Charles E. Kutner: Partner in Medical Malpractice Defense and Trial & Appellate Litigation

With more than 35 years of legal experience, Charles E. Kutner has established a substantial practice in the defense of medical malpractice and other complex civil litigation matters. A partner at Kutner Corrado & Friedrich, LLP, also identified as Kutner Friedrich, LLP, in New York, he is recognized for his extensive courtroom experience, rigorous preparation, and work on matters requiring careful analysis of medical evidence, professional standards, and liability.

Mr. Kutner represents hospitals and a broad range of healthcare professionals, including emergency medicine physicians, physician assistants, nurse midwives, and practitioners across medical specialties. His practice has placed him at the intersection of medicine and law, where disputed clinical decisions, expert testimony, and the interpretation of complicated records frequently determine the course of litigation.

A defining feature of Mr. Kutner’s career is his experience in high-stakes trials and appeals. His professional record includes more than 150 verdicts, among them defense verdicts in cases involving neurologically injured newborns, wrongful death, stroke, and allegations of negligent medical treatment. These matters demand a command of both courtroom procedure and the underlying scientific and clinical issues, as well as the ability to present complex information with clarity.

His litigation background also includes matters identified with significant legal and public interest, such as Rosenberg v. York Endoscopy et al., arising from the death of Joan Rivers; Broadnax v. Gonzales, addressing emotional-distress claims associated with stillbirth resulting from alleged negligence; and Stewart v. Cohen, concerning the continuous-treatment doctrine. Together, these cases reflect the breadth and complexity of issues encountered in his practice. The cases are noted as part of his reported professional experience, without attributing particular rulings or outcomes to him beyond the information supplied.

Although medical malpractice defense is a principal focus, Mr. Kutner’s practice extends to products liability, construction law, mold and toxic torts, administrative law, commercial litigation, premises liability, heavy trucking and common carrier liability, automobile liability, directors’ and officers’ liability, and employment practices liability. This breadth informs an adaptable approach to evaluating risk, developing litigation strategy, and representing institutional and professional clients.

Beyond his courtroom practice, Mr. Kutner has contributed to the professional development of attorneys and members of the judiciary through frequent lectures. His speaking engagements have included programs for the New York State Bar Association, St. John’s University School of Law, and the New York State Judiciary, with subjects encompassing medical malpractice litigation, depositions, and trial strategy. His participation in these forums reflects a commitment to the practical exchange of legal knowledge and advocacy techniques.

He is also the author of “Frye Hearings,” published in the Journal of the Defense Association of New York in 2015. The publication addresses a subject central to litigation involving specialized evidence: the legal standards governing the admissibility of expert scientific testimony.

Mr. Kutner earned his Bachelor of Arts from Adelphi University in 1972, followed by a Master of Public Administration from the University of New Haven in 1978. He received his Juris Doctor from Albany Law School of Union College in 1981. He was admitted to the New York State Bar in 1982 and is also admitted to practice before the United States District Courts for the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York and the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.

Mr. Kutner holds an AV Preeminent® peer rating from Martindale-Hubbell, a distinction associated with high evaluations of professional ability and ethical standards. His professional profile also reports Client Champion recognition for client service. These honors complement a career defined by sustained advocacy, a demanding litigation practice, and service to the legal profession.

Over the course of more than three decades, Mr. Kutner has developed a professional record distinguished by substantial trial experience, appellate involvement, broad civil defense representation, and engagement in legal education. His work reflects the responsibilities of counsel entrusted with technically challenging disputes and consequential claims. Through litigation, scholarship, and professional instruction, he continues to contribute to the practice of civil defense law in New York. He practices with Kutner Corrado & Friedrich, LLP / Kutner Friedrich, LLP, at 950 Third Avenue, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10022. He can be reached at (212) 308-0210, ckutner@kcf-law.com, or www.kcf-law.com.