Carolyn Rankin is a trial attorney who specializes in the defense of insured’s in casualty, automobile transportation and construction accident matters. Ms. Rankin is best known for her successes in the Courtroom. Her unorthodox approach to litigation has earned her clients many an unexpected favorable verdict. Ms. Rankin has successfully defended insureds and insurers against truck, automobile, bus, construction, premises security and insurance claims for the last 24 years. Ms. Rankin has devoted her entire career to the defense of insurance carriers and their insureds. She began her career as an associate with Williamson & Williamson, P.C. There she quickly began conducting depositions of clients in high profile cases, and tried her first case to verdict within 2 years of being admitted to the bar. Thereafter Ms. Rankin joined the firm of Lawrence N. Rogak, LLC as a junior trial attorney in 1995. She remained with the firm for ten years, perfecting her trial skills and becoming a partner with the firm.
In 2005, Ms. Rankin joined the firm Brand Glick & Brand as a senior trial attorney and was quickly promoted to partner in 2007. There she continued to specialize in the trials of matters involving premises, automobile, trucking, construction, and insurance claims. While there, Ms. Rankin tried over 50 cases to verdict resulting in unexpected favorable results. Her talents have earned her the reputation of the go to person for troubled cases.
Ms. Rankin incorporates the use of biomechanic experts at trial and is now considered a specialist and leader in the field having obtained numerous defense verdicts after the trial of damages in cases involving surgical repair of soft tissue injuries.
In 2017 Ms. Rankin joined VBP&P as a partner with the firm. Ms. Rankin continues to represent and defend insureds in personal injury actions involving a variety of issues which include premises liability, automobile, trucking and construction law. In addition to acting in the defense of insureds, she also counsels and represents insurers in the trials of various insurance coverage and contract disputes.
Lectures
Ms. Rankin is a frequent speaker on tort topics for the New York State Bar Association’s Continuing Legal Education series and other organizations focusing upon the education of the legal community. Her lectures and presentations have included: The Use of Biomechanical Experts; Conducting the Effective Deposition; Trial Advocacy and The No Fault Threshold Defense in Surgical Cases.
Memberships
Ms. Rankin is a member of the Defense Association of New York and the New York State Bar Association.
Education
In 1984, Ms. Rankin graduated from CW Post LIU with a BA in Psychology. She received her J.D. from St. John’s University in 1991. She was admitted to practice before all New York State Courts and the U.S. District Court in 1992.
Recent Notable Verdicts:
2016 Haughton V. Gillkes – 2227/11 Supreme Court, Kings County defense verdict on damages in automobile case with claimed need for surgery. (Settled after verdict)
2016 Scaliardich V. Smilovic – 12847/13 Supreme Court, Kings County directed verdict for the defense on liability against two passenger plaintiffs claiming defendant driver lost of control of host vehicle causing car to ricochet between guard rails. Both passengers sustained fractures.
2016 Garcia V. Fuchs – 300134-14 Supreme Court, Kings County transferred to Civil Court pursuant to 325D. Defense verdict on liability for driver who struck bicyclist in an intersection. Bicyclist sustained multiple fractures to leg requiring open reduction and internal fixation.
2015 Ramirez V. Ehlah – 12 CV 8710, Southern District of New York defense verdict after unified trial for defendant driver who allegedly drove over passenger’s leg as he exited livery livery vehicle. Plaintiff sustained fractured leg requiring ORIF.
2014 Cruz V. Jeffreys – 2823/13 Supreme Court, Queens County defense verdict on liability for driver who turned right out of a parking lot without looking, striking the two pedestrian plaintiffs.
2014 Yao V. Alan’s Trucking 31806/07. Supreme Court, Kings County defense verdict on damages for plaintiff who underwent two spinal surgeries including spinal fusion after having been involved in a collision with defendant’s truck. The host vehicle sustained significant damage.
2013 Stevens V. Ramirez 300027/11 Civil Court, Bronx County defense verdict for driver who struck infant pedestrian crossing a commercial street. (Matter settled after verdict).
2013 Aidoo V. Cotton Cab Corp 306681/09 Supreme Court, Bronx County $5,000 verdict for the plaintiff after damages trial. Plaintiff presented evidence of injuries which resulted in total disability.
2011 Fraser-Baptistery V. NYCTA 30206/08 Supreme Court, Kings County verdict for defendant driver on liability in which defendant driver crossed a double yellow line and passed the NYCTA bus on the left. Accident ensued as driver returned to the proper lane and collided with bus.
2009 Thomas V. Kamar- 22855/05 Supreme Court, Queens County defense verdict on liability for driver who made a left turn in front of a police car on Queens Blvd.
Notable Decision
Klopchin V. Masri 45 A.D.3rd 737, (2nd Dept. 2007). Obtained reversal of lower court’s grant of summary judgment to injured plaintiff in matter where the defendant’s vehicle struck plaintiff’s vehicle in the rear.