GARDEN CITY, NEW YORK —Blodnick Fazio & Associates PC has announced that the firm will merge with Clark’s Laws, PC to form Blodnick Fazio & Clark, PC. Although it is considered a straight partnership, the partners will stay at their current locations. Blodnick Fazio & Associates PC is located at 1325 Franklin Avenue, Suite 555, Garden City, New York. Clark’s Laws, PC is located at 57 West Main Street, Suite 220, in Babylon.
Blodnick Fazio & Associates PC formed in 2010 when Edward K. Blodnick and Thomas R. Fazio combined their individual law practices. The firm concentrates in the areas of business law and commercial transactions; commercial litigation; commercial real estate transactions; estate planning, administration, and litigation; healthcare law; matrimonial law with complex financial issues; and personal injury law.
Formed in 2005, Clark’s Law, PC was formed by James E. Clark, who previously worked as an Associate with a Wall Street law firm before forming his own practice. The firm represents landlords and active real estate investors and homeowners in landlord-tenant matters, commercial and residential real estate transactions, corporate and partnership transactions, litigation and asset protection planning.
“We are proud to join the attorneys at Clark’s Laws, PC in this merger,” said Mr. Fazio. “The two firms complement each other well in the field of real estate law. This partnership will allow us to provide the same high-quality level of service to our clients.”
For more information on Clark’s Laws, PC, call (631) 669-6300 or visit www.clarkslaws.com. For more information on Blodnick Fazio & Associates PC, call (516) 280-7105 or visit www.blodnickfaziolaw.com.
Officers Racially Profiled Him, Falsely Arrested Him for Shoplifting, Then Proceeded to Verbally and Physically Abuse and Assault Him
HEMPSTEAD, NEW YORK — On May 14, 2018, the Federal District Court entered Judgment against the Village of Garden City in favor of Mr. Ronald Lanier. In response, Frederick K. Brewington of The Law Offices of Frederick K. Brewington confirmed that the Village of Garden City and the Garden City Police Department agreed to have a judgment entered against them in the amount of $150,000 to be awarded to Ronald Lanier, a retired Nassau County correction officer and an African-American, who was verbally and physically abused and assaulted by a two Garden City police officers who falsely accused him of theft and them cuffed him and deprived him of his liberty.
In addition to the settlement, the Defendants will have to pay Mr. Lanier’s legal fees. The amount has yet to be determined.
On November 30, 2016, Mr. Lanier was accosted by members of the Garden City Police Department while shopping in the Western Beef Supermarket in Mineola, New York. He was cursed at, aggressively handled, thrown to the ground, abused verbally and subjected to unreasonable and excessive force by Garden City Police who refused to believe that he had done nothing wrong and was a retired officer of the law. He was approached by no less than four officers who hurled insults at him and acted in an insulting and demeaning manner while they exhibited an uncontrolled level of aggression and vindictive nature. After holding Mr. Lanier against his will, the police realized they had arrested the wrong Black man. Then without apology or any sense of remorse, told Mr. Lanier to go. Even when Mr. Lanier showed a sergeant his badge and credentials, he was not treated with respect or any sense of dignity.
Mr. Lanier filed a Notice of Claim against the village and the police department on December 2, 2016, citing vicious physical abuse, wrongful treatment, violations of his Constitutional rights, false arrest and abuse at the hands of Garden City police officers. Last year, a lawsuit was filed at the United State District Court for the Eastern District of New York in the amount of $40 million. The Defendants denied that they had done anything wrong. That denial is muted in the face of a monetary payment to Mr. Lanier.
“After attempting to have Garden City realize that there was a serious issue here, this Judgment speaks volumes to the fight which Mr. Lanier has had waged for his good name and his well-being.” Mr. Brewington said. “The officers willfully and callously manhandled my client. Profiling him because of his race and color is something that they did and it is something with which Garden City must come to grips. When they realized it was the wrong Black man, they finally released Mr. Lanier without so much as an apology. It was not okay to simply say, ‘You’re free to go’; the failure to immediately realize that they had engaged in a discriminatory act demonstrates the level of training and education that this police force must undergo. Garden City and its police department are being held accountable for their actions. This is just one way of changing unacceptable behavior like racial profiling.”
