Over his 25-year career, Joseph Manna has distinguished himself as a tenacious trial attorney who aggressively pursues and obtains the best possible results for his clients.
Joe’s legal skill and track record of results has led peers to name him to some of the legal industry’s most prestigious recognitions. He has been selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America, Super Lawyers, America’s Top 100 Attorneys-Lifetime Achievement Membership, the National Trial Lawyers Top 100, Legal Elite of Western New York, and Buffalo Business First’s Who’s Who in Law.
In 2020, Joe was elected by fellow trial lawyers to serve as the President of the Western New York Trial Lawyers Association. He is also an adjunct instructor of law at the State University of New York at Buffalo Law School, where he teaches trial techniques.
Due to Joe’s reputation as an effective litigator and trial lawyer, many prominent individuals, including federal and state court judges, have retained him as their own lawyer. Joe has handled numerous high-profile cases and represented a wide spectrum of individuals and organizations, including other lawyers, doctors, certified public accountants, police officers, victims of catastrophic injuries, and some of the largest construction companies in the world.
Joe’s clients are assured by his extensive trial experience, which includes arguing cases before the Court of Appeals, New York State’s highest appellate court, as well as New York State Supreme Court, Appellate Division, 4th Department. He has represented clients across New York State, including in New York City, Buffalo, Albany, and Syracuse as well as in Ohio and California.
The scope of Joe’s practice is unique. He focuses on representing victims of serious personal injuries, including medical malpractice, nursing home abuse, and construction worker injury cases, and on business litigation, primarily involving construction disputes.
Medical Malpractice
Joe’s reputation as a leading medical negligence trial lawyer has lead physicians, nurses and fellow attorneys, as well as their families, to frequently retain him to pursue medical malpractice claims on their behalf.
Joe brings unique insight and perspective to enhance the fight for his clients due to his previous experience litigating on the defense side of medical malpractice matters.
For many years now, Joe focuses only on pursuing claims of medical negligence against healthcare professionals. He has recovered tens of millions of dollars for his clients, with most of his cases resolving between $250,000 to over $1,000,000. He has obtains as much as $7,200,000 for a client in a single case.
Joe applies his legal skill, tenacious approach, and significant experience as a trial attorney to achieve justice and results for his clients. He represents victims of all forms of medical malpractice, including:• Birth injury cases resulting from hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy
• Medications errors including negligent use of Gentamicin & Levaquin
• Botched eye surgeries and negligent cataract removal
• Botched thyroidectomy/parathyroidectomy causing vocal cord injury and paralysis
• Delayed diagnosis of Charcot foot
• Medication errors
• Emergency room errors
• Cardiac errors including failing to order blood thinners for atrial fibrillation patients
• Delayed or misdiagnosis of:
• Cancer
• Aortic Aneurysms
• Pulmonary embolism and deep vein thrombosis
• Stroke
• Heart Attack
• Bowel and other organ perforations
• Testicular and other torsions
• Infection
• Giant cell arteritis/temporal arteritis
Commercial Litigation
Joe has extensive experience in breach of contract disputes, commercial leases, construction contracts and claims, joint venture agreements, non-competition and non-solicitation agreements, shareholder agreements and disputes as well as buy/sell and supply contracts. The following is a sample of cases he has handled:• Obtained jury verdict of $1.64 million against the Town of Clarence for its de facto taking of a resident’s land;
• Invalidated a $25 million real estate purchase and sale agreement, and obtained a $500,000 deposit refund for his client;
• Obtaining judgments of over $3.5 million for a joint venture between two of the world’s largest construction companies;
• Securing a $3 million settlement against a surety on behalf of an international bridge and tunnel contractor;
• Representing a Florida based company in a joint venture dispute involving a $19 million construction contract to supply and install goods in Russia;
• Successfully defending a well-known Los Angeles based entertainment company in a $14 million international licensing dispute;
• Gaining possession of commercial property valued at over $1 million for a shareholder in a corporate dissolution proceeding;
• Obtaining summary judgment for a large specialty contractor in a labor law dispute in which the plaintiff sought more than $10 million;
• Obtaining a $500,00 settlement against a local municipality for a utility contractor;
• Securing a $240,000 settlement for a local general contractor against a condominium association; and
• Successfully representing the manufacturer of a well-known line of sports supplements and nutritional aids in a claim alleging trademark and copyright infringement.
