James C. Knox
 
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James C. Knox

Partner
518-274-5820
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A love for the courtroom, an intense commitment to excellence and professionalism, and a genuine desire to help those in need have made James C. Knox one of the most sought-after litigators in Albany and throughout New York.

James became a lawyer because he believes that advocacy can change lives. Whether helping an injured client rebuild after a devastating loss, protecting a professional career years in the making, or defending an individual’s liberty and reputation, he understands that the outcome of a case often extends far beyond the courtroom.

James is dedicated to fighting on behalf of those hurt by the actions of the government, law enforcement, and others. Working tirelessly to represent his clients with every resource available to him, delivering the very best legal experience, and never settling for less than the best possible outcome are the rules he lives by. James measures his success in lives restored, livelihoods preserved, freedoms protected, and money recovered for his clients.

James believes clients get the best results when no avenue is left unexplored, which has earned his clients significant victories in complex and high-stakes matters. Working with the accomplished team at Hacker Murphy, he investigates, negotiates and, when necessary, litigates cases through to verdict, always pursuing the best result for each client.

At the heart of James’s practice is litigation. He believes the best results are achieved through exhaustive preparation, aggressive advocacy, and a willingness to take difficult cases all the way to trial when necessary. Although trials are rare, James approaches every case as though it will one day be presented to a jury.  By doing so, James ensures that every angle is explored, and every weakness is challenged. When trial becomes necessary, James and his team enter the courtroom prepared and armed with a proven record of successful verdicts and judgments.

Some of James’s most meaningful successes have come in cases that others viewed as unwinnable. He relishes the challenge of confronting difficult facts, novel legal issues, and formidable opponents. Through creativity, relentless effort, and an unwavering commitment to his clients, he has helped secure justice, protect professional careers, preserve personal freedoms, and obtain substantial recoveries for those who have been wronged.

James and his team possess the imagination to identify opportunities others overlook, the discipline to outwork their adversaries, and the determination to see a case through to its conclusion. Through skill, preparation, and an unwavering commitment to winning, James fights every day to achieve the results his clients deserve.

James has represented thousands of clients over the course of his career. Below are examples of just some of the notable cases in which James has helped a client:

  • Achieved a multi-million dollar settlement on behalf of a client paralyzed during an Albany City police encounter.
  • Secured a $685,000 settlement on behalf of a client injured in his Amsterdam, New York, home by police.
  • Obtained a judgment against the City of Albany in the amount of $125,000 in a case in which a client was held for two hours without a charge.
  • Secured dismissal of indictment alleging felony false instrument charges in Columbia County.
  • Reduced an attempted murder charge to a non-criminal, violation charge, resulting in a sealed record in Schenectady County.
  • Secured a $275,000 settlement on behalf of a client injured in his home by police in Schenectady County.
  • Won an acquittal in Schenectady County Court for a client following a three-week trial on charges of felony assault on a police officer, and pursued a civil rights litigation lawsuit on behalf of the client that subsequently resulted in a six-figure settlement.
  • Successfully defended a doctor’s license to practice, before the New York State Office of Professional Medical Conduct (OPMC).
  • Achieved a $100,000 settlement on behalf of a client who we alleged was wrongly arrested and charged by Colonie Police.
  • Won an acquittal for a client accused of strangulation in Albany County.
  • Achieved complete exoneration of a client by winning a motion that garnered an eve-of-trial dismissal of an indictment charging sexual assault in Albany County.
  • Successfully achieved a six-figure settlement on behalf of a college student assaulted by police.
  • Successfully represented numerous licensed professionals, including nurses and social workers, before the New York State Office of Professional Discipline.
  • Successfully achieved a reversal on appeal for a client who had been wrongly convicted of a felony at trial, resulting in a favorable misdemeanor plea bargain.
  • Won the release at trial of a man who had been civilly confined for over 10 years as a result of a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity.
  • Secured dismissal of grand larceny charges against a client, resulting in sealing of all record of arrest and prosecution, preserving the client’s good name.
  • Successfully avoided a 20-year federal mandatory minimum sentence in drug trafficking cases involving a death, in multiple cases.
  • Successfully won suppression hearing in federal court, getting client’s statement out of case, resulting in an advantageous plea bargain.
  • Successfully demonstrated misconduct of prosecutors, resulting in the disqualification of district attorney.
  • Won dismissal of possession of child pornography charges in state court by demonstrating lack of evidence to link client to illicit download.
  • Achieved reduction of attempted murder charge to a sealed, youthful offender adjudication saving client from having a criminal record.
  • Secured reduction of arson in the first-degree charge to a sealed youthful offender adjudication.
  • Secured exoneration of man charged for giving an obscene gesture to Saratoga Springs City police, and secured $50,000 settlement as a result of him being pepper-sprayed by police during the arrest.
  • Filed federal lawsuits on behalf of two men brutally assaulted by police during unlawful, unwarranted arrests in the City of Albany, resulting in substantial settlements.
  • Juris Doctor, magna cum laude, Lewis & Clark Law School
  • Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy, cum laude, College of Idaho
  • State of New York
  • State of Massachusetts
  • United States District Court, Northern District of New York
  • United States District Court, Southern District of New York
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
  • Capital District Trial Lawyers Association
  • NDNY Federal Court Bar Association
  • New York State Bar Association
  • Albany County Bar Association
  • Saratoga County Bar Association
  • National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers