James E. Hacker
 
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James E. Hacker

Managing Partner
518-274-5820
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Jim Hacker is a 1981 graduate of Hamilton College and a 1984 graduate of Albany Law
School. He is a member and the former Chair of the Albany Law Board of Trustees and
a former member of the Hamilton College Board of Trustees.

Jim handles complex personal injury, medical malpractice and commercial cases. He
has tried over 100 cases to verdict throughout New York and has obtained multiple
million-dollar verdicts and settlements.

He is an elected Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, one of the premier
legal associations in North America. The College is comprised of the best of the trial bar
from the United States and Canada and membership is by invitation only. He is also an
elected fellow of the International College of Trial Lawyers whose membership is limited
to 500 US trial lawyers and whose membership is by invitation only.

He is the Past President of the Board of Directors of the Legal Aid Society for
Northeastern New York and the Past President of the New York State Trial Lawyers
Academy.

Locally, he is the Past President of the Albany County Bar Association, Past President
of the Albany County Bar Foundation and received the President’s Award in 2022. He is
also the Past President of the Capital District Trial Lawyers Association who honored
him their Annual “Daniel H. Mahoney” Award in 2016.

Jim holds an AV rating from Martindale Hubbell and has been recognized as a “Best
Lawyer in America” and “Super Lawyer” in both the fields of personal injury and
commercial litigation. He has previously been recognized as “Lawyer of the Year” in
both categories. He has lectured extensively for the New York State Bar Association,
the Albany County Bar Association, New York State Trial Lawyers Academy and the
Capital District Trial Lawyers.

He is also an elected member of the National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals and
has been appointed as a United States District Court Mediator. He has mediated and
arbitrated over 1,000 cases in the last 25 years.

