Attorney Lauren P. Raysor is calling on Miriam Rocah, District Attorney, Westchester County, to release the results of its investigation into a hit-and-run accident that sent a 72-year-old woman to the hospital. She says that it has been nearly three months since the incident occurred and Ms. Rocah’s office has yet to disclose its findings in the case.

On October 19, 2021 at 5:19 p.m., Geraldine Sinceno was hit by a car, driven by 25-year-old Gillian Getlan, on North Avenue and 5^th Avenue in New Rochelle. Ms. Sinceno suffered multiple injuries and was admitted to the trauma unit at Jacobi Hospital. She underwent surgery and is currently recovering in a nursing facility.

Defendant Getlan was only issued a summons, but not arrested, for failing to show a driver’s license and insurance and leaving the scene of an accident. She was only given a desk appearance ticket. On December 9, 2021, she was arraigned at New Rochelle City Court. She pled not guilty to an upgraded charge of leaving the scene of an accident and causing injury — a felony — and was released on her own recognizance. She is scheduled to return to court on Friday, January 14 at 9:30 a.m.

Ms. Raysor and members of the community recently met with Daniel Flecha, Assistant District Attorney, Westchester County DA’s Office, to discuss the progress being made in the investigation. “We had more questions than answers,” said Ms. Raysor.

They were joined telephonically by Rev. Dr. James A. Forbes, Jr. and Rev. Dr. Debra Northern, Pastors, Parish Care – The Riverside Church of New York City — two concerned members of the community. “If attorney Raysor were not raising certain issues, it would have been lost in the proceedings for justice to be served,” Rev. Dr. Forbes said.

Attorney Raysor says that Ms. Sinceno is still suffering from her injuries and felt that Defendant Getlan treated her like “trash.”

“More importantly, we believe that, if Defendant Getlan were drunk or under the influence of drugs, the charges would have been more serious,” Ms. Raysor said. “However, no drug or alcohol test was taken. We want full transparency. The public has the right to know.”

For more information, call (914) 733-8080 or visit www.laurenpraysor.com.

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About Lauren P. Raysor

Lauren P. Raysor is an attorney concentrating in personal injury, civil rights, bankruptcy, matrimonial and family law. She has litigated numerous cases over the years, taking more than 35 cases to verdict and has argued before the Appellate Division in the case of Makeda Barnes Joseph v. Universal Music Group. She served as Corporation Counsel for the City of Mount Vernon, where she was in charge of the city’s Law Department. Ms. Raysor is currently outside counsel for the New York State Dormitory Authority, and served as the Assistant Attorney General in charge of the Upper Manhattan Region, outside counsel to the Upper Manhattan Empowerment Zone and counsel at a Wall Street law firm.

Reminds Them That January is International Child-Centered Divorce Month

Attorney Lauren P. Raysor is asking parents who are getting, or planning to get, a divorce to prioritize their children’s emotional and psychological health, as they are also affected by this difficult life event and that the month of January is International Child-Centered Divorce Month.

International Child-Centered Divorce Month is an annual designation set during the month of January which alerts parents of the effects that divorce has on their children and how they can eliminate the emotional and psychological toll of divorce, while and after it happens.

Studies from the U.S. National Library of Medicine of the National Institutes of Health have shown that children of divorce are more likely to develop mental and physical illnesses, drop out of school, become incarcerated and commit suicide. Further, less than half of children will still live with their biological parents by the time they turn 17, according to the American Community Survey.

Ms. Raysor says most divorces occur in January, after the holidays end. “Both parents try to keep the family together when the holidays come around,” she says. “They try to keep a united front for the sake of the children, but it becomes too great so, when the holidays are over, that is when the marriage is over, too.”

The process of getting a divorce can be stressful for adults, Ms. Raysor says, but parents should take their children’s feelings into account as well. “It is important for the child’s health and wellbeing that the parents engage in counseling and in healthy communication with one another,” she says. “Children can be emotionally and psychologically scarred from divorces that become acrimonious.”

For more information, call (914) 733-8080 or visit www.laurenpraysor.com.

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About Lauren P. Raysor

Lauren P. Raysor is an attorney concentrating in personal injury, civil rights, bankruptcy, matrimonial and family law. She has litigated numerous cases over the years, taking more than 35 cases to verdict and has argued before the Appellate Division in the case of Makeda Barnes Joseph v. Universal Music Group. She served as Corporation Counsel for the City of Mount Vernon, where she was in charge of the city’s Law Department. Ms. Raysor is currently outside counsel for the New York State Dormitory Authority, and served as the Assistant Attorney General in charge of the Upper Manhattan Region, outside counsel to the Upper Manhattan Empowerment Zone and counsel at a Wall Street law firm.

