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Attorney Tanya Hobson-Williams to Be a Guest Panelist at the Women Wealth & the Word Conference

JAMAICA ESTATES, NEW YORK — Attorney Tanya Hobson-Williams of Hobson-Williams, P.C. has announced that she will be a guest panelist at the Women Wealth & the Word conference, which will take place on Saturday, October 28, 2023 at 11 a.m. at Allen AME Church, 1130 W. Lexington St., Baltimore, Maryland.

The purpose of the conference is to help women achieve financial independence. The panel will discuss and explore the topic of women’s financial health and wellness and share their insights on topics such as achieving financial peace and purpose; investing for the future; the importance of wills, estates and trusts; and planning for retirement.

Ms. Hobson-Williams concentrates her practice in elder law, estate planning, Medicaid planning and guardianships. She is currently representing and advising celebrity clients in estate and guardianship matters.

The conference is being presented by Women in Ministry, African Methodist Episcopal Church, and Thrivent. Registration is required and seating is limited. To register, visit https://bit.ly.com/WomenInMinistry2023.

For more information on Hobson-Williams, P.C., call 1-866-825-1529 or visit www.nyguardian.com.

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About Hobson-Williams, P.C.

With offices located in Jamaica Estates and Brooklyn, New York, the law firm of Hobson-Williams, P.C. is comprised of a highly knowledgeable and diligent staff. With over 20 years of experience, the firm’s skilled attorneys are dedicated to protecting and serving tier clients’ needs and legal interests, and are committed to providing unparalleled client service. Practice areas include elder law and estate planning, guardianships, Medicaid, real estate, landlord/tenant and business law. For more information, call 1-866-825-1529 or visit www.nyguardian.com.

Personal Injury Lawyer and Road Safety Advocate Says Drivers Should Watch Out for Pedestrians and Bicyclists

Traffic Fatalities Have Risen Over 60% in the Past 10 Years

With the growing number of pedestrians and bicyclists being hit and killed by motor vehicles, Ira S. Slavit, Partner, Levine & Slavit PLLC, says the growing number of fatalities on the road can be attributed to the increased sales of larger vehicles such as sport utility vehicles (SUVs) and pickup trucks that, while considered safer, are more likely to be involved in such collisions due to the vehicles’ larger blind zones on these vehicles.

According to government data, while the number of fatal auto crashes increased 43% between 2011 and 2022 from 29,867 to 42,795, the number of deaths involving pedestrians and cyclists went up 64% during the same time period to an estimated 8,413 fatalities. The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Volpe Center released a report in January which showed that, although the newer, larger vehicles contain more safety features to protect the driver and its passengers, their size has also created larger blind spots, putting bicyclists and pedestrians at greater risk.

“It used to be that speeding contributed to a majority of motor vehicle fatalities,” Mr. Slavit says. “While that still is the case, we are seeing bicyclists and pedestrians getting killed in ‘frontover’ incidents by slower-moving SUVs and pickup trucks. The driver is so high up inside the vehicle, they cannot see who is in front of them or next to them, resulting in tragic consequences.”

Mr. Slavit says drivers should not just rely on cameras to see if there is anyone around them. “They should check over their shoulder and look behind them before making any turns,” he says. “Remember: if they can’t see you, you can’t see them. By being more aware, you can avert future tragedies.”

For more information on Levine & Slavit, visit www.newyorkinjuries.com.

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About Levine & Slavit PLLC

Levine & Slavit PLLC is a third-generation personal injury firm serving Long Island and the greater New York City area. Its attorneys handle cases such as auto accidents, slip and fall injuries, medical malpractice, wrongful death and products liability. The firm strives to obtain just recovery for its personal injury clients, whether for long-term or short-term needs, and works hard to ensure that its clients are not burdened with costly medical bills as a result of someone else’s action or inaction. For more information, visit www.newyorkinjuries.com.

Fifteen Attorneys from Sahn Ward Braff Koblenz, PLLC Recognized by Super Lawyers

All Four Members Selected, Including the Managing Member

Seven Partners, One Associate and Two Counsel Attorneys Chosen for This Honor

One Attorney Also Named Rising Star

UNIONDALE, NEW YORK — Sahn Ward Braff Koblenz PLLC has announced that fourteen attorneys were named to the list of New York Metro Super Lawyers for 2023 and one attorney was named a Rising Star.