Speaking Engagements
• Professors at the University of Buffalo frequently call upon Mr. Manna to speak to classes at the graduate and undergraduate level in the academic disciplines of construction and engineering/architectural law. He is also a frequent lecturer and instructor for continuing education providers such as Lorman and the National Business Institute. Seminars instructed by Mr. Manna include:• Tricks, Traps and Ploys used in Construction Scheduling (October 20, 2005)
• Managing Construction Projects (April 12, 2006)
• What to do When Construction Jobs Go Bad (June 7, 2006)
• Resolving Problems and Disputes on Construction Projects in New York (2006)
Professional Activities
• Member of the Home Improvement Council, the Association of Bridge Construction and Design, and the CFMA
• Member of The Construction Exchange of Buffalo & Western New York, Inc.
Awards and Recognitions
The Best Lawyers in America
Named to Best Lawyers in America from 2013 to 2026; recognized for Personal Injury Litigation-Plaintiffs, Medical Malpractice Law-Plaintiffs, Product Liability Litigation-Plaintiffs, and Litigation-Construction
Super Lawyers
Named to Upstate New York Super Lawyers from 2012 to 2025 for Personal Injury-Plaintiff; no more than5 percent of attorneys within a state are included in this publication
The National Trial Lawyers: Top 25 Medical Malpractice Trail Lawyers
Membership in this exclusive organization is by invitation only and is limited to the Top 25 attorneys in each state or region who have demonstrated excellence and have achieved outstanding results in their careers. The National Trial Lawyers recognize individuals who exemplify superior qualifications and leadership in their respective state in the area of Medical Malpractice law.
Rated “Distinguished” by Martindale-Hubbell
An excellent rating for a lawyer with some experience. This rating indicates the attorney is widely respected by their peers for high professional achievement and ethical standards.
Legal Elite of Western New York
Named to Business First/Buffalo Law Journal‘s Legal Elite of Western New York 2019
Best Lawyers “Lawyer of the Year” 2023
Named “Litigation-Construction Lawyer of the Year” for 2023 by Best Lawyers in America
Best Lawyers “Lawyer of the Year” 2022
Named “Medical Malpractice Law - Plaintiffs Lawyer of the Year” for 2022 by Best Lawyers in America
Best Lawyers “Lawyer of the Year” 2021
Named “Litigation-Construction Lawyer of the Year” for 2021 by Best Lawyers in America
America’s Top 100 Attorneys: Lifetime Achievement Membership
One of 100 attorneys in New York State selected based on professional experience, case results, peer reputation, community impact, and lifetime achievement
Who’s Who in Law
Named to Business First/Buffalo Law Journal‘s final 2012 issue of “Who’s Who in Law”
Client Champion Award from Martindale-Hubbell
Recognizes attorneys who demonstrate a commitment to delivering excellent client service based on the quantity and quality of their client reviews on the Martindale-Hubbell website
In the News
Mr. Manna handles many high-profile cases that draw media attention. Click on any of the descriptions below to view articles Mr. Manna or that feature comments from him.
• Mr. Manna commences a bid protest dispute for an aggrieved contractor, as reported by The Buffalo News
• Business First and Buffalo Law Journal feature Mr. Manna in an article on business divorce
• NBC affiliate WGRZ-TV interviews Mr. Manna regarding his representation of three doctors suing D’Youville College for false and deceptive business practices
• Courthouse News Service reports on Mr. Manna’s representation of three doctors against D’Youville College for false and deceptive business practices
• Mr. Manna appears on WGRZ-TV, commenting on the legal options of Toyota lessees following a recall
• The Buffalo News reports on a $1.89 million verdict obtained by Mr. Manna at trial for a Clarence property owner
• The Buffalo News reports on Mr. Manna’s nearly $2 million jury verdict against the Town of Clarence
• The Buffalo News interviews Mr. Manna about the wrongful termination of a former bank CEO
• Business First interviews Mr. Manna about a former bank CEO’s wrongful termination
• The Buffalo News interviews Mr. Manna concerning a leadership coup at Waterford Village Bank
• The president of Larry Flynt’s company lauds Mr. Manna for his successful defense against a $23 million international licensing dispute, as reported by Reuters
• San Diego Union-Tribune interviews Mr. Manna concerning Satai Group’s dispute involving publisher Larry Flynt’s ten-story office building in Beverly Hills
