William H. Groner
William H. Groner is Founder and Chief Executive Officer of SSAM. Prior, Bill had 35+ years of experience in personal injury and construction law representing personal injury clients as well as insurance and surety companies. During those years Bill participated in hundreds of negotiations involving over one billion dollars in settlements, with an extensive number of mediations and trials.
Bill handled the 9/11 mass tort litigation representing over 10,000 ground zero responders who were exposed to toxins and contaminants post 9/11. He was a principal negotiator in the decade long litigation which resulted in settlements in excess of $800,000,000.
During his career, Bill has lectured on topics ranging from mediation to ethics to law firm management. Bill has recently been an Adjunct Faculty member at Boston University School of Law teaching a course for 3 years on the Ground Zero mass tort. He has made numerous radio and TV appearances including 20/20 ABC News, CNN (Worldwide), Good Day NY, Fox, and CBS.
Bill has been repeatedly selected as a New York Super Lawyer, characterized as a ‘rating service of outstanding lawyers who have attained a high-degree of peer recognition and professional achievement.’ Bill also enjoys the maximum rating available (AV-5.0) from Martindale-Hubbell, which denotes the “highest level of professional excellence.”
SSAM Alternative Dispute Resolution
- Founder/CEO (2016-Present)
Law firm of Worby Groner Eldelman, LLP
- Cofounder/Managing Partner (1999-2015)
- Represented 10,000+ ground zero responders exposed to toxins and contaminants
- Negotiated $800,000,000+ settlement during near decade long litigation
Trial Attorney/ Managing Partner: Various Law Firms (1980-1999)
Accordion Content
Boston University School of Law
Lecturer in Law, Adjunct Faculty member: “Anatomy of a Mass Tort”
- 2013-2016
Guest Lecturer, “Ground Zero Litigation”
- December 4th, 2017; November 18, 2014; November 25, 2013; December 5, 2012
Guest Lecturer, “The Hazardous Impact of Cleaning Up After September 11 – Who Is At Fault?”
- March 19, 2007
Binghamton University
Creator, Organizing Team Leader, TIER Talks series (Talks that Inspire, Educate and Resonate)
- October 18, 2014: “Rethinking Success: Thriving in the Modern World” series
- October 10, 2015: “Making Waves: Mind-Blowing Breakthroughs in Neuroscience”
- September 24, 2016: Our Political System On Life Support
- October 7, 2017: Virtual and Augmented Reality: The Future is Now!
- October 6, 2018: The Heat is On: Exploring the Effects of Climate Change
Guest Speaker, Creativity & Innovation class, and Leadership class, School of Management
- October 2, 2014
Alumni Speaker, College in the Woods Commencement Ceremony (Residential College)
- May 6, 2014; May 17, 2008
Featured Speaker, Binghamton University Forum, “Ground Zero Dust, Its Mysterious Medical Consequences and the Resulting Epic First Responders Litigation”
- November 14, 2013
Speaker, College in the Woods, 40th Birthday Anniversary
- October 14, 2012
Continuing Legal Education
Moderator, “Mediation and Arbitration: Top 10 Do’s and Don’ts, Westchester County Bar Association, March 11, 2008
Panelist, “Best Practices for Mediation and Settlement”, New York State Trial Lawyers Institute, February 28, 2017
Speaker, “Ground Zero Dust, Its Mysterious Medical Consequences and the Resulting Epic First Responders Litigation,” Pace University Law School, February 25, 2014
Moderator, “Mediation & Arbitration: Top 10 Do’s and Don’ts,” Westchester County Bar Association, March 11, 2008
Speaker, “Trial Prep For A Personal Injury Case: 10 Mandatory Tasks For Plaintiff And Defense Litigators,” Westchester County Bar Association, April 11, 2007
Organizer and Speaker, “Who Wants to be a M(B)illionaire? Starting, Managing and Building Your Own Westchester Law Firm,” Pace University Law School, February, 28, 2007
Speaker, “Workers Compensation/Negligence Interplay,” Westchester County Bar Association, December 19, 2006
Organizer and Moderator, “The Top 10 Differences between State Court and Federal Court Practice for the Civil Litigator,” Westchester County Bar Association, November 28, 2006
Moderator, New York State Trial Lawyers Institute
- “Decisions Westchester County,” October 21, 2005; October 4, 2002; October 5, 2001
Speaker, New York State Trial Lawyers Institute
- “Decisions NYC,” September 30, 2005; October 15, 2004; October 3, 2003; September 15, 2000; September 18, 1999;
- “Decisions Westchester,” October 29, 2004; October 27, 2000; September 24, 1999
- “Decisions Long Island,” October 19, 2004
- “Trial Preparation Secrets,” January 12, 2000
- “Preparation of Auto Premises Liability Cases,” February 6, 1999
Organizer, Moderator and Speaker, “From The Top And From The Trenches: Does The Civil Jury System Still Work?,” Westchester County Bar Association, March 24, 2004
Organizer, “Ethics: Setting Up A Conflict Of Interest System In Your Office,” Westchester County Bar Association, June 23, 2004
Organizer and Moderator, “Hot from the Judges: ‘Evidentiary Bloopers As Seen By The Gatekeepers,’” Westchester County Bar Association, October 22, 2003
Speaker, “Aiding Victims of the World Trade Center Disaster,” Pace University Law School, January 16, 2002
Organizer, New York State Trial Lawyers Institute
- “Technology And Law Office Management,” November 10, 1999
- “Motion Practice Do’s and Don’ts,” June 17, 1999
- “How to Handle it: Ethical Dilemmas for Litigators,” April 15, 1999
National Television
20/20 ABC News, “Cell phones in Automobiles- Unsafe Ergonomic Design,” March 10, 1997
CNN Headline News, “Unsafe Rollerblade Design,” December 11, 1994
Local Television
WBNG TV, Channel 12 Binghamton NY, “Binghamton Alumni Fights for 9/11 Responders,” November 14, 2013
WIVT TV, News Channel 34, Binghamton NY, “B.U. Alumni Shares Ground Zero Litigation Experience,” November 20, 2013
News 12 Westchester, NY, “Ground Zero Settlement,” November 19, 2010
News 12, Westchester, NY, “Camp Safety,” June 5, 2000
Cell phones in Automobiles- Unsafe Ergonomic Design,” August 1, 1995
- WNYW TV, Fox News; WPIX TV, Channel 11; NY1 News; WBIS TV, S+ News
“Unsafe Rollerblade Design,” December 11, 1994
- WNYW TV, Fox News; WCBS TV, Channel 2; WOR TV, Channel 9; NY1 News
News
Binghamton University Website
- “First Responders’ Lawyer Speaks at University Forum,” November 1, 2013
- “CIW Alumni Celebrate Community’s 40th Anniversary,” October 14, 2012
Binghamton University Magazine, “Fighting for First-Responders: Lawyer Helps 10,000 Made Ill by 9/11 Clean-Up,” Summer 2013
The Record (Boston University School of Law Alumni Magazine), “After the Dust Settled at Ground Zero,” Fall 2012
New York Post
- “Judge Tosses 9/11 Lawyers’ Interest Fees,” August 28, 2010
- “9/11 Sickest Score $1.8M,” June 23, 2010
- “City Qualms Turned Aside in 9/11 Cases,” September 17, 2008
Daily News, “More Cash on Table for 9/11 Sick in New Plan,” June 23, 2010
New York Times
- “Judge Rejects $6.1 Million in 9/11 Case Legal Fees,” August 27, 2010
- “Wide Range of Payments is Outlines in Ground Zero Suit,” June 23, 2010
- “City Questions 9/11 Workers Claims of Illness,” June 25, 2008
The Journal News
- “Sickened By 9/11,” October 3, 2013
- “9/11 Crews Agree to Settle Suit for $625M,” November 20, 2010
- “First Legionnaires’ Lawsuit Filed against Sound Shore,” July 28, 2005
- “Hospital Sued in Wrong Baby’s Burial,” June 16, 2005
In re World Trade Center Disaster Site Litigation, 521 F.3d 169, (2008). On the brief.
In re World Trade Center Disaster Site Litigation, 456 F.Supp.2d 520, S.D.N.Y., (2006). On the brief.
“New Rules for Objections and Communications During Depositions,” Westchester County Bar Association Journal (2006)
“When Is Notice of Facts Notice of a Claim? The Late Notice of Claim Standard Under GML 50-e,”
Groner, William H. and J. Raymond Mechmann, Westchester County Bar Association
Journal 32 .1 (2005)
Premises Liability Chapter, Groner, John Raymond Mechmann Jr., Co-Author 2004-2005 New York State
Trial Lawyers Institute, Annual Decisions Program 2005; 2004; 2003; 2002; 2001; 2000; 1999
“Federal Jurisdiction Over Lawsuits Involving Toxic Exposure at Ground Zero,” Groner, William H. and
J. Raymond Mechmann, Westchester Bar Association Journal 21.2 (2004)
“Recent trends in Premises Liability for Maintenance Contractors,” Groner, William H. and J. Raymond Mechmann, Westchester County Bar Association Journal, 31.1 (2004)
Education
Boston University School of Law, J.D., 1980
- Student Commencement Speaker- May 18,1980
- Permanent Class President- Class of 1980
- Student Body President 1979-1980
- Sylvia Beineke Robinson Award-1980: “For Significant Contribution to Life at the School of Law”
Binghamton University, Bachelor of Arts, May 1977
Organizations/Awards
Binghamton University Alumni Association
- Board of Directors (2013- 2019)
New York State Trial Lawyers Association
- Board of Directors (1990-2006)
- President/Founder of Westchester Chapter (1998-2006)
Westchester County Bar Association
- Executive Committee (2005-2008)
- Board of Directors (2004-2009)
- Co-Chair, Trial Committee (2003-2011)
- Chair Membership Committee (2004-2006)
New York “Super Lawyers” list, 2009-present
American Trial Lawyers Association “Top 100 Trial Lawyers– New York” list, 2009
National Trial Lawyers “Top 100 Lawyers” list, 2008-2015
Million Dollar Advocates Forum: Member
Admissions
- 1981, New York State Courts
- 1981, U.S. District Court, Southern and Eastern Districts of New York
