Steven E. North is an American trial attorney who specializes in representing persons who suffer injuries caused by medical malpractice. He is a lecturer at law and medical schools, television commentator, former homicide prosecutor, and author. He has been recognized as being among the top lawyers in the State of New York and in the country, having achieved some of the highest reported verdicts.
Steven E. North is well recognized as a very determined and accomplished figure in the field of personal injury law in New York. For more than thirty years, he has established a strong reputation as a passionate champion for clients dealing with medical malpractice, product liability, and serious personal injuries.
Life and Education
Steven North was born to Irving J. North, a practicing attorney, and Barbara Grubman in Brooklyn, New York. Growing up, North attended Stuyvesant High School. He was active in the Boy Scouts of America, earning the rank of Eagle Scout which was presented to him in 1956 by then vice-presidential candidate of the United States, Senator Estes Kefauver.
While studying at City College of New York and Brooklyn Law School, North worked during the summers as a lifeguard and swimming instructor in the Catskill Mountains. He was a varsity member of his high school and college swimming teams. Throughout high school, college, and law school, North worked as an elevator operator, waiter, busboy, car hop, clothing store salesman, factory worker, bowling alley pin boy, and library page.
During college North was President of the Inter-Fraternity Council, President of the Honorary Leadership Society, Vice President of Alpha Epsilon Pi Fraternity, member of the Student Council, and Class President during Law School. North was also elected President of the Inter-Fraternity Council, President of the Honorary Leadership Society, Vice President of his fraternity, and member of the Student Council during college. He was a recipient of the Student Government Major Award for Outstanding Leadership. North was elected president of his junior and senior class at law school.
Legal Career
North started his career in law as an Assistant District Attorney in the New York County District Attorney’s Office. He oversaw the prosecution of the 1968 Columbia University student protests spearheaded by the then students for a Democratic Society. As a member of the Homicide Bureau, North was in charge of the D. A.’s investigation into the March 6, 1970 Greenwich Village townhouse explosion caused by the Weather Underground (Weatherman) who were assembling bombs in the basement of the townhouse. Three Weatherman were killed in the blast and other notables escaped but were ultimately captured.
North went on to be appointed as Special Assistant Attorney General in the Office of the Attorney General of the State of New York where he served as a Bureau Chief, prosecuting cases involving corruption by judges, lawyers, and police officers in the criminal justice system.
North served in a law firm that defended physicians in medical malpractice cases and then served as an associate. He later served as a partner in several firms representing plaintiffs. North opened his own law firm in 1986 in a townhouse on the upper East side of Manhattan which he maintained until 2021 when he closed the firm during the Covid pandemic and became “of counsel” to the Merson law firm.
During the course of his private law practice, North concentrated his work on representing individuals who suffered catastrophic injuries primarily from medical malpractice. He tried numerous cases and repeatedly set records as being among the top verdicts in New York State and the nation, year after year. He was named “Medical Malpractice Lawyer of the Year”; named to the New York Law Journal’s “Medical Malpractice Hall of Fame”; listed as among the “Who’s Who” of top tort lawyers; and named as one of the top hundred lawyers practicing in New York City.
Some of North’s pro bono work includes serving as a referee for the New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct; serving as a mediator for the United States District Court, Southern District of New York; participating as a member of Practicing Law Institute’s Advisory Board on Tort Litigation; and being appointed to the Governor’s Judicial Screening Committee.
North has an extensive legal career that spans 35 years, characterized by a determined commitment to seeking justice for individuals who have been harmed. He has successfully handled a large number of significant cases, resulting in multiple multimillion-dollar victories for his clients. North's achievements have received significant recognition, with renowned newspapers such as The New York Times and national law journals featuring him, along with his expert commentary.
Teaching Career
North has extensive experience as a medical-legal educator and writer. At New York University School of Law, he served as an appellate argument judge and Alumni Advisor. He was also a visiting faculty member at Cardozo Law School’s Intensive Trial Advocacy Program. North was a guest lecturer at Fordham Law School’s Roscoe Pound Institute Lecture on Trial Techniques and lectured at Brooklyn Law School’s Bridge the Gap Program. He was faculty chairman of numerous continuing legal education programs including Managing the Multimillion Dollar Case; Trial Mechanics and Discovery; Deposition Skills; Damages Update; Workshop on Direct and Cross Examination; Medical Malpractice Case Management; Objectifying Brain Damage and numerous other such programs.
