors and officers and resolving complex claims through both litigation and alternative dispute resolution. He handles the defense of civil cases from inception through trial. He is also well versed in briefing and arguing appeals.

Vince also litigates professional liability claims, including employment discrimination claims, legal malpractice claims, insurance broker malpractice claims, and the defense of securities arbitrations.

Vince frequently lectures on topics that affect his practice area. He is the past president of the board of directors of the Defense Association of New York and contributes a quarterly article entitled "Worthy of Note" to The Defendant magazine, the well-respected publication of the Defense Association of New York. Vincent is also a member of the Executive Committee of the Torts and Insurance Compensation Law Section of the New York State Bar Association.

Vince earned his undergraduate degree from Fordham University in 1992 and his law degree from Brooklyn Law School in 1995.  He is admitted to practice in New York and New Jersey. 

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Experience

Represented the chief executive officer and a director of an oil and gas industry corporation in a breach of fiduciary duty and corporate waste action asserted by post-confirmation trusts.  


Secured a cash settlement for a board of managers of a luxury condominium in New York City to resolve construction defect and warranty claims associated with a customized glass curtain wall, where water infiltration and other defects were observed more than ten years after construction was complete. Through our assistance, the board engaged an engineer who determined that the latent defects were due to the improper manufacturing and installation of the window system. With expiring statutes of limitations and limited warranties threatening to leave the board bearing the cost of remediation, we filed suit and persuaded all of the defendants to agree to the settlement. This outcome was a win-win for the board in that it fulfilled its fiduciary duty to unit owners by vigorously pursuing its claims, and the settlement significantly offset the repair costs.


Obtained a jury verdict in favor of a manufacturer of truck seats in a products liability action in which the client was joined as a third-party defendant. The case centered on career-ending injuries a truck driver claimed to have sustained due to allegedly defective welds in the seat frame, which caused the seat to collapse. The matter went to trial on claims of manufacturing defect and negligence after we won summary judgment before the New York State Supreme Court Appellate Division on claims of breach of warranty and design defect. We convinced the jury that our client bore no fault for the plaintiff's injuries because the seat had been modified by his employer years after its manufacture. The plaintiff sought $500,000 in lost earnings as well as damages for pain and suffering.


Won summary judgment at the appellate level on behalf of a Fortune 500 company in a personal injury case by showing that the plaintiffs failed to raise a triable issue as to whether the client created the alleged dangerous condition on its premises, or had actual or constructive knowledge thereof.


Successfully appealed the trial court's denial of summary judgment in a case in which the plaintiff was severely burned when the blouse she was wearing caught fire. On appeal, we convinced the court that the claims against the alleged blouse manufacturer should be dismissed because the plaintiff failed to establish product identification.


Won summary judgment on behalf of a construction industry client in a case centering on the plaintiff's allegations that exposure to toxins at work caused him to suffer significant health problems. In granting our motion for summary judgment, the court concluded that our client did not have notice of an unsafe environment or dangerous conditions at the site where the plaintiff worked. The decision was affirmed on appeal.


Defeated plaintiff's motion for summary judgment in connection with claims brought against a construction industry client under Section 240 of the New York State Labor Law after the plaintiff fell from a ladder at work, where the plaintiff acknowledged that he had not used the ladder properly.


Successfully represented various clients in numerous jury trials involving claims made under New York Labor Law Sections 200, 240, and 241(6).


Won summary judgment on behalf of numerous clients in cases involving issues such as the New York Labor Law, premises liability, the "grave injury" standard for employer liability in work site accident cases, contractual indemnity, and general negligence.


Defended a well-known client in connection with 12 civil actions arising out of a highly publicized incident that garnered extensive media attention.


Obtained a jury verdict in favor of a Turks & Caicos resort in a personal injury case stemming from a slip-and-fall that the plaintiff alleged resulted in a severe knee injury. The case was tried in Brooklyn, NY, and the jury returned a full defense verdict after deliberating for only approximately 30 minutes.


