Samuel Hirsch (lawyer)

Samuel P.[1] Hirsch[2][3] (born c. 1948)[4] is an American lawyer who also held public office.

For the Reform rabbi (1815-1889) see Samuel Hirsch

Early life

He was born in a DP camp[5] to Holocaust-survivor parents who came to the United States a year later. In the way of his parents, he is an Orthodox Jew.[1]

His Juris Doctor degree is from New York University School of Law (1972) and his first law position was with Jacob D. Fuchsberg.[5]

Career

Elected official

In 1977 he won a three-way primary[2] and, after a three-way November election,[6] became a New York State Assemblyman (48th District).[4] His seat had been vacated by Leonard Silverman, who accepted an offered judgeship mid-term.[1]

In 1982 he was challenged by Dov Hikind in the September primary; Hikind received about 500 more votes.[7]

One of the issues for which he represented his community is reverse discrimination.[1] Another was in the matter of more police protection, especially in the aftermath of "the fatal stabbing of an elderly Jewish man in a predawn street robbery."[8][9]

Lawyer

In 2002[10] he filed a Class action lawsuit against McDonald's for alleged deceptive practices that resulted in obesity, particularly among teenagers; it was rejected in a Federal court.[5] The ruling permitted refiling, which he did. It too was rejected.[11]

His "bread and butter" cases are in the area of personal injury.[5][12]

Family

He and his wife Ruth are the parents of four children and grandparents of six.[5][1]

References
  1. Mary Breasted (October 30, 1977). "2 Young Candidates Have Victory In Sight". The New York Times.
  2. Joseph B. Treaster (September 9, 1977). "Hirsch Is Victor In Brooklyn Race For Assembly Seat". The New York Times.
  3. "Koch and Kuomo Seek Support for Runoff". The New York Times. September 10, 1977.
  4. "2 Young Democrats Are Easy Winners In Assembly Races". The New York Times. November 9, 1977.
  5. Lisa Keys (February 21, 2003). "Unflippable Lawyer Bites Mickey D's With Burger Suit". The Forward.
  6. "Vote in City Largely Ratified Democratic Primary". The New York Times. November 10, 1977. Samuel Hirsch, 29, got three-quarters of the vote
  7. E.J. Dionne Jr. (September 24, 1982). "Five Incumbent State Legislators Defeated; Many Others Turn Back; Stiff Challenges". The New York Times.
  8. Robert D. McFadden (December 3, 1978). "70 Are Hurt, Including 62 Officers, As Hasidim Storm a Police Station". The New York Times.
  9. News photos of the day showed Hirsch's head bleeding (and others later showing it bandaged): he charged a police officer for clubbing him, even as "he tried to calm the demonstrators." One protestor died of a heart attack. Mayor Koch came later; NYPD conceded misconduct.
  10. "'Psychologically addictive' claim: Fast-food suits stand a chance". Advertising Age. September 16, 2002.
  11. "Judge Dismisses Second Fat Suit Against McDonald's". Advertising Age. September 5, 2003.
  12. Advertisement by Hirsch "Samuel HIRSCH: The Attorney Who'll Put His Experience in Your Court - Practice Limited to Accidents, Personal Injury and Malpractice". The Jewish Press. June 2, 1995. p. 26.
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