William H. Groner (Bill)
William H. Groner (Bill) is involved in many projects that at their core share a deep interest in how individuals can be their best selves and society can achieve its best harmony.
Bill was a trial lawyer for more than three decades, notably representing over 10,000 Ground Zero responders after their toxic dust exposure while cleaning up the site post-9/11. The near decade-long lawsuit, labeled ‘the most complex mass tort in history’ gave Bill a singular and unparalleled window into humanity’s selflessness in times of need, and positivity despite peril.
After retiring from the law, Bill founded a mediation company with values focused on turning the negativity of litigation into the positivity of resolution. By employing the critical traits of trust, empathy, respect, and communication SSAM ADR helps adverse parties find common ground.
Utilizing the myriad of lessons learned from his Ground Zero responder clients, Bill speaks regularly about how society can find better harmony by emphasizing We instead of Me, and by adopting the skills and traits he has witnessed comprising human contentment and happiness.
He is extensively involved in adapting depolarization workshops and other curricula for various educational institutions, giving students the best skills possible to navigate the complexities inherent in today’s society.
BOSTON UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW
2021 Shapiro Lecture (awarded annually): “A Lawyer’s Success Paradox from representing 10,000 Ground Zero Responders and Consequent Reflections”
Lecturer in Law, Adjunct Faculty member: “Anatomy of a Mass Tort”
- 2013-2016
Guest Lecturer, “Ground Zero Litigation”
- December 4, 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
THE TAFT SCHOOL
- Commencement Speaker, May 29, 2022
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, “Navigating Settlement Obstacles: How Neutrals Lead Litigation Warriors to Success”
- Queens County Bar Association, June 23, 2022
- AIG In-house Counsel, April 26, 2022
- 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
TEDX TALK
- 9/12: From Me to We
RADIO/PODCASTS
- ABA Journal Modern Law Library Podcast: October 30, 2019
- Legal Talk Network: October 30, 2019
- Sirius XM- POTUS channel
- NPR
- Chip Franklin Show
- WBAP News Talk
- WOCA New Talk
- The Jim Bohannin Show
- KMOX Overnight America
- Ross Kaminsky Show, Denver
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
- Co-Author: 9/12: The Epic Battle of the Ground Zero Responders (Potomac Books 2019) (currently in development with Sony Pictures Television for TV limited series)
- 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 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 Achievement Award (2019)
- Binghamton University Alumni Association
- Board of Directors (2013- 2018)
- 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, 2009-2017
- 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
- Braver Angels (not for profit dedicated to “bridging the partisan divide”): volunteer, organizer, moderator (in training)
ADMISSIONS
- New York State Courts, 1981
- U.S. District Court, Southern and Eastern Districts of New York, 1981