Secured an appellate victory in New York state court on behalf of our client, a trucking company, in a personal injury case centered on a motor vehicle accident. The appellate court found that the record established as a matter of law that the client was not at fault for the accident, and that the lower court should have granted our motion for summary judgment and dismissed the complaint.


News

Cozen O’Connor Announces New Group Chairs, Office Managing Partners, Other Promotions

February 15, 2024

The firm announced several new practice group chairs, office managing partners, and leaders of firm committees and initiatives

Cozen O'Connor Attorneys Reflect on Serving Veterans

November 11, 2022

This Veterans Day, we share the reflections of our attorneys who have dedicated their time to assisting veterans in a variety of legal capacities.

Cozen O’Connor Names Six New Shareholders

July 20, 2015

– Cozen O’Connor promoted six members to shareholder of the firm: Philip Carroll (Chicago), William Davis (New York), John B. Galligan (New York), Kendall Hayden (Dallas), Andrew Kay (D.C.) and Vincent Pozzuto (New York).

Vincent Pozzuto Addresses Caucus of New York State Assembly on Scaffold Law Reform

April 15, 2014

Vincent Pozzuto recently appeared with representatives of the Alliance for Minority and Women Construction Businesses (AMWCB) before a caucus of the New York State Assembly in support of a bill aimed at reforming New York State Labor Law Section 240(1), otherwise known as the “Scaffold Law.” The AMWCB supports reform, as the current statute and its effects have driven up the costs of liability insurance, and made it increasingly difficult for AMWCB contractors to bid on high level projects.

Cozen O’Connor Attorneys Speak On Food & Product Recall Strategies For Mealey’s

April 30, 2008

Two Cozen O’Connor members recently participated in the Mealey’s Food and Product Recall Business Strategies Conference, held in Las Vegas.

Publications

New York's Appellate Division Holds that Insurers Cannot Delay Issuing a Disclaimer of Coverage on a Known Coverage Defense While It Investigates Other Potential Grounds for Disclaiming [Global Insurance Alert!]

February 07, 2012

New York's Appellate Division Holds that Insurers Cannot Delay Issuing a Disclaimer of Coverage on a Known Coverage Defense While It Investigates Other Potential Grounds for Disclaiming - Global Insurance Alert! - In George Campbell Painting v. Nat'l Union Fire Ins. Co. of Pittsburgh, Pa, 2012 N.Y. Slip Op. 254 (1st Dept. 2012), New York's Appellate Division, First Department, expressly overruled its prior holding in DiGuglielmo v. Travelers Prop. Cas., 6 A.D.3d 544, 766 N.Y.S.2d (1st Dept.2004), which held that "[a]n insurer is not required to disclaim on timeliness grounds before conducting a prompt, reasonable investigation into other possible grounds for disclaimer."

Are You Up To The Test? [Construction Today]

November 01, 2010

Given the myriad of research over the last decade, it is now fair to say that drug and alcohol use in the construction industry is a significant issue to all involved: workers, unions, trade contractors, developers and owners.

Summer 2008 [Commercial Disputes Observer]

July 27, 2008

Summer 2008 - Commercial Disputes Observer -

Events & Seminars

Past Events

Wrongful Death

October 24, 2023 - Albany, NY

Harco Verdict Impact on Construction Industry

July 27, 2016 - New York, NY

Critical Issues in Litigation – 2015

May 20, 2015 - New York, NY

Cozen O'Connor's 2013 New York Litigation Seminar

February 12, 2013 - New York, NY

Education

  • Brooklyn Law School, J.D., 1995
  • Fordham University, B.A., 1992

Awards & Honors

President, Defense Association of New York

  • New Jersey
  • New York
  • U.S. District Court -- Eastern District of New York
  • U.S. District Court -- Southern District of New York
  • U.S. District Court -- New Jersey

American Bar Association

Past President, Defense Association of New York – 2016

Board Member, Defense Association of New York – 2007 to Present

New York State Bar Association