Jessica

Burgasser

Concentrating her practice in toxic tort insurance defense, Jessica works extensively with defendants alleged to have sold "asbestos-containing components" and provides experienced legal advice to a wide range of asbestos clients. These include equipment and friction manufacturers and retailers. This work involves coordinating a team of attorneys and paralegals in managing discovery and preparing cases for trial in high volume, document intensive cases. Jessica handles all aspects of non-asbestos litigation including other product liability matters, motor vehicle accidents, premises liability, labor law injuries, coverage litigation, and dog bite claims. Jessica has tried one bench trial to a directed verdict and second chaired two jury trials to verdict. On a more individual level, Jessica works as an Attorney for the Child, and represents parents in custody, visitation, and neglect/abuse cases in Family Court. Over a decade in Family Court has afforded numerous, numerous opportunities for trials.

Jessica reviews each case details individually and tries to identify early cases that could be problematic. She prepares each case for trial, in the event it is necessary, but finds effective and cost-efficient solutions to cases wherever possible. Jessica is always focusing on the details, while keeping the larger goals in mind.

Jessica is a member of the Defense Research Institute (DRI), Association of Defense Trial Attorneys (ADTA),  Niagara and Erie County Bar Associations, the New York State Bar Association, and the Bar Association of the Tonawandas (former President). She is admitted to the State Bar of New York as well as the United States District Court (Western and Northern), and Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of New York. Jessica presented at the DRI Asbestos Medicine Seminar in Las Vegas in November, 2011; New Orleans in November 2013; San Francisco in November 2014; Las Vegas in November 2017; Austin in November 2018 and Boston in November 2019.  Jessica serves as the marketing chair for DRI Asbestos Medicine Seminar. Jessica also serves as the Vice-Marketing Chair for ADTA. She was named a Rising Star Super Lawyer five consecutive years, from 2014-2018 and a Super Lawyer in 2020.

A native of Buffalo, Jessica is a graduate of the Nichols School, Canisius College, and University at Buffalo Law School.  In her spare time, Jessica teaches ballet and has coordinated groups of high school dancers to perform at the Walt Disney World Resort.