Serious Personal Injury Lawyers Blog

Joseph Cammarata, co-counsel with partner Ira Sherman in the Harris v. District of Columbia case, provided testimony involving the negligent care of Mr. Harris resulting in Mr. Harris successfully tearing both of his eyes out. The District of Columbia Council Member-at-Large Phil Mendelson, chairman of the Judiciary Committee, requested that the law firm participate in hearings held regarding legislation, introduced by Mr. Mendelson as well as ten other co-sponsors, prohibiting the District of Columbia from seeking reimbursement for services rendered to an individual institutionalized as a result of a finding of not guilty by reason of insanity when that individual is also the subject of negligent care. As many of you already know, this law firm has been instrumental in lobbying the District of Columbia City Council to stop Mayor Adrian Fenty from seeking reimbursement from Mr. Harris’ guardian for the cost of services rendered to him since 1973 when he was found guilty of a non-violent property claim by reason of insanity. Mr. Harris has been institutionalized ever since and there is little to no hope that he will ever be discharged from St. Elizabeth’s Hospital. Although the matter has successfully settled with a payment to Mr. Harris, the District of Columbia City Council, in its wisdom, continued to persevere in its effort to adopt legislature to stop this unfair effort on the part of the District of Columbia. We are proud of Mr. Cammarata’s participation in these hearings on behalf of the law firm. Mr. Cammarata’s testimony is attached:
/Statement%20of%20Joseph%20Cammarata%2C%20Esq..pdf

The October issue of Washingtonian Magazine featured Partners Ira Sherman and Joseph Cammarata. Many of your are aware of the involvement of Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel in the Ethiopian community. The law firm is associated with esteemed counsel of Ethiopian heritage, Aseged Yimer, whose offices are located in Silver Spring, Maryland. The law firm has also established the “CSCS Ethiopian Heritage Scholarship Fund”, which will be awarded to the successful applicant in the summer of 2008, providing a subsidy for a successful college applicant entering into their freshman year in the Fall of 2008.

We also have real life experience helping members of this community. One day, Mr. Cammarata was speaking with the owner/operator of the frankfurter stand at the corner of Connecticut and N Street, N.W. She was complaining that because the high rise building was being resurfaced her stand had been moved down Connecticut Avenue approximately 25 feet. The effect of being 25 feet from the corner was the difference of having shade from the tree at the corner and not having the shade. This was of particular significance to the lady owner of the frankfurter stand. Mr. Cammarata quickly swung into action utilizing his most effective lawyering skills and he convinced the management to return the lady to the shaded spot on the corner of Connecticut and N Street. CSCS prides itself on representing individuals who have valid claims that are significant to them although, they may not have monetary value. All people and every claim that we serve as advocates for, are treated with equal fervor. When a Washingtonian Magazine reporter heard about this, he found it newsworthy and put the story on page 15 of the October edition. A copy of that article is attached:
/Washingtonian%20Magazine%20article%209-20-07-1.pdf

by Ira Sherman

The law firm of Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel, P.C. was recently retained by a family of four, each of whom suffered severe injuries as the result of being run off the road by a tractor trailer while driving in Pennsylvania. The mother, father and two children all sustained serious injuries as the car in which they were passengers, rolled over as a result of the collision with the tractor trailer. One of the children was ejected from the car. The law firm of Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel, P.C. has a long history of successes prosecuting claims against tractor trailer owners and operators and will vigorously pursue these claims on behalf of this totally innocent family whose lives have been significantly disrupted.

by Ira Sherman