We recently connected with Joe Nicastro and have shared our conversation below.
Joe, appreciate you joining us today. Early in your career, how did you think through the decision of whether to start your own firm or join an established firm?
When I first started out as an attorney, I joined a firm as a first-year associate. My area of law is very difficult and complex. It is very easy to make a mistake on client’s injury case if you do not have the requisite experience. That is why I joined a firm when I got out of law school as opposed to starting my own firm. The first few years were very difficult because there was so much to learn in such a short amount of time. I was also thrown into the fire right away, which forced me to pick up things quickly.
Joe, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
I got into personal injury because it was an area of law where I could help people when their world has been flipped upside down. What sets me a part from other attorneys is my blue collar background. From the time I was old enough to hold a paint brush all the way through college, I worked as a professional house painter alongside my father and two brothers. This also gave me a unique understanding of how a construction site operates, and the workers who sacrifice their bodies and risk their lives working in tough conditions to improve our community. Given my work experience, I have an advanced understanding of work conditions that can cause serious injury.
Moreover, prior to law school, I was a professional musician, performing lead guitar for national recording artist More Than Me. In 2010, I led my group to new heights, winning an international battle of the bands competition, where the grand prize was performing with Paul McCartney in Hyde Park, England in front of 50,000 people. This experience has giving me the ability to be extremely comfortable in the courtroom, especially when arguing a case in front of a jury. In addition, this experience has instilled in me an unwavering desire to WIN.
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
Looking back on my career, I can’t think of a case I am more proud of being a part of than this one. More than 40 years ago, a church leader, began what was later described as a multi-generational wave of destruction. He sexually abused children to a brutal degree and used his personality and position of power to keep them quiet. Years later, he was convicted of several sex crimes and sentenced to a long prison sentence. While in prison, he fell into a fortune. But, justice never sleeps. We worked hard to make sure that fortune was frozen. Next, we filed a lawsuit on behalf of the victims to make sure this abuser would be held financially accountable. I am extremely proud to report that we won this landmark case and held the abuser financially responsible for his wrong doings. Although no amount of money will ever take away the pain these victims and their families have suffered, at least we can say that justice has been served. Winning this case meant so much to me because many people said it could not be done.
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
A few years ago, a teenager was walking home from school when she became the victim of a hit-and-run crash. Simply put, the driver had no regard for my client’s life, and nearly left her for dead. As per my client, she remembered an angel coming down and grabbing her by the hand. Miraculously, she survived the crash, the driver was located, and we were able to find insurance coverage for her injuries. As expected, however, the insurance company tried to blame my client, claiming she was not paying attention. They also argued that my client’s back injury, a disc bulge, was not “serious” enough to justify receiving any compensation beyond their initial low-ball offer because she did not have surgery. I am happy to report that the Court found 100% liability against the driver and determined that my client’s back injury was “serious”. With this determination, we obtained our client a final settlement award 56 times greater than the initial offer. This is another example of a case where many people believed such a victory could not be achieved.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.thehurthotline.com/
- Instagram: @buffaloinjurylawyer
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BuffaloInjuryLawyer/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/attorney-joe-nicastro-77045455?lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_profile_view_base_contact_details%3B9tVWogPQRwq3uU9dWOq2WQ%3D%3D