Mr. Bottar is one of upstate New York's most experienced and accomplished trial lawyers, with a track record of extraordinary recoveries for his clients. As the founder and managing member of Bottar Law, PLLC, he brings more than 40 years of experience to the pursuit of cases involving birth injuries, brain and nerve injuries, amputation, paralysis, and wrongful death due to medical negligence, complex accidents, workplace injuries and defective products.
Mr. Bottar has been continuously listed in The Best Lawyers In America® since 2001, and received its 2020 Medical Malpractice Lawyer of the Year award for Syracuse. Previously, he was recognized three times by Best Lawyers® as Syracuse's Personal Injury Lawyer of the Year (2018, 2014-15, 2009). Mr. Bottar has attained an AV® Preeminent™ rating from Martindale-Hubbell, the highest rating available for legal ability and professional ethics, is a fellow in the Litigation Counsel of America - Trial Lawyer Honorary Society™, and is a charter member and past-president of the New York State Academy of Trial Lawyers (2010-2011).
In 2001, Mr. Bottar was appointed by the New York State Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Fourth Department to serve as a member of the Character and Fitness Committee for the Fifth Judicial District. The Character and Fitness Committee is responsible for screening and interviewing all Central New York applicants who are seeking admission to the Bar. In 2018, Mr. Bottar was also appointed by the Presiding Justice of the New York State Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Fourth Department to serve as a member of the Grievance Committee of the Fifth Judicial District. The Grievance Committee for the Fifth Judicial District is responsible for the investigation, review and prosecution of complaints of attorney misconduct in Onondaga, Oneida, Oswego, Herkimer, Jefferson and Lewis Counties.
Mr. Bottar has been listed in Upstate New York Super Lawyers® for plaintiff's medical malpractice and personal injury since the inaugural edition in 2007, and was named to its "Top 50" list for 2018 and 2019. Since 2011, he has been recognized annually by The National Trial Lawyers as one of the "Top 100" trial lawyers in New York State. He has also been honored by Lawdragon as one of the top 3,000 attorneys in the United States, and has earned life memberships in the Million Dollar Advocates Forum® and the Multi Million Dollar Advocates Forum®.
Mr. Bottar regularly speaks or guest lectures at legal and non-legal functions, including ethics, tort and practice management classes at Syracuse University College of Law, and at annual updates on behalf of the New York State Academy of Trial Lawyers. He is a past member of the Dean's Advisory Council at the University at Buffalo School of Law, a has been elected a Fellow of the New York Bar Foundation.
Mr. Bottar has a long record of public service and is deeply invested in New York State's education system. He served as a Trustee of the North Syracuse Central School District Board of Education from 1988 through 1989, and as the President of the Board from 1989 through 1996. He also served on the Board of Directors of the Onondaga Madison School Boards Association from 1994 through 1996. In 1996, 2001, 2006 and again in 2011, the New York State Legislature elected Mr. Bottar to serve as a Regent of the University of the State of New York, the most comprehensive and unified education system in the nation.
Over his tenure as a Regent, Mr. Bottar was Chair of the College and Career Preparation Work Group, Chair of the P-12 Education Committee, and was a member of the Higher Education and Professional Practice Committees. He was also Vice Chancellor of the Board from 2012-2016. In 2016, after 20 years and more than 10,000 hours of pro bono service to the State of New York, Mr. Bottar retired from the Board.
Mr. Bottar resides in Manlius, New York, with his wife, Nancy, a registered nurse.
Education
University of Rochester (B.A., 1972)
State University of New York at Buffalo (J.D., 1976)
Jurisdictions Admitted To Practice
New York, 1977
United States District Court, Northern District of New York
United States District Court, Western District of New York
United States Court of Federal Claims
United States Supreme Court
Leadership
Character and Fitness Committee (5th Judicial District), New York State Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Fourth Department (2001-present)
Grievance Committee (5th Judicial District), New York State Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Fourth Department (2018-present)
President, New York State Academy of Trial Lawyers (2010-2011)
Honors
Best Lawyers in America® Lawyer of the Year, Syracuse Medical Malpractice (2019)
Best Lawyers in America® Lawyer of the Year, Syracuse Personal Injury (2018)
Best Lawyers in America® Lawyer of the Year, Syracuse Personal Injury (2014-15)
Best Lawyers in America® Lawyer of the Year, Syracuse Personal Injury (2009)
The Best Lawyers in America® (2001-present)
AV® Rated (1983-present)
Fellow, Litigation Counsel of America - Trial Lawyer Honorary Society™
Upstate New York Super Lawyers® (2007-present)
Top 50: Upstate New York Super Lawyers® (2019)
Top 50: Upstate New York Super Lawyers® (2018)
The National Trial Lawyers Top 100 (2011-present)
Lawdragon® "3000" National Finalist
Fellow, Million Dollar Advocates Forum®
Fellow, Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum®
Publications
Author, Coastal Processes and Change: Legal Implications, 1 Sea Grant Law Journal 139 (1976).