UNIONDALE, NEW YORK — Sahn Ward Coschignano, PLLC has announced that the Firm successfully represented Peloton in securing a special permit from the New York City Board of Standards and Appeals (BSA) for a new fitness facility dedicated to treadmill-based workouts.
On April 10, 2018, the Firm secured a special permit from the BSA for a new fitness facility located at the corner of Greenwich Street and Christopher Street in the West Village. Peloton’s new location will comprise approximately 12,500 square feet and will house two production studios where it will livestream its new treadmill classes.
The facility is deemed a Physical Culture Establishment under the Zoning Resolution of the City of New York, and requires a special permit from the BSA. The local community board unanimously supported Peloton’s application, and the Firm was able to obtain the special permit in just over seven months.
The matter was handled by Daniel H. Braff, a Member and Partner of the Firm’s New York City Land Use and Development practice. He concentrates his practice in zoning and land use planning, real estate, environmental and corporate law, with a particular emphasis on regulations governing the use and development of real property within New York City.
He provides zoning analyses, counsels clients in connection with development rights transfers (also known as “air rights”), advises on environmental matters, and represents clients before various city agencies, including the BSA, the City Planning Commission, the Department of Buildings and the Landmarks Preservation Commission.
For more information, call (516) 228-1300 or visit www.swc-law.com.
UNIONDALE, NEW YORK — Sahn Ward Coschignano, PLLC has announced that The Honorable Edward McCabe, Senior Counsel with the Firm, will be honored by the Nassau County Bar Association at the Association’s 119th Annual Dinner Dance on May 12 at the Marriott Hotel in Uniondale. Justice McCabe will be recognized for his 60 years in the practice of law.
The Judge began his legal career in private practice, and then served as a Nassau County Assistant District Attorney from 1967 to 1970. In 1970, the Judge became Law Clerk for the late Nassau County Supreme Court Justice Bernard Thompson. From 1971 to 1978, he served at the Town of North Hempstead, first as an Executive Assistant to the Supervisor and later as Town Attorney. After serving as Town Attorney, Justice McCabe joined Nassau County as County Attorney.
As County Attorney, Justice McCabe served as Counsel to the County Executive and to the county commissioners and department heads. He also managed the office that was responsible for all the County’s contracts, litigation, real estate, workers’ compensation and general municipal matters. In addition, he served on the Traffic Safety and Youth Boards.
Justice McCabe was elected Nassau County Supreme Court Justice in 1985 and re-elected in 1999. During his tenure on the Supreme Court, Justice McCabe also served for six years as the Administrative Judge of the Nassau County court system. As Administrative Judge, he consulted with the District Attorney to bring a Community Court to Nassau County. In addition, he instituted new programs in the Courts, including Alternative Dispute Resolution, Differentiated Case Management, Early Neutral Evaluation (for matrimonial actions) and established a Commercial Division in Nassau County Supreme Court. After serving as Administrative Judge, he was appointed as Presiding Justice of the Appellate Term of the New York State Supreme Court for the Second Judicial Department, Ninth and Tenth Judicial Districts.
Justice McCabe instituted numerous programs in the Courts in conjunction with the Association for the Help of Retarded Children’s Next Step Program, including a Court floral beautification program and a Law Library project. He also introduced a mammography screening program for prospective jurors with the help of 1 in 9, the Long Island Breast Cancer Coalition and the Nassau County Department of Health, a prostate screening program, and a Juror Blood Donation Program. Jurors summoned to jury duty in Nassau County participated in these programs while serving in the courthouse.