In addition to his law school teaching affiliations, North has lectured at medical schools and hospitals. He lectured at the Mt. Sinai School of Medicine’s annual senior resident’s retreat for several years and at grand round sessions at Jacobi Hospital. North was a guest speaker at the New York Society of Anesthesiologists' Post Graduate Assembly and a guest speaker at the urology department grand rounds at Lenox Hill Hospital. North was also the Medical-Legal Editor of the American Journal of Perinatology and editor of the Cancer Litigation Bulletin.
Beyond the Courtroom
North's influence transcends the boundaries of the courtroom. He disseminates his extensive expertise by fulfilling the role of a legal analyst on Court TV and Eyewitness News. He has written multiple books on medical-legal matters and has also been a guest lecturer at law schools, sharing his extensive knowledge of trial practice with aspiring lawyers. He was chosen by the New York State Bar Association to write the Medical Malpractice chapter in their respected Personal Injury book, which demonstrates his recognized skill.
Memberships and Affiliations
• Bar Memberships: New York State; United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York; United States District Court for the Southern District of New York; United States Circuit Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit; Supreme Court of the United States
• New York State Bar Association
• New York State Trial Lawyers Association, Board Member
• Association of the Bar of the City of New York
• American Association for Justice
• National Eagle Scout Association, life member
• Mensa, life member
• Association of the Bar of the City of New York, Courts Committee
• Association of the Bar of the City of New York, Medical Malpractice Committee, Charter Member
• Association of the Bar of the City of New York, Sub-Committee on Imposition of Legislative Limits on Awards for Non-Economic Damages
• National Conference of Christians and Jews
• New York County Supreme Court Advisory Committee on Medical Malpractice Litigation
• New York State Bar Association, Committee on Certification of Trial Lawyers
• Apartment Building Cooperative 1035 Fifth Avenue, President
• Society of Medical Jurisprudence
• Southern Poverty Law Center
• United States Holocaust Museum
• Lotos Club, Vice President, Secretary
Hallmarks of Success
The success of North can be attributed to a powerful amalgamation of variables. The user's text is already straightforward and precise. No changes are needed. He is a proficient litigator, adept in presenting matters in court and achieving optimal results for his clients. Most significantly, North has a profound comprehension of the emotional and financial burden caused by these injuries, enabling him to offer unwavering assistance during a difficult period.
Awards and Recognition
• Highest rating for legal ability and professional standards of conduct and ethics (five out of five) by Martindale Hubbell.
• Top 100 Lawyers in the New York City Area, New York Times Magazine
• Judicial Award – Highest Possible Rating in Legal Abilities and Ethics Ratings by Peers and Judges
• Medical Malpractice Lawyer of the Year, Best Lawyers
• Super Lawyers – Medical Malpractice; Personal Injury
• Mensa - Life Member
• New York Magazine’s New York Area’s Best Lawyers
• Top New York Lawyers in Medical Malpractice and Personal Injury
• National Trial Lawyers Top 100 Trial Lawyers
• Law Dragon Top 500 Leading Lawyers in America
A Beacon of Hope for the Injured
Steven E. North is a symbol of optimism for individuals who have experienced significant personal harm in New York. His resolute dedication to justice, combined with his vast expertise and skill in trials, renders him a formidable presence in the courtroom. If you have experienced medical malpractice, a defective product, or a serious accident, Steven E. North is a highly recommended choice for obtaining effective legal assistance.
Personal Life
North is married to Sue J. Buznitsky. The couple has two daughters, Jennifer Amy North Smulewitz and Samantha Gillian North Schmell, and four grandchildren. North is an avid motorcycle rider and scuba diver. He enjoys shotgun and pistol target shooting, woodcarving, windsurfing, golf, and swimming.