Driver Only Received a Desk Appearance Ticket

Attorney Lauren P. Raysor is calling on Miriam E. Rocah, District Attorney, Westchester County, to investigate a hit-and-run accident that sent a 72-year-old woman to the hospital. A woman and two other drivers chased 25-year-old Gillian Getlan and blocked her in to prevent her from leaving. The police arrived and the driver was apprehended, but not arrested.

“Over 40 days have passed by, and we are hoping that this case can now be thoroughly investigated,” Ms. Raysor said. “Likened to the Ahmaud Arbery case, we are seeking to determine if there has been political favoritism and obstruction of justice which delayed the swift prosecution of this matter. If there are any conflicts of interest that emerge, then a Special Prosecutor must be appointed by New York Governor Kathy Hochul.”

On October 19, 2021 at 5:19 p.m., Geraldine Sinceno, a retired hospice nurse, was hit by a car on North Avenue and 5^th Avenue in New Rochelle. She suffered multiple injuries and was admitted to the trauma unit at Jacobi Hospital. Ms. Sinceno underwent surgery and is currently recovering in a nursing facility.

Ms. Getlan should have been arrested, but was only issued a summons for failing to show a driver’s license and insurance and leaving the scene of an accident. She was only given a desk appearance ticket. She is scheduled to appear at New Rochelle City Court, 475 North Avenue, New Rochelle on December 9, 2021.

In New York State, leaving the scene of an accident that results in bodily injury is a Class E felony with a maximum penalty of seven years in jail, and a $5,000 fine.

“The Sinceno family believes they have been treated unfairly in this investigation,” Ms. Raysor said. “I have called on Miriam Rocah, the Westchester District Attorney, to investigate this case. We believe that Gillian Getlan should be arrested.”

Ms. Raysor pointed out that Ms. Sinceno has been a pillar of the community, serving as a registered nurse for more than 20 years. “She worked very hard caring for those who were seriously ill or dying, even when the COVID-19 pandemic occurred,” she said. “It is only right that she and her family get the justice that they deserve. The family asks that you appear in Court on December 9, 2021 to support Geraldine Sinceno.”

For more information, call (914) 733-8080 or visit www.laurenpraysor.com.

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About Lauren P. Raysor

Lauren P. Raysor is an attorney concentrating in personal injury, civil rights, bankruptcy, matrimonial and family law. She has litigated numerous cases over the years, taking more than 35 cases to verdict and has argued before the Appellate Division in the case of Makeda Barnes Joseph v. Universal Music Group. She served as Corporation Counsel for the City of Mount Vernon, where she was in charge of the city’s Law Department. Ms. Raysor is currently outside counsel for the New York State Dormitory Authority, and served as the Assistant Attorney General in charge of the Upper Manhattan Region, outside counsel to the Upper Manhattan Empowerment Zone and counsel at a Wall Street law firm.

MOUNT VERNON, NEW YORK — Attorney Lauren P. Raysor said she agreed with the jury’s guilty verdicts of three men who were responsible for the shooting death of Ahmaud Arbery on February 23, 2020, but added that more needs to be done to make sure the justice system is fairer for persons of color.

On November 24, a Georgia State Court jury found Travis McMichael guilty of malice murder, four counts of felony murder, two counts of aggravated assault, one count of false imprisonment and one count of criminal attempt to commit a felony; Gregory McMichael guilty of four counts of felony murder, two counts of aggravated assault, one count of false imprisonment and one count of criminal attempt to commit a felony; and William “Roddie” Bryan guilty of three counts of felony murder, and one count each of aggravated assault, false imprisonment and criminal attempt to commit a felony. Each defendant could face life in prison.

“Today’s verdict shows that justice prevailed,” Ms. Raysor said. “However, the justice system still needs to do a better job representing Blacks who have been killed in cold blood because of the color of their skin. We hope that we can achieve a fairer system in the near future.”

For more information, call (914) 733-8080 or visit www.laurenpraysor.com.

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About Lauren P. Raysor

Lauren P. Raysor is an attorney concentrating in personal injury, civil rights, bankruptcy, matrimonial and family law. She has litigated numerous cases over the years, taking more than 35 cases to verdict and has argued before the Appellate Division in the case of Makeda Barnes Joseph v. Universal Music Group. She served as Corporation Counsel for the City of Mount Vernon, where she was in charge of the city’s Law Department. Ms. Raysor is currently outside counsel for the New York State Dormitory Authority, and served as the Assistant Attorney General in charge of the Upper Manhattan Region, outside counsel to the Upper Manhattan Empowerment Zone and counsel at a Wall Street law firm.