John A. DeGasperis

John A. DeGasperis was born and raised in Kingston, New York. He moved back to Kingston after graduating from law school more than 11 years ago. Not long after, he joined Kingston-based personal injury law firm Basch & Keegan, LLP.

John handles a wide variety of personal injury cases including falls, car accidents, motorcycle accidents, tractor-trailer accidents, wrongful death, medical malpractice, product liability, construction accidents, property loss, and insurance claims.

Over the course of his career, John has handled more than 1,000 personal injury cases and recovered more than $30 million dollars on behalf of past clients. John has considerable trial experience, which causes insurance companies to perceive him as a risk. His trial skills cause many insurance companies to invite him to resolve cases through mediation and arbitration. Given his level of experience and expertise, many of John's clients are referred to him by his colleagues in the legal community, including judges and court clerks.

John has been named one of the National Trial Lawyers: Top 40 Under 40, as well as a Rising Star by SuperLawyers Magazine. In 2018, John was appointed to the Third Judicial Department’s Committee on Character and Fitness, which evaluates applicants for admission to the New York State Bar. Appointment to this committee is given only to those attorneys with exceptional moral character.

John’s passion lies in personal injury law and the journey an attorney takes with a client from the date of the accident through the entire litigating process. Although some may disparage the practice of personal injury law, John believes he can and does bring comfort to individuals and families whose lives have been dramatically altered as a result of an accidental injury or death. John comes into people's lives only after they have lost their good health and are no longer capable of performing at their pre-accident status. He in turn uses the civil justice system to advocate on their behalf and make them whole again. It’s his ability to use the law to make a positive impact in his clients’ lives that fuels John’s passion for his work.

In addition to being committed to his clients, John is also committed to giving back to his community. In 2017, he earned the trust of his fellow bar members who voted for him to serve as President of the Ulster County Bar Association after serving on the board for five years. Currently, John serves on the Ulster County Bar Association’s Committee on Court House Facilities, which consists of a group of lawyers and local judges dedicated to ensuring that courthouse facilities in and throughout Ulster County meet the needs of the community. The committee’s mission became even more important in the wake of COVID-19 since there are, and will continue to be, significant changes to how the public access and use courthouse facilities.

John is most proud of his position on the Ulster Community College Foundation Board. SUNY Ulster holds a special place in John's heart. Years of reflection have caused John to realize that his attendance at SUNY Ulster was life-changing and instrumental in putting him on a path to success. By serving on the board of the Foundation, John feels he is able to give back to an institution that gave him an opportunity for success. He also uses his position to ensure that other students, particularly those facing financial hardship, have access to higher education. John enjoys supporting SUNY Ulster and continues to donate to the Foundation while serving on the board. He and his wife recently sponsored a local high school student as part of the President’s Challenge.

You can see John on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok, sometimes using the alias "The PI Guy," to bring transparency and awareness to the practice of personal injury law. John uses his platforms to educate on the topic he knows well: personal injury law.