In the Community
Vice Chancellor, New York State Board of Regents (2012-2016)
Member, New York State Board of Regents (1996-2016)
Speaking Engagements
Judge Alphabet Soup, A Recipe for Success, NYS Academy of Trial Lawyers CLE (Syracuse 2015)
Annual Legal Update - Precedents & Statutes for Personal Injury Litigators: Discovery, NYS Academy of Trial Lawyers CLE (Syracuse 2015)
Annual Legal Update - Precedents & Statutes for Personal Injury Litigators: Discovery, NYS Academy of Trial Lawyers CLE (Syracuse 2014)
Annual Legal Update - Precedents & Statutes for Personal Injury Litigators: Discovery, NYS State Academy of Trial Lawyers CLE (Syracuse 2013)
Annual Legal Update - Precedents & Statutes for Personal Injury Litigators: Discovery, NYS Academy of Trial Lawyers CLE (Syracuse 2012)
Annual Legal Update - Precedents & Statutes for Personal Injury Litigators: Discovery, NYS State Academy of Trial Lawyers CLE (Syracuse 2011)
Annual Legal Update - Precedents & Statutes for Personal Injury Litigators: Evidence, NYS Academy of Trial Lawyers CLE (Syracuse 2010)
Annual Legal Update - Precedents & Statutes for Personal Injury Litigators: Products Liability, NYS Academy of Trial Lawyers CLE (Syracuse 2009)
Annual Legal Update - Precedents & Statutes for Personal Injury Litigators: Products Liability, NYS Academy of Trial Lawyers CLE (Syracuse 2006)
Personal Injury: Nuts, Bolts and the Tools To Use Them, New Jersey Association for Justice, Boardwalk Seminar CLE (Atlantic City 2010)
ABCs of EBTs, NYS Academy of Trial Lawyers CLE
Experts: From Retention to Trial, NYS State Academy of Trial Lawyers CLE
Prosecuting and Defending Medical Malpractice Claims, NYS State Bar Association CLE
Medicine in the Courtroom, New York State Bar Association CLE
Automobile Insurance Law and Practice, New York State Bar Association CLE
Practical Skills: Basic Civil Practice - The Trial, New York State Bar Association CLE
Keeping Pace: A Guide for the Up-To-Date Litigator, New York State Bar Association CLE
How To Try An Auto Accident Case, New York State Bar Association CLE
Product Liability - Post Daubert, New York State Bar Association CLE
Proving and Defending Damages, New York State Bar Association CLE
Decisions, New York State Trial Lawyers Institute CLE
Legislation and Litigation: The Importance of Ergonomics in Every Workplace,Onondaga County Bar Association CLE
Professional Associations
Charter Member, New York State Academy of Trial Lawyers
Member, Onondaga County Bar Association
Member, New York State Bar Association
Member, American Bar Association
Member, American Association for Justice
Recent Recoveries
$1,750,000.00 medical malpractice (2020)
$1,800,000.00 medical malpractice (2020)
$1,400,000.00 medical malpractice (2019)
$1,950,000.00 medical malpractice (2019)
$4,250,000.00 jobsite accident (2018)
$1,150,000.00 medical malpractice (2018)
$1,500,000.00 medical malpractice (2018)
$3,675,000.00 trucking accident (2017)
$1,500,000.00 medical malpractice (2017)
$2,000,000.00 motor vehicle accident (2016)
$1,900,000.00 medical malpractice (2016)
$2,000,000.00 medical malpractice and product liability (2016)
$2,400,000.00 medical malpractice (2015)
$1,900,000.00 medical malpractice (2015)
$1,500,000.00 medical malpractice (2014)
$2,750,000.00 trucking accident (2013)
$3,500,000.00 medical malpractice (2012)
$6,000,000.00 premises liability (2011)
$1,400,000.00 medical malpractice (2011)
Anthony S. Bottar In The News
State Found 100% Liable for Failure To Diagnose and Treat Meningitis, New York State Court of Claims (December 16, 2011)
Syracuse Medical Malpractice Lawyer Testifies Before New York State Legislature In Opposition To Executive Budget Proposal #131, PRWeb (March 12, 2011)
Syracuse Lawyer Anthony Bottar Re-Elected To State Board of Regents, The Post-Standard (March 8, 2011)
Widow of DWI Victim Files Suit, Fatal 2009 Crash: Unspecified Damages Sought In Man's Death, Injuries To Wife, Son, Watertown Daily Times (March 3, 2011)
Injured Girl's Parents Plan To Sue Town, Lewis County, Watertown Daily Times (September 12, 2010)
BU May Be Liable for Collapse of Scaffolding, The Binghamton Press & Sun Bulletin (June 5, 2010)
Clay Woman Gets $3.25M In Damages, The Post-Strandard (October 2, 2007)
