Biography
Alfred Sargente is a seasoned litigator who focuses his practice primarily on toxic tort and environmental litigation, product liability, commercial litigation, and general liability matters. Additionally, he has significant trial experience defending personal injury actions arising out of motor vehicle and transportation accidents, and other premises liability matters. He currently oversees hundreds of asbestos cases on the New York City Asbestos Litigation docket for one of the firm’s largest clients.
Prior to entering the legal profession, Alfred worked for ten years as an environmental and occupational health and safety specialist. In that capacity, he was involved in developing and implementing policies and procedures to protect employees, the public, and the environment from a multitude of toxic substances and hazardous conditions. Alfred was also a certified asbestos supervisor and investigator, and was involved in the monitoring and oversight of the largest asbestos abatement program in the history of New York City.
Professional Expertise
Toxic Tort and Environmental Litigation
Alfred has represented manufacturers of various asbestos-containing products and equipment in both the state and federal courts of New York and New Jersey. Additionally, he has defended claims alleging exposure to asbestos, lead, World Trade Center dust, and other toxic substances.
Product Liability
Alfred has substantial experience defending product liability claims involving allegedly defective lawn mowers, gas vapor detectors, boilers, pumps, valves and water flow control equipment. He has won summary judgment on behalf of his clients in a number of cases involving such claims.
Commercial Litigation
Alfred has defended commercial litigation cases involving asbestos claims, lender liability, condominium design/construction defects, environmental liability claims, commercial real estate contracts, commercial equipment leases, factoring agreements and product distribution agreements. In one such case, Alfred won summary judgment on behalf of a hospital clinic management company in a multimillion-dollar breach of contract action.
Insurance Defense
Alfred has successfully litigated a wide range of personal injury and property damage cases on behalf of insurers and insureds including automobile/trucking accidents, premises liability, and construction site accidents. In one high value case, Alfred won a defense verdict in federal court in a case involving a multi-vehicle truck accident.
Education
- New York Law School (J.D., 1994)
- Articles Editor, New York Law School Law Review
- ALI-ABA Environmental Law Scholarship
- City University of New York: Hunter College (M.S., 1990)
- Degree in Environmental Health Science
- SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (B.S., 1980)
Bar Admissions
Courts
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York
- U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York
- U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey
Professional Affiliations
- New York State Bar Association
- Environmental & Energy Law Section
- Executive Committee, House of Delegates
- PFAS Committee
- Environmental & Energy Law Section
- DRI
- Toxic Tort & Environmental Law Committee
Certifications
- Certified Litigation Management Professional (CLMP), Litigation Management Institute at Loyola University Chicago School of Law (2019)