Super Lawyers is an exclusive list, with no more than 5% of the attorneys in the state being chosen.

All four Members of the Firm were selected, including the Managing Member:

  • Michael H. Sahn, Managing Member — Land Use & Zoning, Real Estate, Business & Corporate
  • Daniel H. Braff — Land Use & Zoning, Real Estate
  • Adam H. Koblenz — General Litigation, Business & Corporate, Employment & Labor
  • Jon A. Ward — Business Litigation

Seven Partners were named to Super Lawyers:              :

  • Robert A. Abiuso — Personal Injury – General
  • Ralph Branciforte — Business Litigation, Appellate, Civil Litigation
  • Elaine M. Colavito — Family Law, Civil Litigation, Estate & Trust Litigation, Immigration
  • Wayne G. Edwards — Land Use & Zoning
  • John C. Farrell — Land Use & Zoning, Legislative & Government Affairs, Real Estate
  • John L. Parker — Environmental, Environmental Litigation
  • Andrew M. Roth — Business Litigation, Civil Litigation

One Associate was also named to the list:

  • Joseph D. Brees — General Litigation

Two Counsel Attorneys also made the list:

  • Robert N. Cohen — Business Litigation, Business & Corporate, Estate & Trust Litigation
  • Miriam E. Villani — Environmental, Environmental Litigation

In addition, one attorney was named to Rising Stars. This is an even more exclusive list, with only 2.5% of attorneys in the state being selected. They were:

  • Stelios E. Karatzias, Associate — Land Use & Zoning, Business & Corporate

“It is an honor to be named personally, but much more important is the credit and honor to the Firm to have so many of our attorneys recognized by Super Lawyers,” said Michael Sahn, the Firm’s Managing Member. “We are pleased and gratified. This recognition reflects the outstanding and talented lawyers who serve our clients.”

The Super Lawyers list is issued by Thomson Reuters. A description of the selection methodology can be found online. No aspect of this article has been approved by the Courts of the State of New York.

For more information, call (516) 228-1300 or visit www.sahnward.com.

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Renowned Employment Law Attorney and Author Supports Labor Department’s Proposed Rule to Raise the Salary Threshold for Overtime

NEW YORK, NEW YORK — The U.S. Department of Labor has recently proposed a new rule that would raise the salary threshold for workers who work more than 40 hours a week and are eligible for overtime. If this is approved, it would mean an additional 3.6 million workers in the U.S. would receive time-and-a-half after 40 hours.

Attorney Steven Mitchell Sack, “The Employee’s Lawyer®,” author of his latest book “FIRED! Protect Your Rights & FIGHT BACK If You’re Terminated, Laid Off, Downsized, Restructured, Forced to Resign or Quit,” and host of the podcast “Know Your Job Rights with Attorney Steven Sack,” says the Labor Department’s proposed rule would help those employees improve their way of life and bring some self-worth to themselves.

On August 30, the Labor Department issued a proposed rule that would raise the salary threshold to $55,068 annually — an increase of 54.8%. The proposed threshold is approximately $2,000 a year below the median national salary of $57,000.

The last time the threshold was raised was in 2019, when it was $35,369 annually; according to the Society for Human Resource Management, the amount from three years ago would be worth $42,594 a year today when adjusted for inflation. In 2016, then-President Barack Obama attempted to increase the threshold to $47,476 yearly, but, after legal challenges by state governments and business groups, a federal judge ruled against it.

Under the proposed DOL rule, store supervisors, restaurant managers and millions of hourly workers would be eligible for time-and-a-half pay if they work more than 40 hours a week. In addition, the agency is looking to update the threshold every three years and align it with “current wage data.”

“I believe the new DOL rule would get these workers out of difficult financial situations and allow them to take home the extra money that they deserve,” Mr. Sack says. “Most of these employees are overworked and underpaid. This proposed new rule would fix this injustice that employees have had to endure for years and pay them what they are worth.”

For more information, call (917) 371-8000 or visit www.theemployeeslawyer.com.