  • Lead counsel in the Ethan Allen tour boat disaster where he represented 20 families of the victims and litigated simultaneous lawsuits in Federal Court, New York State Supreme Court, and the New York State Court of Claims arguing in the New York State Court of Appeals and the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
  • $7.5 million product liability verdict which included punitive damages against the manufacturer, United States District Court for the Northern District
  • $1.2 million dollar verdict motor vehicle crash, United States District Court for the Northern District
  • $1.5 million dollar verdict motor vehicle crash, Ulster Supreme Court
  • $1.1 million dollar verdict nursing home neglect, Schenectady County Supreme Court
  • $5.25 million dollar settlement motor vehicle crash, Albany County Supreme Court
  • $5.65 million dollar settlement medical malpractice action, Albany County Supreme Court
  • $1.5 million dollar settlement motor vehicle crash, Albany County Supreme Court
  • $1.4 million dollar settlement medical malpractice, Otsego County Supreme Court
  • $1.5 million dollar settlement medical malpractice, Broome County Supreme Court
  • $1 million dollar settlement pedestrian accident, Kings County Supreme Court
  • $2.4 million dollar settlement workplace accident, Schenectady County Supreme Court
  • $1.2 million dollar settlement workplace accident, Schenectady County Supreme Court
  • $1.75 million dollar settlement workplace accident, Saratoga County Supreme Court
  • $1.5 million dollar settlement medical malpractice, Albany County Supreme Court
  • $1 million dollar settlement motor vehicle crash, Schenectady County Supreme Court
  • $1 million dollar settlement workplace accident, Washington County Supreme Court
  • American College of Trial Lawyers, Fellow
  • International College of Trial Lawyers, Fellow
  • Litigation Counsel of America, Fellow
  • Daniel H. Mahoney Award, Capital District Trial Lawyers Association, (2016)
  • Best Lawyer in America, Lawyer of the Year, Personal Injury
  • Best Lawyer in America, Lawyer of the Year, Medical Malpractice
  • Best Lawyer in America, Lawyer of the Year, Commercial Litigation
  • Super Lawyers, Top 10 Upstate New York
  • “Lawyer of the Year,” Litigation, Insurance – Albany, Best Lawyers (2025)
  • “Lawyer of the Year,” Personal Injury Litigation, Plaintiffs – Albany, Best Lawyers (2025)
  • The Best Lawyers in America® – Troy, 2025
    • Bet-the-Company Litigation
    • Commercial Litigation
    • Litigation – Insurance
    • Medical Malpractice Law – Plaintiffs
    • Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs
  • Juris Doctor, Albany Law School of Union University
  • Bachelor of Arts, Hamilton College
  • State of New York
  • United States District Court, Northern District of New York
  • United States District Court, Southern District of New York
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
  • American College of Trial Lawyers
  • International College of Trial Lawyers
  • Litigation Counsel of America
  • Albany County Bar Association, Past President
  • Albany County Bar Foundation, Past President
  • New York State Trial Lawyers Academy, Regional Vice President
  • Capital District Trial Lawyers Association, Past President
  • New York State Bar Association, Former Member House of Delegates
  • American Bar Association
  • New York State Trial Lawyers Association
  • American Association for Justice
  • The National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals
  • Designated Neutral – United States District Court for the Northern District of New York
  • 2015: Speaker, New York State Bar Association: Automobile Litigation Update: Keeping Current in New York
  • 2014: Speaker, New York State Bar Association: Commercial Litigation in New York State Courts
  • 2014: Speaker, Academy of Trial Lawyers: Ethics Update
  • 2013: Speaker, Academy of Trial Lawyers: Ethics Update
  • 2012: Speaker, Academy of Trial Lawyers: Ethics Update
  • 2011: Speaker, Academy of Trial Lawyers: Ethics Update
  • 2009: Speaker, Academy of Trial Lawyers: Ethics Update
  • 2010: Speaker, New York State Bar Association: Keeping Current with Automobile Litigation
  • 2007: Speaker, New York State Bar Association: Practical Skills
  • 2006: Speaker, New York State Bar Association: Representing Physicians and Other Health Care Practitioners in the Professional Disciplinary Process
  • 2005: Speaker, New York State Bar Association: Practical Skills
  • 2004: Speaker, New York State Bar Association: Modern Discovery
  • 2004: Speaker, New York State Bar Association: The Trial
  • 2002: Speaker, New York State Bar Association: Automobile Litigation
  • 2002: Speaker, New York State Bar Association: Deposition Practice in State and Federal Court
  • 2001: Speaker, New York State Bar Association: Practical Skills
  • 2000: Speaker, New York State Bar Association: Motions, Objections and Discovery
