Samuel P.[1] Hirsch[2][3] (born c. 1948)[4] is an American lawyer who also held public office.
Early life
He was born in a DP camp[5] to Holocaust-survivor parents who came to the United States a year later. In the way of his parents, he is an Orthodox Jew.[1]
In 1977 he won a three-way primary[2] and, after a three-way November election,[6] became a New York State Assemblyman (48th District).[4] His seat had been vacated by Leonard Silverman, who accepted an offered judgeship mid-term.[1]
In 1982 he was challenged by Dov Hikind in the September primary; Hikind received about 500 more votes.[7]
One of the issues for which he represented his community is reverse discrimination.[1] 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."[8][9]
Lawyer
In 2002[10] 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.[5] The ruling permitted refiling, which he did. It too was rejected.[11]
His "bread and butter" cases are in the area of personal injury.[5][12]
Family
He and his wife Ruth are the parents of four children and grandparents of six.[5][1]
^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.
^Advertisement by Hirsch "Samuel HIRSCH: The Attorney Who'll Put His Experience in Your Court - Practice Limited to Accidents, Personal Injury and Malpractice". The Jewish Press. June 2, 1995. p. 26.