Samuel P. Hirsch (born c. 1948) is an American lawyer who also held public office.
Early life He was born in a DP camp to Holocaust-survivor parents who came to the United States a year later. In the way of his parents, he is an Orthodox Jew.
His Juris Doctor degree is from New York University School of Law (1972) and his first law position was with Jacob D. Fuchsberg.
Career Elected official In 1977 he won a three-way primary and, after a three-way November election, became a New York State Assemblyman (48th District). His seat had been vacated by Leonard Silverman, who accepted an offered judgeship mid-term.
In 1982 he was challenged by Dov Hikind in the September primary; Hikind received about 500 more votes.
One of the issues for which he represented his community is reverse discrimination. Another was in the matter of more police protection, especially in the aftermath of "the fatal stabbing of an elderly Jewish man in a predawn street robbery."News photos of the day showed Hirsch's head bleeding (and others later showing it bandaged): he charged a police officer for clubbing him, even as "he tried to calm the demonstrators." One protestor died of a heart attack. Mayor Koch came later; NYPD conceded misconduct.
Lawyer In 2002 he filed a Class action lawsuit against McDonald's for alleged deceptive practices that resulted in obesity, particularly among teenagers; it was rejected in a Federal court. The ruling permitted refiling, which he did. It too was rejected.
His "bread and butter" cases are in the area of personal injury.Advertisement by Hirsch
Family He and his wife Ruth are the parents of four children and grandparents of six.
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