He also served on the Unified Court System’s Alternative Dispute Resolution Advisory Committee of Torts and Education for Judges and Lawyers, the Committee to Promote Public Trust and Confidence in the Court System and the Nassau County Judicial Committee on Women in the Courts. He was named Man of the Year by the Long Beach Lawyers’ Association, the Court Officers’ Benevolent Association and the Fraternal Order of Court Officers.
As an active member of the Firm, Justice McCabe counsels the Firm’s clients, works closely with the attorneys in the Firm, and also mentors the young lawyers in the Firm. Justice McCabe also serves as an arbitrator and mediator and served as the Director of the Paralegal Studies Certificate Program at Hofstra University.
“It is an honor to be recognized by the Bar Association,” Justice McCabe said. “I am proud of my service to Nassau County and look forward to continuing to make contributions to the Firm and the Bar.”
“We congratulate Justice McCabe on being recognized for his sixty years as an attorney, a judge and a mentor,” said Michael Sahn, the Firm’s Managing Partner. “It is an honor having someone with his extensive experience in government and in the courtroom as a member of the Firm.”
For more information, call (516) 228-1300 or visit www.swc-law.com.
John Farrell, a Partner with the Firm, will head the Firm’s new office in Hauppauge, New York.
Firm Partner John Farrell Will Head Hauppauge Office
UNIONDALE, NEW YORK — Sahn Ward Coschignano, PLLC has announced that the Firm has opened a new office in Suffolk County, located at 1300 Veterans Highway, Suite 100 in Hauppauge. The new office reflects the Firm’s growth and experience in Suffolk County.
John Farrell, a Partner with the Firm, will supervise the office. Mr. Farrell concentrates his practice in the areas of zoning and land use planning, real estate transactions, environmental law, litigation and appeals, and municipal law and legislative practice. He represents developers, property owners and franchisees in land use approval cases, municipal litigation and real estate transactions.
This is the Firm’s third location. Sahn Ward Coschignano has its main office in Uniondale and an office in New York City.
“We are proud to open our Hauppauge office,” said Michael Sahn, the Firm’s Managing Partner. “This new office will help us better serve our existing Suffolk County clients and also allow us to represent more clients in Suffolk. John Farrell’s knowledge of Suffolk County, and the fact that he resides in Babylon, makes a perfect fit for a Suffolk office. We also have other attorneys and staff who live in Suffolk, so working in Hauppauge will be very convenient.”
For more information, call (516) 228-1300 or visit www.swc-law.com.
Will Lead the Firm’s Corporate and Securities Practice
Kyle Lawrence
UNIONDALE, NEW YORK — Sahn Ward Coschignano, PLLC is proud to announce that Kyle Lawrence has joined the Firm as Counsel. He concentrates his practice in corporate and securities law, as well as real estate law and transactions. He will take a leading role in the Firm’s growing Corporate and Securities Practice.
As an experienced corporate and business law attorney, Mr. Lawrence advises clients on all types of corporate transactions, including private placements, mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, corporate finance, business planning and strategies, licensing, manufacturing, supply and distribution agreements. He serves as lead counsel to a wide range of longstanding business ventures and entities, as well as numerous entrepreneurial endeavors. He also serves as outside general counsel to various privately owned companies, for whom he provides advice and guidance on all aspects of day-to-day corporate and business matters.
Mr. Lawrence represents clients in a wide range of industries, including food and nutraceutical manufacturing and distribution, restaurants, emerging technologies, retail, light manufacturing, lending, architecture and software development. He also advises private issuers and principals with respect to fund formation, operations, and compliance matters in his active private equity practice.
The Firm’s Corporate and Securities Practice represents established, privately held businesses, as well as newly formed and emerging early- and growth-stage companies. The Firm’s corporate law clients include regional and national businesses, real estate ventures, manufacturing companies, professional services firms, software development and emerging technology companies, franchises, and charitable and not-for-profit entities.