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About Steven Mitchell Sack

Steven Mitchell Sack, “The Employee’s Lawyer®,” has been enforcing the workplace rights of employees, executives, and sales representatives for more than 41 years. He is a practicing labor and employment attorney, author of 20 books, a lecturer, syndicated radio talk show host, and host of the podcast “Know Your Job Rights with Attorney Steven Sack.” With attorney Scott A. Lucas, he obtained a $6.2 million jury verdict in 2015 on behalf of three pregnant employees and a favorable New York Court of Appeals decision for a group of waiters who were denied their fair share of tips that a caterer withheld. For more information, visit www.theemployeeslawyer.com.

Wayne G. Edwards and Eugene L. Martin Assist Client in Sale of Ten Industrial Buildings to Private Investment Firm

UNIONDALE, NEW YORK — Wayne G. Edwards, Partner, Sahn Ward Braff Koblenz PLLC, and Eugene J. Martin, the Firm’s Senior Counsel, represented affiliates of Ben Elias Industries Corp. in connection with the sale of ten industrial buildings in Inwood, Nassau County, totaling 500,000 square feet near John F. Kennedy International Airport to a private investment firm.

Mr. Edwards and Mr. Martin successfully guided the seller in closing the transaction on August 22, 2023 — less than 90 days from the execution of the Purchase and Sale agreement.

“Eugene and I are proud to close this significant transaction,” Mr. Edwards said. “The most fulfilling moment of the closing was how happy our client was when it closed and thanked us for our representation.”

For more information, call (516) 228-1300 or visit www.sahnward.com.

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Edward G. McCabe Joins Sahn Ward Braff Koblenz PLLC as Partner

Follows in Late Father’s Footsteps

UNIONDALE, NEW YORK — Sahn Ward Braff Koblenz PLLC has announced that Edward G. McCabe has joined the firm as Partner. He will work out of the Firm’s Suffolk County office in Hauppauge with Partners John Farrell and Elaine Colavito.

Mr. McCabe concentrates his practice on civil and commercial litigation and appeals, municipal law and legislative practice and real estate law and transactions. He has litigated hundreds of cases in state and federal courts involving complex issues of law. He also has substantial experience litigating cases involving administrative and municipal proceedings and construction contract disputes, including mediation and arbitration proceedings. Mr. McCabe also has vast experience in real estate transactions and the complexity of contractual negotiations.

Prior to joining the Firm, Mr. McCabe managed his own general law practice, handling all aspects of client representation from litigation to real estate transactional work, such as contract and lease preparation.

In addition to managing his own Firm, Mr. McCabe serves as the Vice Chairman of the Town of Islip Zoning Board of Appeals.

Mr. McCabe is admitted to practice in the United States District Court for the Eastern and Southern Districts of New York, and the Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Second Judicial Department.  He is also a member of the Suffolk County Bar Association.

He received his Juris Doctor from the Maurice A Deane School of Law at Hofstra University. Mr. McCabe resides in Bay Shore.

His father, Hon. Edward G. McCabe, was the Firm’s Special Counsel before he passed away on June 16, 2023. A former Chief Administrative Judge of the Nassau County Courts, Judge McCabe joined Sahn Ward in 2009 and worked at the Firm until his retirement in April 2022. In addition to advising clients, he also served as a mentor to the Firm’s attorneys.

“I am honored to join the Firm where my late father had a tremendous influence on the attorneys at the Firm,” Mr. McCabe said. “I look forward to helping the Firm continue to grow its litigation, real estate and land use practices, and work with the Firm’s attorneys, many of whom I have known from my own practice.”

“We are extremely pleased to have Edward join our Firm,” said Michael H. Sahn, the Firm’s Managing Member. “His experience will be an asset to the Firm and our clients, and help us expand our practice in Suffolk County and elsewhere.”

For more information, call (516) 228-1300 or visit www.sahnward.com.

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Experienced Legionnaires’ Disease Attorney Comments on Outbreak in Passaic and Bergen Counties in New Jersey

NEW YORK, NY — Ronald J. Katter of The Katter Law Firm says all water systems in the New Jersey counties of Passaic and Bergen, which reported an outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease, should be examined, since they may have transmitted the disease through water vapor.

From June 6, 2023 to August 4, 2023, nine cases of Legionnaires’ disease were confirmed in Passaic County and one was found in Bergen County. The New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH) is currently working with local health agencies to determine what caused the outbreak. According to the NJDOH, there are between 250 and 375 Legionnaires’ cases in the state each year.

A similar outbreak occurred in the same two counties late last year. From November 9, 2022 to December 21, 2022, seven Legionnaires’ cases were reported. The cause of the outbreak was never determined.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Legionnaires’ disease is caused by the Legionella bacteria. It grows in warm water found in water systems, including cooling towers, hot tubs, decorative fountains and plumbing systems. People contract the disease when they breathe in water vapor containing the bacteria. The CDC notes that approximately 10% of all Legionnaires’ cases result in death.

Although it cannot be transmitted from one person to another, it can be serious for those who smoke or have chronic lung conditions. Legionnaires’ disease can successfully be treated with antibiotics.

“It should be incumbent upon both counties to examine all water systems that discharge water vapor into the air to determine the source of Legionnaires’ disease,” Mr. Katter says. “I find it hard to believe that this outbreak occurred for the second time in six months and they still could not determine where it came from.”

Mr. Katter says it is critical that anyone who experiences Legionnaires’ disease symptoms — which may include one or more of the following: headache, muscle pain, chills, fever, cough, gastrointestinal symptoms and confusion — seek immediate medical attention. “For the at-risk population, Legionnaires’ disease can be life-threatening, so, for them, time is of the essence.” Mr. Katter also urges those seeking medical attention to “tell their physicians about the outbreak, so that they can be properly tested.”

Mr. Katter is an advocate and highly experienced in representing clients who were sickened with Legionnaires’ disease. He has taken legal action against building owners who willfully refuse to clean and maintain the buildings’ water systems. For more information, call (212) 809-4293 or visit www.katterlaw.com.

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About The Katter Law Firm

The Katter Law Firm represents clients throughout New York City in personal injury cases including those who have suffered injuries as a result of construction accidents, Legionnaires ‘disease, motor vehicle collisions, pedestrian knockdowns, bicycle crashes, slip/trip and falls,  assaults, workplace accidents, professional malpractice, nursing home negligence, hospital mistreatment, police abuse, accidental death, pet attacks and cemetery and funeral negligence.  The firm aggressively represents injured victims through New York’s five boroughs, as well as the surrounding counties. For more information, call (212) 809-4293 or visit www.katterlaw.com.

After 15 Years, Jury Awards $35 Million to Family of Bay Shore Man Who Died While in Police Custody

A jury awarded $35 million to the family of a Bay Shore man who died while he was at Suffolk County Police Department’s Third Precinct.

On April 12, 2008, Kenny Lazo was wrongfully pulled over by Suffolk police on the entrance ramp from the Robert Moses Causeway to the Southern State Parkway. After Mr. Lazo was asked to step out of the car, police strip-searched him and beat him repeatedly with more than 36 blunt force trauma strikes to his head with Mag flashlights. He was not taken to the hospital, but instead, he was brought to Third Precinct headquarters, where he was not given any medical treatment and was allowed to die on the filthy floor of the Third Precinct in his underwear. He was brought to Southside Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

On August 10, after a three-week trial, a jury ruled in favor of Mr. Lazo’s family. It is considered to be one of the largest jury trial awards in Suffolk County history.

“After 15 years of waiting, justice has been served,” said Frederick K. Brewington, the attorney for Mr. Lazo’s family. “It was absolutely appalling how the Suffolk County police physically abused and humiliated Mr. Lazo, then tried to cover it up. No family should have to go through what Mr. Lazo’s family had to.”

For more information, call (516) 489-6959 or visit www.brewingtonlaw.com.

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About The Law Offices of Frederick K. Brewington

The Law Offices of Frederick K. Brewington is a well-respected litigation firm with an office in Hempstead, Long Island. Our focus is primarily in the area of civil rights, voting rights, employment discrimination, police misconduct, personal injury, medical malpractice, wrongful death and criminal law. However, the Law Offices of Frederick K. Brewington is a full-service law firm handling matters in numerous areas of law and providing a wide range of services from contract formation to litigation and trial practice. It is the largest African-American-owned law firm on Long Island and has been designated by the New York Law Journal as one of the top minority-owned firms in the state of New York. For more information, call (516) 489-6959 or visit www.brewingtonlaw.com.

