James T. Scime

James T. Scime is widely recognized as one of the region’s most skilled and respected attorneys. He practices in the areas of personal injury, construction accidents, products liability, medical malpractice, and automobile accidents. He devotes the majority of his time to trial and litigation matters.

Mr. Scime is widely respected among his peers for his trial and negotiating skills. Many local attorneys refer matters to him when their clients have sustained serious injuries. Over the course of his career, Mr. Scime has helped thousands of people recover financial awards for injuries they have sustained.

Mr. Scime serves as a member of the firm’s Management Committee.

Speaking Engagements

•Adjunct Professor at State University of New York at Buffalo School of Law

Results

•$25,000,000 A local driver who was severely injured when a liquid nitrogen tank he was delivering ruptured, received a structured settlement for his injuries
•$21,000,000 A young girl who received a structured settlement for injuries she sustained in an automobile accident
•$19,000,000 A young man who received a structured settlement for injuries resulting from a motorcycle accident
•$10,000,000 A woman who received a structured settlement as a result of injuries she sustained in an automobile accident
•$2,200,000 A 32-year-old construction worker whose case Mr. Scime tried and was awarded a verdict for non-surgical back injuries he sustained when the scaffolding he was on collapsed
•$1,600,000 An operating engineer who received for leg injuries he sustained when he was struck by a piece of steel during the repair of a bridge
•$1,400,000 A Niagara County laborer who settled his claim for injuries to his back he received when he fell on a construction site
•$1,000,000 A drywall worker who received an arbitration award for injuries to his knee resulting from a fall off dry wall stilts.

Awards and Recognitions

The Best Lawyers in America
Named to Best Lawyers in America from 2005 to 2026; recognized for Personal Injury Litigation-Plaintiffs, Product Liability Litigation-Plaintiffs, Medical Malpractice Law-Plaintiffs, Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions-Plaintiffs, and Commercial Litigation

American College of Trial Lawyers
Named a fellow in the American College of Trial Lawyers; fellowship is extended only by invitation, and membership never exceeds one percent of the total population of lawyers in a particular state

Best Lawyers “Lawyer of the Year” 2025

Named Best Lawyers’ 2025 Buffalo Product Liability Litigation-Plaintiffs “Lawyer of the Year”

Best Lawyers “Lawyer of the Year” 2017
Named “Lawyer of the Year” in Buffalo for Personal Injury Litigation-Plaintiffs by Best Lawyers in America

Best Lawyers “Lawyer of the Year” 2012
Named “Lawyer of the Year” in Buffalo for Personal Injury Litigation-Plaintiffs by Best Lawyers in America

America’s Top 100 Attorneys: Lifetime Achievement Membership
One of 100 attorneys in New York State selected based on professional experience, case results, peer reputation, community impact, and lifetime achievement

Who’s Who in Law
Named to the final 2012 issue of Business First/Buffalo Law Journal’s “Who’s Who in Law”

AV Rated by Martindale-Hubbell
The highest peer rating standard. This rating signifies that a large number of the lawyer’s peers rank him or her at the highest level of professional excellence for their legal knowledge, communication skills and ethical standards.

Super Lawyers Top 10
Among the Top 10 attorneys named to Upstate New York Super Lawyers from 2007 to 2024; no more than 5 percent of attorneys in any state are named to this publication. Lawyers who receive the highest point totals among those selected to Super Lawyers are recognized in Upstate New York Super Lawyers “Top Lists.” Super Lawyers refers to their “Top Lists” as the “best of the best.”

Best Lawyers “Lawyer of the Year” 2020
Named Best Lawyers’ 2020 Buffalo Product Liability Litigation-Plaintiffs “Lawyer of the Year”

Best Lawyers “Lawyer of the Year” 2018
Named “Lawyer of the Year” in Buffalo for Product Liability Litigation-Plaintiffs by Best Lawyers in America

Best Lawyers “Lawyer of the Year” 2015
Named “Lawyer of the Year” in Buffalo for Product Liability Litigation-Plaintiffs by Best Lawyers in America

Legal Elite of Western New York
Named to Business First/Buffalo Law Journal‘s Legal Elite of Western New York

In the News

Reporters seek commentary from Mr. Scime on a range of personal injury topics. Click on the links below for recent examples.

•“Product Liability Cases, ” Buffalo Law Journal
•“Personal Injury Attorneys Offer Personal Touch, ” Buffalo Law Journal
•“Car-Accident App a Sign of the Times, ” Buffalo Law Journal