Mr. Lawrence is admitted to practice in the State of New York and before the New York State Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Second Department. He is also a member of the New York State Bar Association and the Nassau County Bar Association. In addition, he is a Founding Member of the Hydra Collective, a professional networking organization created by and for the next generation of leaders in their respective fields. He also volunteers his time with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and the Mauro Foundation.
He earned a Bachelor of Arts in English from Tulane University in 2001 and a Juris Doctor from the Maurice A. Deane School of Law from Hofstra University in 2006.
“I am excited to join the Firm and become a part of this growing practice,” Mr. Lawrence said. “I am looking forward to working with the Firm’s growing roster of clients and providing them with the necessary guidance in complex corporate transactions.”
“We welcome Kyle to the Firm,” said Michael Sahn, the Firm’s Managing Partner. “His knowledge and experience in corporate and securities law will be a tremendous resource to the Firm’s clients.”
For more information, call (516) 228-1300 or visit www.swc-law.com.
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About Sahn Ward Coschignano, PLLC
Sahn Ward Coschignano, PLLC is one of the region’s most highly regarded and recognized law firms. The firm is committed to providing its clients with the highest quality representation, counsel, and advice. Practice areas include zoning and land use; real estate law and transactions; litigation and appeals; municipal law and legislative practice; cellular and telecommunications law; environmental, corporate, labor and employment law; tax certiorari and condemnation; matrimonial practice; and estate planning. The firm strives to assist its clients in a wide array of issues, serving them with skill and experience, resourcefulness, and responsibility. For more information, call (516) 228-1300 or visit www.swc-law.com.
New York, New York — One week before the March 5 deadline for Congress to come up with a bill to replace the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), the U.S. Supreme Court denied the Trump administration’s challenge to a federal court ruling to allow DACA to continue operating. Kerry Bretz, Partner, Bretz & Coven, LLP, says the ruling will allow the approximately 700,000 DACA recipients, known as “Dreamers,” to stay in the country.
On September 5, 2017, the Justice Department announced that the DACA program would end on March 5, 2018, and no new applications would be accepted. U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions argued that DACA is unconstitutional, stating it provides across-the-board amnesty to those who entered the Obama-era program since 2012. A series of lawsuits were filed in U.S. District Court, Northern District of California against the Trump administration to prevent the end of DACA and, on January 9, 2018, a U.S. District Court judge in San Francisco ruled in favor of the plaintiffs and ordered the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to renew the permits of existing DACA recipients.
The Trump administration challenged the lower court’s ruling in the U.S. Supreme Court. On February 26, 2018, the Supreme Court refused to hear the case, meaning the Court of Appeals’ decision stands.
“I am glad to see the U.S. Supreme Court allow the judicial process to take place,” Mr. Bretz says. “Those who have been in this country under the protection of DACA should continue to stay here. I believe the president overplayed his hand in trying to challenge the lower court’s decision while the Court of Appeals continued to review the case. Any DACA recipient who needs assistance with their permit renewals should meet with an immigration law attorney immediately.”
For more information, call (212) 267-2555 or visit www.bretzlaw.com.
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About Bretz & Coven, LLP
Bretz & Coven, LLP is an immigration law firm located in New York, New York and Clark, New Jersey. The firm serves clients in and around the tri-state area, including Brooklyn, New York City, the Bronx, Queens, Kings County and Richmond County. Its team of dedicated attorneys is known for taking on cases that other lawyers turn down. Bretz & Coven assists individuals and their families understand the process of obtaining citizenship, New York residency or a green card and offer them a full range of options, including adjustment of status, asylum, available types of visas, waivers, removal defense and special programs and treaties. The attorneys can also help immigrants avoid deportation. For more information, call (212) 267-2555 or visit www.bretzlaw.com.
GARDEN CITY, NEW YORK — With New York Governor Andrew Cuomo proposing to give companies the option to enter into the payroll tax system as a way to protect employees, who reside in higher-taxed areas of the state, from paying more in taxes, Thomas R. Fazio, Partner, Blodnick Fazio & Associates PC, says that the employers should consult with a business law attorney before enrolling in the program.
