Stephen James Murphy

With nearly three decades of experience in trial law, Stephen J. Murphy sets himself apart with his extensive courtroom skills and tireless dedication to his clients. Having developed a reputation as a tough-but-fair attorney, Mr. Murphy represents clients in a wide array of cases, including car accidents, truck accidents, construction accidents, workplace injuries, and premises liability accidents.

Mr. Murphy began his career as a criminal prosecutor in the Brooklyn District Attorney’s office, handling violent crimes including double and triple murders, arson homicides, and gang murders. He joined Block O’Toole & Murphy in 2005, and since then, he has obtained more than $500,000,000 in results for clients, with a yearly average of over $45,000,000 in settlements.

Early in his civil career, Mr. Murphy obtained a record-breaking $32,756,156 jury verdict in a Suffolk County case on behalf of a man who suffered a traumatic brain injury in a pedestrian accident. This verdict is the largest negligence verdict ever in Long Island, and it was recognized by the New York Law Journal as 2007’s second-highest negligence verdict in New York State. More recently, in 2021, VerdictSearch recognized Mr. Murphy for his role as lead attorney in obtaining the top three construction accident results in New York State.

Mr. Murphy’s other top results include:

• $15,500,000 settlement for an injured client in a pedestrian knockdown case

• $9,950,000 settlement in a Buffalo case for a young social worker who sustained an above-the-knee amputation.

• $9,500,000 settlement for a Brooklyn man who lost his foot and suffered spine injuries after being struck by an MTA bus in Brooklyn.

• $9,500,000 settlement for a painter who fell from a ladder while working in Westchester County.

• $8,800,000 settlement for a 53-year-old woman who suffered a traumatic brain injury after being struck by a vehicle while walking on the sidewalk in Queens.

Mr. Murphy's extensive expertise has led him to be recognized by Super Lawyers, Best Lawyers®, The National Trial Lawyer, the Irish Legal 100, and more. In 2023, Forbes Magazine named him one of New York’s Best Personal Injury Lawyers; in 2022, he was named the New York City Lawyer of the Year in Personal Injury – Plaintiffs by Best Lawyers®.

Mr. Murphy currently chairs Block O’Toole & Murphy’s fundraising committee for the firm’s annual New York City Wine Tasting event, which benefits St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. His work on the committee has been instrumental in raising over $10,000,000 to date for St. Jude. In 2019, he was named the St. Jude Chairperson of the Year for his dedication.