Joe has extensive litigation, corporate and commercial experience acquired during his more than 30 year legal career.
Joe graduated New York Law School in 1987, after having previously graduated St Lawrence University in 1982 and Ohio State University in 1984. Joe was admitted to practice law in New York in 1988 and is admitted to practice before the U.S. District Courts for the Southern, Eastern, Northern and Western Districts of New York. He is a member of the American Collectors Association, the National Creditor Bar Association, the Healthcare Financial Management Association, the New York State Bar Association and the Sullivan County Bar Association.
Joe began his legal career as an associate at Gordon & Silber, New York, New York. Later he joined Dubois Billig Loughlin Conaty and Weisman, Rock Hill, New York, where he handled medical and dental malpractice claims and general liability claims involving property owners, health club operators, contractors, and other business owners from the pleading phase through trial.
After 18 years representing professional and general liability insureds on behalf of property and casualty companies Joe became the Managing Attorney of a large property casualty insurance company in-house law firm which employed 40 attorneys in five locations throughout New York and Florida. Subsequently he served as the Chief Claims Officer of the insurance holding company and directed the claims divisions responsible for medical malpractice, general liability, surety and bad faith claims. He also served as Corporate Secretary and Executive Vice President for the public holding company as well as its insurance company subsidiaries.
From 2003 – 2006 Joe acted as the Administrative Attorney for M.L. Zager, P.C., a consumer and commercial collection law firm, being responsible for human resources and compliance. Joe is now the President and primary shareholder of ML Zager, P.C., which focuses on consumer and commercial collections, corporate litigation and real estate.
Joe is a member of the Board of Directors of the Greater Hudson Valley Health System and the past Chairman of the Board of the Directors of the Catskill Regional Medical Center. He also served as a member of the Board of Directors of the YMCA of Middletown.
Joe and his wife, Suzy, were married in 1986 and reside in Rock Hill, NY. They have two children, Juliette (who is married to Rob) and Trevor.