Ronnie Bernon Gallina, Esq. is an accomplished dispute resolution professional who enjoys a well earned reputation for being hardworking, knowledgeable and fair. She has extensive experience as a litigator trying labor law and other personal injury matters. From 1985-2003 while at Gallina & Connolly, she was the attorney of record for Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company handling and supervising a wide range of high exposure liability cases. Her breadth of practical experience provides her with a unique perspective for service as a mediator and arbitrator.
ADR Experience and Qualifications
- Served on the panels of several Alternative Dispute Resolution companies joining JAMS in 2008
- Resolved thousands of liability cases including premises, products, and professional liability; labor law cases involving catastrophic injuries; and cases involving automobile accidents, toxic torts, property damage, and insurance issues
Representative Matters
- Arbitrations:
- Claims for damages for personal injuries sustained in motor vehicle accidents
- Allocation of risk between insurers in a lead paint exposure case
- Claim for serious personal injuries in a highly contested elevator accident case
- Automobile Accidents:
- Mediated hundreds of cases involving the negligent operation of automobiles as well as Dram Shop claims. Recent settlement of $1.8 million for a pedestrian who sustained a skull fracture and bilateral leg fractures that required surgery
- Settlement of $4.25 million for a motorcyclist who was rendered a paraplegic as a result of an accident
- Business/Commercial
- Mediated partnership dispute involving dissolution of a dental practice
- Insurance Coverage Disputes:
- Mediated and arbitrated numerous insurance coverage issues among multiple defendants
- Mediated disability 1st party claims
- Labor Law: Mediated hundreds of labor law cases involving serious injuries to plaintiffs. Fully familiar with New York Labor Law Sections 200, 241 (6) and 240 (1) as well as New York State Workers Compensation Law and the effect of liens on settling cases. Recently settled:
- Wrongful death action involving a 37-year-old plumber electrocuted on a job site for $1.6 million plus a waiver of the Workers Compensation lien
- Claim by 36-year-old roofing contractor involved in a fall from a height at a job site sustaining skull fractures and resultant seizure disorder ($950,000 settlement)
- Medical and Professional Liability:
- Cases involving claimed negligence on the parts of physicians, dentists, physical therapists, medical technicians, and attorneys
- Mediated settlement of claims asserted against hospitals and/or nursing homes in connection with care of elderly patients who developed decubitus ulcers
- Premises Liability:
- Hundreds of cases involving all kinds of premises liability accidents including slip/trip and falls on both private and commercial property, elevator accidents, and lack of security cases. Recent settlement of $900,000 for the wrongful death of a 45-year-old man who died in an apartment fire; case also involved a zone of danger claim by the decedent’s mother.
- Products Liability:
- Mediated cases involving claims of defective garage doors, automobiles, machinery, and consumer products
- Toxic Torts: Cases involving personal injury due to exposure to lead paint and mold
Comments from Counsel
- “This note is to discuss my opinion of Ronnie B. Gallina as a mediator. Our firm handles plaintiffs’ personal injury and medical malpractice litigation. Ronnie Gallina has completed four mediations for us to date. In three of the four cases, the defense attorney requested that we use her as a mediator. I have found her to be totally impartial, extraordinarily intelligent and knowledgeable in the analysis of personal injury cases, and extremely fair in her recommendations for settlement. She is not afraid to tell either side that an argument is inappropriate, and she has a totally practical outlook which has resulted in settlements of each of the cases that we have had before her. She is a person who should be extremely beneficial to any attorney on either side of the fence who wants a fair and intelligent analysis of his or her case and a mediator with strong “people skills” who can effectuate a settlement.”
- Robert S. Kelner
- “Thank you for recently mediating to conclusion several difficult cases for our organization.... Without your remarkable people skills and critical analysis these matters would not have been resolved without lengthy further litigation. Each of the Parties respected your insight, knowledge of our practice area, integrity and most of all practicality. Your efforts did result in settlements that all parties could accept. We look forward to working with you again.”
- Denise Shane (Sr. Home Office Analyst)
- "It was a pleasure working with you on this case. I really appreciate your efforts in getting this matter resolved. I have notified my superiors that your style, skill, effort, commitment and experience as a litigator were the reasons we were able to resolve the matter at that number. Your efforts did result in settlements that all parties could accept. We look forward to working with you again.”
- Claim Director