About Us

In New York and New Jersey

Founded in 1987, the law firm of Trief & Olk has tried numerous complex judge and jury trials in federal and state courts, and successfully continued representation through the appellate courts when necessary.

There is probably no greater endorsement of the caliber of Trief & Olk's skills than the fact that law firms throughout New York and New Jersey not only refer cases to the firm, but actually hire Trief & Olk when they need a lawyer themselves.

Our reputation in legal circles is such that it is not uncommon for adversaries of Trief & Olk to recommend our firm. On occasion, our adversaries on prior cases have even hired us to represent them.

Birth Injuries

We are highly knowledgeable about Brachial Plexus Injuries, Erb's Palsy, Shoulder Dystocia and the complications and quality of life issues that accompany these birth injuries.

We are also very caring attorneys. Although we are known for our litigation expertise, the in-depth analysis we give all our cases, and the level of time, energy, and due diligence we invest from the very beginning of each and every case, we are also known for the level of care and personal service we give each and every client.

About Our Attorneys

Trief & Olk takes a team approach to every case we accept. Every client has at least two – and sometimes more – attorneys staffing the case. Associates are never given responsibility for a case without the involvement of a partner. Our lawyer-to-case ratio is extremely high, thus assuring the degree of personal attention and thoroughness for which our firm is known.

Our attorneys are experienced litigators that have achieved consistently impressive results in New York and New Jersey. The Trief & Olk attorneys are:

• Ted Trief, JD 1976
• Barbara E. Olk, JD (Of Counsel) 1976
• Jordan Rutsky, JD 2004
• Matthew Wojtkowiak, JD (Of Counsel) 1996
• Stan Gutgarts

Ted Trief

Ted Trief received his J.D. from Rutgers University Law School, graduating with honors in 1976. He received his B.A. in 1973 from State University of New York at New Paltz. He is a former Assistant D.A.

Practicing law since 1976, Mr. Trief is a member of the American Trial Lawyers Association President's Club, the NY State Trial Lawyers Association, the Association of the Bar of the City of New York and its Committee on Mass Disasters Planning.

He was admitted to the Bar in Massachusetts and New York in January, 1977 and in New Jersey in November, 2000, and is certified to practice before these U.S. District Courts: USDC/SDNY; USDC/EDNY; USDC/NDNY; USDC/NJ; as well as the United States Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit and the United States Supreme Court.

Barbara E. Olk (Of Counsel)

Barbara Olk graduated from New York University Law School with a J.D. degree in June of 1976.

Ms. Olk completed her B.A. degree in English and Political Science at the University of Rochester in 1973, where she was a member of Phi Beta Kappa.

Admitted to the Massachusetts and New York Bars in 1977, Ms. Olk is a member of the Association of the Bar of the City of New York, and is admitted to practice before these U.S. District Courts: USDC/SDNY; USDC/EDNY; USDC/NDNY, and before the United States Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit; and the United States Supreme Court.

Jordan Rutsky

Jordan Rutsky received his J.D. from Fordham University School of Law in 2004. He received his B.S. and B.A. in the fields of Business Finance and Political Science, respectively, in 2001 from the State University of New York at Buffalo, where he graduated with honors and the President's Disparate Majors Award. Mr. Rutsky is admitted to practice law in New York and New Jersey and is certified to practice in several federal courts, including the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York, and the District Court of New Jersey. Mr. Rutsky is also a member of the New York State Trial Lawyers Association.

Matthew Wojtkowiak, JD (Of Counsel) 1996

Matthew Wojtkowiak received his J.D. degree in 1996, with honors, from Case Western Reserve University Law School, where he served on the Law Review and the Journal of International Law. He received his B.A. in 1992 from the University of Toledo.

Mr. Wojtkowiak has practiced law for over 15 years, and has represented clients at trials and pretrial proceedings in several states. He is a member of the Brooklyn Bar Association and the Association of the Bar of the City of New York. He was admitted to the New York Bar in January, 1997, and is certified to practice before these U.S. District Courts: USDC/SDNY; USDC/EDNY; and USDC/NDNY.

Stan Gutgarts

Stan Gutgarts received his J.D. from Fordham University School of Law in 2011, where he was a Ruth Whitehead Whaley Scholar and the recipient of a full-tuition scholarship.  In 2008, he graduated magna cum laude with a B.A. in Political Science and History from Rutgers University, where he was a member of Phi Beta Kappa.  Mr. Gutgarts is admitted to practice law in New Jersey and is currently awaiting admission to the New York State Bar.

If your child was injured during birth, please feel free to call or e-mail the Shoulder Dystocia lawyers and Erb's Palsy attorneys at Trief & Olk. We may be able to help you get the compensation and justice you and your baby deserve. Trief & Olk is proud to serve the New York and New Jersey area.