  • 1999: Speaker, New York State Bar Association: Practical Skills
  • 1999: Speaker, New York State Bar Association: Evaluation and Negotiation of a Tort Case
  • 1998: Speaker, New York State Bar Association: Neck and Back Injury Case Trial
  • 1998: Speaker, New York State Bar Association: Practical Skills –The Trial
  • 1998: Speaker, New York State Bar Association: Insurance Coverage Issues
  • 1998: Speaker, New York State Bar Association: Motor Vehicle Trail
  • 1997: Speaker, New York State Bar Association: Practical Skill: Civil Lawsuit
  • 1997: Speaker, New York State Bar Association: Deposition Practice in State and Federal Court
  • 1997: Speaker, New York State Bar Association: Neck and Back Injury Trial
  • 1996: Speaker, New York State Bar Association: Premises Liability
  • 1994: Speaker, New York State Bar Association: Practical Skills –The Trial
  • Metz v. State of New York, 27 Misc.3d 1209(A); 86 A.D.3d 748;20 N.Y.3d 175
  • In Re Lake George Tort Claims, 2006 W.L. 2934806; 461 Fed.Appx.39, 2012 W.L. 40064800
  • Loftus v. White, 85 N.Y.2d 874
  • Matter of Estate of Quigley 172 A.D. 3d 1516
  • Waddy v. Genesee Patrons Cooperative Insurance Co., 164 A.D. 3d 1056
  • Urbaniak v. Shoreline Cruises, 459 F. 2d 154
  • Gonick v. Adirondack Research and Management, 57 Misc. 3d 1203(A)
  • Drum v. Collure, 161 A.D. 3d 1509
  • Utica Mutual Insurance v. Century Indemnity Co. 2019 WL 6482559
  • Hackert v. First Alert, 271 Fed. Appx. 31
  • Atiles v. Golub Corp., 141 A.D. 3d 1055
  • Heller v. Lewis, 50 Misc. 3d 1203(A)
  • Rhodes v. Swope 64 Misc. 3d 1227(A)
  • Brereton v. UnumProvident Company, 2005 WL 901039
  • STS Steel v. Maxon Alco Holding, LLC, 123 A.D.3d 1260
  • Morizio v. Roeder, 44 Misc.3d 1214(A)
  • Icon Office Solutions v. Underwood Office Technology, 21 Misc.3d 1144(A)
  • Kirk v. Howe, 2000 W.L. 1239107
  • Cohen v. Tomillson, 63 Misc. 3d 1217(A)
  • Rosewood Builders LLC v. National Fire 2013 WL 1006629
  • Merriman v. Town of Colonie, 934 F. Supp. 501
  • Waterford Mortgage v. Integrated Alarm Services Group, 2008 W.L. 4589630
  • American Building Maintenance Co. v. Acme Property Services Inc., 515 F.Sub.2d 298
  • Seacon Corp. v. Sellect Corp., 2009 W.L. 2495949
  • Groat v. Global Hawk, 2012 W.L. 3985098
  • Abraham v. Novello, 39 A.D.3d 1039
  • Washington v. Community Health Plan, 220 A.D.2d 972
  • Casala v. Henna, 270 A.D.2d 680
  • Keis v. Northern Distributor, 226 A.D.2d 9
  • Securities Exchange Commission v. McGinn Smith 2019 WL 1060650
  • Harper v. Murphy Overhead Doors 131 A.D. 2d 966
  • Woodward v. CSX Tranp. 2012 WL 431190
  • Hooper v. Hise 117 A.D. 2d 709
  • 2015: Speaker, New York State Bar Association: Automobile Litigation Update: Keeping Current in New York
  • 2014: Speaker, New York State Bar Association: Commercial Litigation in New York State Courts
  • 2014: Speaker, Academy of Trial Lawyers: Ethics Update
  • 2013: Speaker, Academy of Trial Lawyers: Ethics Update
  • 2012: Speaker, Academy of Trial Lawyers: Ethics Update
  • 2011: Speaker, Academy of Trial Lawyers: Ethics Update
  • 2010: Speaker, New York State Bar Association: Keeping Current with Automobile Litigation
  • 2009: Speaker, Academy of Trial Lawyers: Ethics Update
  • 2007: Speaker, New York State Bar Association: Practical Skills
  • 2006: Speaker, New York State Bar Association: Representing Physicians and Other Health Care Practitioners in the Professional Disciplinary Process
  • 2005: Speaker, New York State Bar Association: Practical Skills
  • 2004: Speaker, New York State Bar Association: Modern Discovery
  • 2004: Speaker, New York State Bar Association: The Trial
  • 2002: Speaker, New York State Bar Association: Automobile Litigation
  • 2002: Speaker, New York State Bar Association: Deposition Practice in State and Federal Court
  • 2001: Speaker, New York State Bar Association: Practical Skills
  • 2000: Speaker, New York State Bar Association: Motions, Objections and Discovery
  • 1999: Speaker, New York State Bar Association: Practical Skills
  • 1999: Speaker, New York State Bar Association: Evaluation and Negotiation of a Tort Case
  • 1998: Speaker, New York State Bar Association: Neck and Back Injury Case Trial
  • 1998: Speaker, New York State Bar Association: Practical Skills –The Trial
  • 1998: Speaker, New York State Bar Association: Insurance Coverage Issues
  • 1998: Speaker, New York State Bar Association: Motor Vehicle Trail
  • 1997: Speaker, New York State Bar Association: Practical Skill: Civil Lawsuit
  • 1997: Speaker, New York State Bar Association: Deposition Practice in State and Federal Court
  • 1997: Speaker, New York State Bar Association: Neck and Back Injury Trial
  • 1996: Speaker, New York State Bar Association: Premises Liability
  • 1994: Speaker, New York State Bar Association: Practical Skills –The Trial
  • Personal Injury
  • Commercial Litigation
  • Mediations
  • Arbitrations
  • Medical Malpractice