On February 12, Governor Cuomo proposed a payroll tax system in which companies can voluntarily join so that their employees are protected from federal tax increases. According to the governor, this would benefit workers who live in high-tax areas and are now affected by the federal tax law because the state and local tax (SALT) deductions have been capped at $10,000.
Under the program, participating employers would be assessed a payroll tax on wages greater than $40,000 a year. The program would be phased in over three years, starting in 2019: 1.5 percent the first year, 3 percent the second year, and 5 percent the third year. In return, companies would receive a tax credit to make up for the associated costs. Employees would not see a decrease in their take-home pay.
“There may be some benefits to this program, but the addition of another proposed tax on top of the other taxes that companies have to pay can make this more confusing,” Mr. Fazio says. “It is important that, before making the move to enroll, employers should consult a business law attorney to determine if this is the proper course of action to take.”
Blodnick Fazio & Associates PC is a boutique law firm specializing in handling complex litigation, corporate formations, structure and finance; construction law; medical professional licensing; the corporate practice of medicine issues; real estate law; arbitration and mediation; matrimonial law; employment law; and municipal and school law. Its staff of attorneys has more than 100 years of combined experience and is admitted to practice in the Courts of New York, New Jersey, and Florida, including the Eastern and Southern District Courts of New York; New Jersey federal courts; the Federal Court of Claims; the First, Second, Fourth and Federal Circuit Courts; and the U.S. Supreme Court. The firm is located in Garden City, New York. For more information, call (516) 280-7105, or visit www.blodnickfaziolaw.com.
BROOKLYN, NEW YORK — Kostantinos Mallas, Partner, Georgaklis & Mallas PLLC, says making “Lavern’s Law” a reality will mean that cancer patients who were misdiagnosed may now have more time to seek justice against the physicians and/or hospitals who did not properly determine it was cancer.
On January 29, 2018, the governor met with New York State Senate Majority Leader John Flanagan and New York State Assembly Majority Leader Carl Heastie to work out the details of the bill, which was sponsored by New York State Senator John DeFrancisco. As part of the agreement, the statute of limitations to file a lawsuit would be changed from two-and-a-half years from the date that the misdiagnosis occurred to two-and-a-half years from the date the patient learned of the misdiagnosis, up to seven years from the date that the medical error occurred. On February 2, 2018, the governor signed the bill into law.
The bill is named for Lavern Wilkinson, who died of cancer on March 7, 2013. She was admitted to Kings County Hospital on February 2, 2010 for chest pains; an X-ray showed a cancerous mass in her chest, but the radiologist failed to alert Ms. Wilkinson of the discovery. Ms. Wilkinson was readmitted to the hospital in 2012, but, by that time, the cancer had already spread to her body. Her family attempted to sue the hospital after she passed away, but, at the time, the statute of limitations had expired.
“We are glad to see these elected officials come together and fight for the rights of the patients whose misdiagnoses resulted in illness or death after the cancer spread throughout their bodies,” Mr. Mallas says. “This bill will give these cancer victims more time to file lawsuits against the wrongdoers.”
The original version of the bill applied to all medical malpractice cases. That version passed the Assembly in 2015, but did not make it out of the Senate. The new bill only applies to cancer victims. “Had the original version of Lavern’s Law passed, more patients who were misdiagnosed or received poor medical treatment could have gotten the compensation they justly deserved,” Mr. Mallas says. “It is a shame the bill did not make it to the governor’s desk sooner.”
For more information, call (718) 238-2400 or visit www.gmlawny.com.
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About Georgaklis & Mallas PLLC
The law office of Georgaklis & Mallas PLLC is a boutique law firm concentrating in the areas of personal injury, real estate and commercial litigation. The firm emphasizes providing legal services in a professional and efficient manner to make your legal process as stress-free as possible. The experienced attorneys at Georgaklis & Mallas PLLC have combined the quality and expertise of larger law firms with the responsiveness and the attention to detail of smaller firms. The firm’s goal is to provide clients with quality legal services while maintaining close personal contact. Georgaklis & Mallas PLLC strives to serve as many people as possible and can accommodate those clients who speak English, Greek, Spanish, Italian, Creole, and Bulgarian. For more information, call (718) 238-2400 or visit www.gmlawny.com.
