Biography:
Judge John C. Cherundolo graduated from Syracuse University Maxwell School in 1970 with a major in political science. He went on to obtain a Masters Degree in Public Administration and a Law Degree from Syracuse University College of Law, Cum Laude, in 1973, and was a member of Justinian Honor Society and Order of the Coif. He subsequently got an LLM in Trial Advocacy from Temple University Law School.
As a three-year letter winner in football at Syracuse University, in 1970 Judge Cherundolo was named as an offensive tackle first team All-East selection and mentioned to several All-American teams. He played in the North-South Shrine All-Star game and the Hula Bowl. He was also named an Academic All-American. He signed with the Cleveland Browns, but decided to go to law school at Syracuse University instead. He is one of three generations of D-1 football players (father, Chuck Cherundolo, was an All- American at Penn State, and son, J.C., played at Georgetown University).
Upon completion of law school, he entered the private practice of law in Syracuse with the law firm of Hancock & Estabrook. In 1983, he and partner, Anthony Bottar, founded Cherundolo, Bottar & Leone, P.C., practicing law to help victims and their families in personal injury litigation in the areas of medical malpractice, product liability, workplace accidents, automobile and aviation matters.
Judge Cherundolo is a Fellow of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers and currently serves at State Co-Chair; he is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers; he is an Adjunct Professor of Law and an honorary member of the Board of Advisors at the Syracuse University College of Law; he is a Fellow of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum and the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum; he has been consistently named in Best Lawyers in America for almost two decades, and Who’s Who in American Law; he is a former State delegate of the American Trial Lawyers Association; he has served as President of the New York State Trial Lawyers Association; he is a former member of the Presidents’ Council of the American Association of Justice; he is a former Dean of the New York Trial Lawyers Institute; he served as the Chair of the Steering Committee of the Alliance of Consumer Rights; he served as State Coordinator for the Trial Lawyers for Public Justice; he is a Fellow of the American Board of Trial Advocates and currently serves as the Central New York Chapters representative to the Board of Directors; he is a founding member of the New York State Academy of Trial Lawyers; he was selected by Governor George Pataki to serve as a New York State Court of Claims Judge, and is currently Acting Supreme Court Judge, sitting in Onondaga County.
As a trial lawyer, Judge Cherundolo has had many of the largest personal injury verdicts and settlements in Upstate New York, and has been involved in personal injury cases throughout the Northeast United States. He is actively involved in many other community activities, committees and foundations.
Judge Cherundolo has been active in many youth sports groups and athletic organizations. He currently sits as a Chair of the Syracuse University Athletic Department Board of Directors, and is a member of the Board of the Syracuse Football Alumni Club.
Judge Cherundolo is one of the profession’s best-known speakers, speaking regularly at New York State Academy conferences and local bar associations’ continuing education legal seminars designed to teach other attorneys about personal injury law, litigation, and trial practice.
Judge Cherundolo makes his home in Syracuse with his wife Betsy, and their three children, Allison, Leanne and J.C.
Law Library
