The CSI Effect: Using DNA to Defeat Jurors' Inflated Expectations

Florina Altshiler is a litigation attorney specializing in labor law and premise liability matters. Her practice also includes medical malpractice and general negligence law. Previously, Ms. Altshiler worked as an Assistant District Attorney for the State of Alaska where she handled the prosecution of the highest-level felonies including homicides, sexual assaults and violent felonies through jury trial. She has prosecuted over twenty cases through jury verdict. Prior to working as a prosecutor, Ms. Altshiler honed her litigation skills at nationally recognized law firms in New York City for seven years. She has significant experience in the areas of complex medical malpractice, premises liability and construction accident litigation. 

Ms. Altshiler is the managing attorney for the firm’s Buffalo, NY office.

 Education:

• J.D. from St. John’s University School of Law, 2005
• International Studies Certificate from Binghamton University, 2003
• B.A. in Psychology from Binghamton University, 2002

 Experience:

• Practicing attorney for over 10 years
• Litigated cases at the State and Federal level through trial and appeal
• Over 20 trials through jury verdict as first chair
• Arbitrator, Civil Court of the City of New York
• Instructor of Trial Advocacy at Columbia University in the City of New York
• Adjunct Professor of Trial Advocacy (criminal and civil) at St. John’s School of Law
• Mock Trial Coach, Anchorage High School

 Admissions:

• New York State, 2006
• New Jersey State, 2005
• Alaska State, 2013
• United States District Courts of the Southern, Eastern and Western Districts of New York

Honors:

• Alaska State Legislature Citation
• Dr. Thomas C. Beneventano Award for Legal Medicine
• Rosenberg Scholar, St. John’s School of Law
• Institutional Merit Scholar, St. John’s School of Law
• 2004 CALI Excellence for the Future Award in Criminal Trial Advocacy
• U.S. President’s Student Service Award for Outstanding Service to America
• United Hospital Fund’s Student Achievement Award
• Rosefsky Language and Culture Scholar, Binghamton University
• Semi-Finalist, Intel National Science Talent Search
• Salomon Smith Barney Quality of Life Research Competition
• New York City Hall Commendation for Research

Presentations:

• Erie County Bar Association CLE Presenter: Pre-Litigation Statements Qualified Privilege or Defamation? April, 2015
• Erie County Bar Association CLE Presenter: Intensive (two-day) Trial College, anticipated October, 2015
• WGRZ-TV: Civil Trial Analysis of the Corasanti trial
• Contributing writer in Law and Policy to The Public