Christian Valentino

Areas of Practice:

Adoptions
Medical Malpractice
Personal Injury Litigation
Toxic Torts / Lead Paint Litigation
Appellate Litigation
Estate and Trust Litigation

Education:

University of Dayton School of Law, J.D. - cum laude
State University of New York, College at Geneseo, B.A.

Phone:

585-987-2857

Fax:

585-987-2957

Email:

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At a Glance:

Christian Valentino is a Partner in the firm’s Litigation Department where he focuses his practice on representation of individuals seriously injured or killed as a result of the negligence of others, including motor vehicle negligence, premises liability, medical malpractice, products liability, and other forms of negligence.

 He also has an extensive practice in the area of Estate and Trust Litigation, where he represents individuals in Surrogate’s Court, whether a client is attempting to prove the validity of a decedent’s Last Will and Testament or whether a client wants to challenge the validity of a decedent’s Last Will and Testament on the grounds of fraud, undue influence, or due to the decedent’s testamentary capacity at the time the Last Will and Testament was purportedly executed by the decedent.

Mr. Valentino possesses the knowledge and ability to handle cases through the appellate process.  He has drafted numerous successful Appellate Division briefs, and he has argued cases before the Appellate Division, Fourth Department on numerous occasions.  

Mr. Valentino received his J.D. degree, cum laude, from the University of Dayton School of Law, and was the Editor in Chief of the University of Dayton Law Review.

Representative Matters:

• Successfully represented an individual who suffered life-altering injuries to his ankle as the result of an accident involving a forklift truck that malfunctioned. 
  • assisted in the preparation for two separate trials, including conducting research of legal issues for trial, preparing motions in limine, selecting a jury, preparing witnesses for trial, and dissecting surveillance videotape
  • defeated the defendant’s two separate appeals (one after each trial) by preparing successful respondent briefs to the Appellate Division 
  • defeated defendant’s motion for leave to the Court of Appeals.
• Successfully represented the estate of an elderly woman, and her children, against a visiting nurse service in a personal injury/wrongful death claim where the woman fell in her apartment and remained there for five days unable to move and without food or water, and who ultimately died due to her injuries after fifteen days in the hospital after being discovered in her apartment.  

• Successfully represented two children in a wrongful death claim for the death of their father, who was killed after being struck by a commercial van while lawfully crossing the street.  

• Successfully represented two children in Surrogate’s Court who were seeking to invalidate the most recent Last Will and Testament of their deceased father, which was changed to the children’s detriment and purportedly executed by their father days before his death and while on mind-altering prescription drugs in the hospital.

Community Involvement:

Mr. Valentino coached the Mock Trial Team for Our Lady of Mercy High School in 2007 & 2008, where the team won the Monroe County championship and advanced to the Regional Tournament. 

He is very active in local politics by serving on the finance and strategy committees for many successful campaigns, including campaigns for State Supreme Court Justice, Town Justice, and Monroe County Legislator.

He is the President of Valentino United Soccer Club, which has played competitive soccer in the Rochester and District Soccer League since 1993.

Bar Admissions:

• New York
• United States District Court, Western District of New York

Professional Affiliations:

Mr. Valentino is a member of the Monroe County and New York State Bar Associations.  He is a former membership chair for the Rochester Area Inns of Court and also a former social chair for the Monroe County Bar Association - Young Lawyers Section.

Other:

On January 2, 2008, Mr. Valentino was appointed by New York State Governor Eliot Spitzer as a Member of the Council for the State University College at Geneseo for a term to expire on June 30, 2014.