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Raymond M. Schlather, Partner
- Education:
- Cornell Law School, Ithaca, New York, J.D., 1976
- St. Vincent College, Latrobe, Pennsylvania, B.A., Summa Cum Laude, 1973
- Admitted to Practice:
- New York State, 1977
- United States District Court, Northern District of New York, 1977
- United States District Court, Western District of New York, 1982
- District of Columbia, 1999
- United States Court of Appeals, Second Circuit, 1994
- United States Supreme Court, 1997
For more than 28 years, Ray has been trying cases in federal and state courts throughout Central New York. Martindale-Hubbell, the well known and respected national peer review rating organization, rates Ray as “AV”: “very high to pre-eminent” legal ability and “very high” general recommendation (the highest possible ratings).
Some of Ray’s verdicts include:
- $1.3 million motor vehicle accident (Binghamton)
- $1.25 million shooting accident (Bath)
- $880,000 fall/head injury (Rochester)
- $675,000 medical malpractice/wrongful death (Syracuse)
- $585,000 sexual harassment (Syracuse)
- $540,000 medical malpractice (Ithaca)
- $400,000 malicious prosecution (Ithaca)
- $150,000 Age Discrimination in Employment Act (Rochester)
- $162,000 slip and fall (Ithaca)
- “Not Guilty” Murder (Watkins Glen)
- “Not Guilty” Manslaughter (Watkins Glen)
- “Not Guilty” Federal drug charges (Rochester)
- “Not Guilty” Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance (cocaine) (Ithaca)
- “Not Guilty” Official Misconduct (Elmira)
- “Not Guilty” Illegal Firearms and related gun charges (Elmira)
- “Not Guilty” Obscenity (First Amendment issues) (Ithaca)
- “Not Guilty” Promoting Prostitution (First Amendment issues) (Ithaca)
- “Not Guilty” Driving While Intoxicated as a Felony (Ithaca)
- Prior results cannot and do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome with respect to any future matter, including yours, in which a lawyer or law firm may be retained.
Additionally, Ray has achieved numerous recoveries -- by verdict, arbitration and settlement -- ranging from $100,000 to $2.2 million, and several other “Not Guilty” or lesser included offense verdicts.
Though Ray primarily represents plaintiffs in his civil practice, and only defendants in his criminal practice, periodically he is retained to represent defendants in commercial and civil rights cases. He also has an ongoing practice in commercial litigation and estate litigation.
Other attorneys routinely refer clients to Ray.
Ray is past president of the Tompkins County Bar Association, former director and current member of the New York State Trial Lawyers Association, and member of the American Trial Lawyers Association and the New York State Bar Association.
Ray is active in the community. He is either currently serving or has served on many not-for-profit and civic boards, including Planned Parenthood of Tompkins County, Hangar Theatre, Greater Ithaca Activities Center (GIAC), Ithaca City Board of Public Works, West Hill Civic Association (WHCA), Ithaca City Common Council, Ithaca City Planning Board, Tompkins County Democratic Committee, Bosnian Student Project, and numerous project-specific civic committees and panels. Ray lectures periodically, both in the legal community and in the local schools, including the Cornell Law School.
To make an appointment with Ray, please contact his paralegal, Laurie F. Schutt.