Joel M. Rubenstein

Joel M. Rubenstein is a founding partner of the law firm of German Rubenstein LLP. Mr. Rubenstein handles complex litigation, concentrating in the areas of personal injury, civil rights, environmental and toxic tort, pharmaceuticals, products liability, consumer fraud, commercial disputes, and medical malpractice.

Mr. Rubenstein’s personal injury practice concentrates on catastrophic construction, automobile, slip and fall, and trip and fall injury cases.  Mr. Rubenstein has tried numerous cases to verdict and settled many claims resulting in hundreds of millions of dollars in recovery for clients, many of which have resulted in seven, eight, and nine figure jury verdicts and//or settlements.

Mr. Rubenstein’s current class action practice involves the representation of plaintiffs in civil rights, consumer disputes, and environmental claims.  For example, in Lewis et al. v. The City of New York, Mr. Rubenstein represents a group of pretrial detainees at Rikers Island who allege that they were illegally strip searched at Manhattan Criminal Court in violation of their constitutional rights.  In the unrelated case of Lewis et al. v. The City of New York, Mr. Rubenstein represents a group of inmates alleging that they were deprived recreation opportunities at Rikers Island in violation of their civil rights. Mr. Rubenstein also represents plaintiffs in Alhadad v. Progressive, a class action alleging that a group of drivers were improperly denied personal injury protection benefits afforded to them pursuant to a contract with the defendant. 

Mr. Rubenstein previously represented plaintiffs in Duarte, et al. v. United States Metals Refining Co., et al., an environmental class action alleging that Carteret, New Jersey residents’ properties were contaminated with materials from a nearby smelter facility. Mr. Rubenstein represented plaintiffs in Spears et al. v. Chrysler et al., an environmental class action concerning a plume of contaminated groundwater that has caused vapor intrusion to hundreds of properties in Dayton, Ohio. Mr. Rubenstein also represented plaintiffs in Sher, et al. v. Raytheon Company, et al., an environmental class action lawsuit seeking damages on behalf of property owners and individuals who have been exposed to contaminants such as trichloroethylene, vinyl chloride and 1,4-dioxane through groundwater contamination from a Raytheon plant in St. Petersburg, Florida. His personal injury practice is diverse and includes car accidents, premises liability, trip and falls, construction site and workplace accidents, pedestrian knock-downs and bicyclist knock-downs.  

Mr. Rubenstein previously worked at one of Wall Street’s most prestigious law firms where he negotiated some of the most complex corporate transactions in the United States and internationally on behalf of hedge funds, private equity funds and Fortune 500 companies. For example, in 2004, Mr. Rubenstein was the lead associate representing one of the largest full-service energy trading companies in North America in its $1 billion credit facility with a consortium of financial institutions, a transaction that was awarded Deal of the Year by Trade Finance. Mr. Rubenstein has parlayed such experience into a successful commercial litigation practice, representing clients in a variety of business and contractual disputes. Mr. Rubenstein has earned a reputation of being a tenacious advocate, negotiator, and trial attorney.

Mr. Rubenstein also previously served as a pro bono trial attorney for the New York City Law Department, Manhattan Tort Division, where he represented the City of New York in civil litigation involving claims of negligent maintenance, negligent supervision, and labor law. Mr. Rubenstein’s trial experience is complemented by state appellate experience, including argument before the New York State Appellate Division.

Mr. Rubenstein’s cases have been covered by NY Post, NY Daily News, The Dayton Daily News, The St. Petersburg Times, The Associated Press, Reuters, and other television, radio and print media nationwide.

Mr. Rubenstein is a graduate of the Fordham University School of Law, where he was a member of the Dean’s List and the Fordham Intellectual Property Media & Entertainment Journal. Mr. Rubenstein graduated with honors from the University at Albany (SUNY). Prior to private practice, Mr. Rubenstein served as an infantry soldier in the Israeli Defense Forces. In 2009, Mr. Rubenstein was selected to attend, and subsequently graduated from, the Gerry Spence Trial Lawyers College. Mr. Rubenstein is a current member of the New York State Trial Lawyers Association (NYSLA). Mr. Rubenstein is admitted to practice in the State of New York and New Jersey and the United States District Courts for the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York.

Contact:
JRubenstein@germanrubenstein.com