Michael H. Doran, attorney, victim of plane crash
May 4, 1957—April 28, 2009
Michael H. Doran of Amherst, a prominent personal- injury attorney who specialized in railroad accidents, died Tuesday when the single-engine plane he was piloting crashed into a wooded area outside Cleveland. He was 51.
Eyewitness accounts, according to published reports, said Mr. Doran directed the plane away from neighboring houses, and he was hailed as a hero.
Born and raised in Buffalo, Mr. Doran graduated from Williamsville North High School, where he was an accomplished springboard diver.
Mr. Doran attended the University at Buffalo, majoring in business administration, and dived in the 1979 Empire State Games. He also attended UB Law School, graduating in 1982, and was admitted to the New York Bar in 1983.
Mr. Doran began his legal career at the firm of Collins, Collins and DiNardo in Buffalo before starting his own practice, Michael Doran and Associates, in 1992.
In 1999, Mr. Doran and attorney Christopher Murphy founded the firm of Doran and Murphy.
Mr. Doran worked on cases involving medical malpractice, construction law, product liability, asbestos litigation, pharmaceutical litigation and railroad law.
Mr. Doran represented railroad workers who suffered traumatic, on-the-job injuries or occupational diseases. On several occasions, he lectured on railroad law to the Association of Trial Lawyers of America and had served as chairman of the organization’s railroad section. Mr. Doran also volunteered his services to help the victims of the 9/11 attacks receive compensation.
Active in community service, Mr. Doran was a member of the board of directors of the Western New York Leukemia Society and a dedicated volunteer with the UB Law School Alumni Association.
In 2008, he participated in the Ride for Roswell, biking 62 miles and raising thousands of dollars for Roswell Park Cancer Institute. He recently was working with Roswell Park to promote a program for early detection of lung cancer in high-risk patients.
Mr. Doran was a sports enthusiast and world traveler, visiting Ireland, Italy, Tahiti, Greece, Switzerland and Mexico. He enjoyed boating, bicycling and in-line skating, was an extreme skier and was the 2008 champion of the Buffalo Croquet and Debating Club.
Mr. Doran’s passion was flying. He was a Federal Aviation Administration-certified pilot, holding a multiengine instrument rating, and had many years of flying experience.
Mr. Doran was a member of St. Benedict Catholic Church, the Erie County and New York bar associations, the New York State Trial Lawyers Association and the American Association for Justice.
He is survived by a daughter, Gabrielle; a son, Garrett; his parents, Robert and Nina; a brother, Thomas; two sisters, Debbie Webber and Susan Mendzef; and his companion, Georgiann Scott.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 10:30 a. m. Tuesday in St. Gregory the Great Catholic Church, 250 St. Gregory Court at Maple Road, Amherst. Prayers will be said at 9:45 in Amigone Funeral Home, 5200 Sheridan Drive, Amherst.
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