Clara M. Villarreal is Of Counsel with Marks, O’Neill, O’Brien, Doherty & Kelly. She is admitted to practice in the State of New York and the United States District Court for the Southern and Eastern, as well as the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey.
Clara graduated from St. John’s University with a Bachelor of Arts degree, where she was also the President of the Pre-Law Society. She then attended New York Law School, where she was President of the Moot Court Board.
Clara is a recognized trial attorney with over 100 jury trials to verdict with an outstanding record of achievement as an accomplished litigator; possessing extensive and diversified experience in providing strategic legal analysis, preparation and trial execution of high exposure, multi-million dollar and complex litigations in the areas of: Construction labor law, Medical malpractice, Civil rights § 1983, Products liability, General liability, Commercial litigation, Toxic tort, Insurance coverage, Legal malpractice, Municipal labor law, Municipal liability and Nursing home litigation.
At Marks O’Neill, Clara brings her experience to the Casualty, Healthcare, Professional Liability, Construction and Transportation practice groups.
Prior to joining Marks O’Neill, Clara was a Senior Trial Attorney for various NYC litigation firms, and also served as a Senior Trial Attorney for the Special Litigation Unit of the New York City Law Department, Tort Division. During her time with the NYC Law Department, Clara assertively defended The City of New York, municipal agencies and individual employees as lead trial counsel on high profile, multi-million dollar exposure litigations. Clara obtained a broad record of defense verdicts and favorable settlements as lead trial counsel in multi-million dollar exposure litigations, including the Staten Island Ferry crash cases, constitutional Federal and State civil rights violations, municipal labor law, sexual assault, prisoner rights, premises and serious municipal motor vehicle liability cases; saved The City of New York multi-millions of dollars in authorized settlement funds and potential damages awards.
Davila v. City of New York – 42 U.S.C. § 1983 NYPD civil rights case, alleging a comminuted fracture of the acetabulum and complex displaced femur fracture as part of excessive force claim; fully briefed and submitted written trial memoranda of law for dismissal prior to verdict, denied by the trial court, jury awarded $5,000,000. The Appellate Division unanimously reversed and dismissed those claims, holding that the Supreme Court erred in denying defendant’s trial motions to dismiss as a matter of law.
Aguilar-Consuelo v. City of New York – Motor vehicle accident with NYPD RMP (Radio Motor Patrol) vehicle, plaintiff/driver alleged reflex sympathetic dystrophy, chronic pain syndrome, herniated lumbar discs,knee injuries with surgeries, wheelchair confinement, post-traumatic stress disorder, and surgical insertion of spinal stimulator. Demand: $7,000,000; Offer: $1,500,000; Verdict: Defendant’s verdict
Victoria Hart v. City of New York, Department of Education– Sexual assault, severe post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), negligent supervision claim; defendant’s verdict rendered after plaintiff’s and psychiatrist’s credibility destroyed with social media postings which directly contradicted claims of PTSD. (New York City Law Department, Division Chief Award 2012.)
Fuson Ateser v. Robert and David Becker– Motor vehicle bicycle reflex sympathetic dystrophy, chronic pain syndrome, herniated lumbar discs, knee injuries, wheelchair confinement and post-traumatic stress disorder;offer prior to trial: $1,250,000; Demand: $5,500,000; amount asked of jury: $26,000,000. Verdict: $441,000 with 51% comparative negligence. Plaintiff received zero monetary compensation after collateral source hearing. http://www.oasinc.org/caseverdict/fuson-ateser-v-robert-and-david-becker/
Davila v. City of New York – 42 U.S.C. § 1983 NYPD civil rights case, alleging a comminuted fracture of the acetabulum and complex displaced femur fracture as part of excessive force claim; fully briefed and submitted written trial memoranda of law for dismissal prior to verdict, denied by the trial court, jury awarded $5,000,000. The Appellate Division unanimously reversed and dismissed those claims, holding that the Supreme Court erred in denying defendant’s trial motions to dismiss as a matter of law.
Aguilar-Consuelo v. City of New York – Motor vehicle accident with NYPD RMP (Radio Motor Patrol) vehicle, plaintiff/driver alleged reflex sympathetic dystrophy, chronic pain syndrome, herniated lumbar discs,knee injuries with surgeries, wheelchair confinement, post-traumatic stress disorder, and surgical insertion of spinal stimulator. Demand: $7,000,000; Offer: $1,500,000; Verdict: Defendant’s verdict
Victoria Hart v. City of New York, Department of Education– Sexual assault, severe post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), negligent supervision claim; defendant’s verdict rendered after plaintiff’s and psychiatrist’s credibility destroyed with social media postings which directly contradicted claims of PTSD. (New York City Law Department, Division Chief Award 2012.)
Fuson Ateser v. Robert and David Becker– Motor vehicle bicycle reflex sympathetic dystrophy, chronic pain syndrome, herniated lumbar discs, knee injuries, wheelchair confinement and post-traumatic stress disorder;offer prior to trial: $1,250,000; Demand: $5,500,000; amount asked of jury: $26,000,000. Verdict: $441,000 with 51% comparative negligence. Plaintiff received zero monetary compensation after collateral source hearing. http://www.oasinc.org/caseverdict/fuson-ateser-v-robert-and-david-becker/
MARKS, O’NEILL, O’BRIEN, DOHERTY & KELLY has been at the forefront of defense litigation for over a quarter of a century representing the interests of corporations, carriers and individual clients.
