Colin E. Kaufman is a partner in Adam Leitman Bailey, PC. He concentrates in trial work and litigation, primarily commercial, tort and real estate-related. Kaufman has been in practice for thirty years, all of it in litigation.
Kaufman received his undergraduate degree from Trinity College and his law degree from Fordham University Law School. He has instructed in trial preparation and trial advocacy for the New York State Bar AssociationNew York State Department of Criminal Justice Services Basic Prosecutors' Course, Bureau of Municipal Police Training School, Westchester County District Attorneyâs Office, New York State Special Prosecutor's Office and Lorman Educational Services. He has authored or coauthored three manuals for trial lawyers, Trial of a Negligence Case in New York, Taking and Defending Effective Depositions, and Real Evidence for the Trial Practitioner.
After graduating from Trinity College, Kaufman was a military policeman in the U.S. and in Vietnam. His combat decorations during his service with the 4th Infantry Division include two Bronze Stars and two Army Commendation Medals.
After his return from Vietnam, Kaufman was a corruption investigator with the Office of the New York State Special Prosecutor. In addition to investigative work Kaufman ran the Special Prosecutorâs Intelligence Unit until leaving to become a prosecutor with the Westchester District Attorneyâs Office.
Kaufman spent nine years with the Westchester District Attorney, rising to Chief of the General Trial Bureau. During his tenure there, in addition to trials and training of trial lawyers, Kaufman participated in several thousand prosecutions.
Since leaving the District Attorneyâs Office, Kaufman has been engaged in the private practice of law. His litigation and trial work has covered a substantial breadth, ranging from products liability to mining disasters to international contracts. He was co-lead counsel in the first case tried to verdict in the United States under the United Nations Convention on the International Sale of Goods. He has tried over two hundred cases to verdict in state and federal courts.
Mr. Kaufmanâs reported appellate cases include: Yang v. Chin, 42 A.D. 3d 320, 839 N.Y.S. 2d 90 (1st Dept. 2007); Garay v. National Grange Mutual Insurance Co., 117 Fed. Appx. 785 (2d Cir. 2004); Murphy v. Sawmill Construction Corp., 17 A.D.3d 422, 792 N.Y.S. 2d 616 (2d Dept. 2005); Poughkeepsie Chevrolet, Inc. v. Jeff Weaverâs 96 Hour Super Sale, Inc., 8 A.D. 3d 575, 779 N.Y.S. 2d 512 (2d Dept. 2004) Mulhern v. Chai Management, 309 A.D. 2d 995, 765 N.Y.S. 2d 694 (3d Dept. 2003); Marquise Collection, Inc. v. M.A.S. Textiles Corp., 239 A.D.2d 470, 657 N.Y.S.2d 207 (2d Dept.1997); and Cippolone v. City of White Plains, 181 A.D. 2d 887, 581 N.Y.S. 2d 421 (2d Dept. 1992).
