Stephen James Murphy
Trial Attorney at Block O'Toole & Murphy
Stephen J. Murphy is a partner at the premier personal injury law firm Block O'Toole & Murphy. He began his career as a homicide prosecutor for the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office, quickly distinguishing himself in criminal courtrooms with the successful handling of highly publicized murder cases. Mr. Murphy was described by The New York Times as one of the "Top Attorneys in New York," and by Z100 Radio as a "legendary trial lawyer." Since entering the personal injury field in 2005, he has secured over $450 million in results for his clients. In 2023, Forbes magazine identified him as one of the fifteen "Best Personal Injury Lawyers in New York City."
Mr. Murphy litigates all types of serious personal injury cases, such as construction accidents, wrongful death cases, motor vehicle collisions and premises liability cases. His record includes an unprecedented $32.7 million verdict for the victim of a catastrophic car accident, as well as a yearly average of more than $45 million in settlements (maintained since 2013).
Mr. Murphy has appeared on the ‘Best Lawyers in America’ list since 2013. In 2022, he was named “New York City Lawyer of the Year” by Best Lawyers for all Plaintiff Personal Injury Lawyers in New York City. Since 2010, Mr. Murphy has also ranked in the top 5% of attorneys by Super Lawyers. He has received ‘The National Trial Lawyer Award’ for being one of the best 100 trial lawyers in New York State since 2011. Finally, he has been featured on major news programs as an expert legal commentator.
Outside of his law practice, Mr. Murphy is deeply engaged in charity work. As a result of his fundraising efforts, he received the national ‘Chairperson of the Year’ award from St. Jude Children’s Hospital in 2019, as well as the Frances Pope Memorial Foundation’s ‘Man of the Year Award’ in 2010. While serving as Event Chair for the St. Jude Autumn Wine Tasting, Mr. Murphy has been instrumental in raising almost 10 million dollars.
- St. John's University School of Law
- J.D. (1997) | Law
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- Honors: Graduated with Honors Magna Cum Laude
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- Johns Hopkins University
- B.A. | Political Science
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- Partner/Owner
- Block O'Toole & Murphy
- - Current
- www.blockotoole.com
- Adjunct Professor of Law
- St. John's University School of Law
- - Current
- Associate/Trial Attorney
- Block & O'Toole
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- Senior Homicide Prosecutor
- Kings County District Attorney's Office
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- Lecturer, Trial Tactics, St. John's University School of Law
- St. John's University School of Law, Polestino Trial Advocacy Insititute
- Person of the Year
- Brooklyn to Alaska Project
- Alumni Excellence Award
- St. John's University School of Law
- Award of Distinction
- The Brehon Law Society
- Man of the Year
- Frances Pope Memorial Foundation
- New York County Democratic Judicial Screening Committee
- Member
- - Current
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- New York State Trial Lawyer's Association
- Board of Director
- - Current
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- The Brehon Law Society
- Member
- - Current
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- Manhattan Trial Lawyer's Association
- President
- - Current
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- New York State Bar # 2860583
- Member
- - Current
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- New Jersey
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- New York
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- Federal Circuit
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- Free Consultation
- Contingent Fees
- Construction Law
- Construction Contracts, Construction Defects, Construction Liens, Construction Litigation
- Personal Injury
- Animal & Dog Bites, Brain Injury, Car Accidents, Construction Accidents, Motorcycle Accidents, Premises Liability, Truck Accidents, Wrongful Death
- Workers' Compensation
- English: Spoken, Written