Grandfather’s Influence Made Him Enter the Field of Law
Brian Andrew Tully, Esq. of Tully Law, PC
Melville, NY — Growing up in Malverne, New York, as a child, Brian Andrew Tully was close to both sets of grandparents — literally. His maternal grandparents lived next door, where he played games, spent Saturday nights watching TV with them, learned to swing a golf club, and received a penny for every weed he pulled out from their lawn. On Sundays, he spent time with his father’s parents attending church, sitting with them at the kitchen table eating rolls and cookies they picked up from the bakery, and enjoying large family dinners.
Andy Tully, his paternal grandfather, was an attorney. One day, he had a talk with Brian, who was a college student at the time studying criminal justice. Andy saw the potential in his grandson and, along with his wife, recommended that Brian should take the same career path. A few years later, Brian enrolled in Touro College Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law Center in Huntington, New York, and obtained his Juris Doctor.
For 20 years, Brian Andrew Tully, Esq., of Tully Law, PC has been honoring and protecting elders in New York and their caregivers by leading them from a place of confusion to a place of protection, provision and peace by providing them with advanced planning, long-term care services, and life care planning.
He started his practice in Huntington in 1998. What gravitated him toward the field of elder law were the closeness with his grandparents and witnessing firsthand how his parents and relatives cared for his grandparents when they became too ill to care for themselves.
“What I didn’t realize is that my childhood and teenage years were gratefully focused on my amazing grandparents — those grandparents right next door and those I looked forward to seeing every Sunday,” Mr. Tully says. “So, yes, lawwas a choice but elder law was not. It was natural for me to continue to be with and help other people’s grandmothers and grandfathers. Looking back, I can say with certainty that I didn’t choose elder law; it chose me.”
In 2004, Mr. Tully launched the ElderCare Resource Center (www.eldercareresourcecenter.info), an online resource guide for the elderly and their caregivers. With more than 2,200 links to elder care resources, the website provides legal resources and other information on age-related health issues, finding a caregiver, where to find senior housing, and Medicaid and Medicare issues. It also includes a palliative care resource guide which explains how to plan for long-term and end-of-life care. In 2005, the ElderCare Resource Center was named the Small Education Business of the Year by the Huntington Regional Business Partnership.
In 2011, Tully Law relocated to Melville. The following year, the firm received the Partnership Award from Disabled and Alone/Life Services for the Handicapped, Inc., a nonprofit organization which assists families in estate planning, and Mr. Tully was featured in Newsweek’s “Nationwide Leading Elder Care & Estate Planning Attorney Showcase.”
He has received accreditation from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to represent and assist veterans and their spouses in the preparation, presentation, and prosecution of claims for benefits, including the Aid and Attendance Pension. He is a member of the Board of Directors of the Life Care Planning Law Firms Association and is certified as an Elder Law Attorney by the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, Inc.
From 2011 to 2017, Mr. Tully has been named to the New York Metro Super Lawyers list in the practice areas of Elder Law and Estate Planning & Probate. In 2017, he was certified as a Member of the Lawyers of Distinction.
In addition to his work as an attorney, Mr. Tully provides seminars on elder law and estate planning at assisted living facilities. He has also spoken on the topic of detecting and preventing elder financial abuse. As a public service, he publishes a downloadable guidebook each year titled “How to Plan for Aging Parents,” which looks at life care planning and traditional elder law plans.
“It has been a pleasure serving the elderly population of New York and their families for the last 20 years,” Mr. Tully says. “I look forward to helping those families who are caring for their loved ones by making the life care planning process easier for them during times of difficulty.”
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