Attorney Tanya Hobson-Williams Comments on NYC Mayor Eric Adams’ Plan to Eradicate Medical Debt for Low-Income Patients

JAMAICA ESTATES, NEW YORK — Attorney Tanya Hobson-Williams of Hobson-Williams, P.C. says she supports New York City Mayor Eric Adams’ plan to have a nonprofit work with hospitals and healthcare facilities to eliminate medical debt that is being carried by city residents in need.

The NYC Health Department recently entered into an agreement with RIP Medical Debt to have the not-for-profit debt relief firm work with hospitals to reduce the amount owed, then have the balance paid off through public funding and private donations. The company only buys pre-qualified debt. After negotiating with the hospital, RIP will pay the agreed upon amount, and patients will receive a letter stating that the debt has been paid off.

According to the Community Service Society (CSS), a New York-based nonprofit focused on combating poverty, more than 54,000 New Yorkers faced legal action against hospitals over unpaid bills between 2015 and 2020. CSS said those who were sued should have received financial help for their situations.

In 2020, during the pandemic lockdown, the state approved a bill changing the amount of time that hospitals are forbidden from collecting medical debt from seven to three years. On April 11, 2023, the three major credit reporting companies — TransUnion, Equifax and Experian — removed all medical collections under $500 from people’s credit reports and credit history. Any debt exceeding $500 can appear on one’s credit report for up to seven years.

“This plan would help a lot of low-income individuals and alleviate the stress of calls from hospitals and debt collection agencies,” Ms. Hobson-Williams says. “Mayor Adams’ initiative is a step in the right direction that will help those struggling to pay off their medical debt.”

For more information, call 1-866-825-1529 or visit www.nyguardian.com.

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About Hobson-Williams, P.C.

With offices located in Jamaica Estates and Brooklyn, New York, the law firm of Hobson-Williams, P.C. is comprised of a highly knowledgeable and diligent staff. With over 20 years of experience, the firm’s skilled attorneys are dedicated to protecting and serving tier clients’ needs and legal interests, and are committed to providing unparalleled client service. Practice areas include elder law and estate planning, guardianships, debt collection, Medicaid, real estate, landlord/tenant and business law. For more information, call 1-866-825-1529 or visit www.nyguardian.com.

Attorney Tanya Hobson-Williams Available to Comment on the Late Singer Aretha Franklin Not Leaving a Will before Her Death

Jury Decided Instructions Left on a Handwritten Piece of Paper from 2014 Were Valid

JAMAICA ESTATES, NEW YORK — Attorney Tanya Hobson-Williams of Hobson-Williams, P.C. is available to comment on how singer Aretha Franklin died intestate, or without a will, how her sons fought over control of her estate and the jury’s recent decision of which set of instructions written on paper by Ms. Franklin could be considered a valid will.

Ms. Franklin, who died on August 16, 2018 of pancreatic cancer at the age of 78, is survived by four sons. The sons fought over control of their mother’s estate after two pieces of paper were found which listed different instructions of how her assets should be distributed. One written will from 2010 which was found in a closet inside a spiral notebook left the estate to one son, Ted White II. Another version from 2014 that was found inside a sofa left to her two other sons, Kecalf and Eddie Franklin.

The 2010 version of the will names Mr. White and his cousin, Sabrina Owens, as co-executors and instructs Kecalf and Eddie to take business classes and show proof of completion of these classes with either a certificate or degree if they want a part of the estate. The 2014 version of the will names Kecalf and Eddie as co-executors instead of Mr. White and does not require Kecalf and Eddie to take business classes; it also allows him to sell the gowns or donate them to the Smithsonian Institution.

Despite the differences, both versions stated that their children can collect royalties from her songs and copyrights and part of her estate will go to financially support her oldest son Clarence, who has special needs and lives under a legal guardianship.

On July 11, 2023, an Oakland County Probate Court jury in Pontiac, Michigan found that the piece of paper from 2014 that was found inside a sofa was, in fact, a valid will. The decision meant that Kecalf and Eddie stand to inherit her assets worth millions of dollars, including real estate, furs, jewelry and clothing.

“The state of Michigan allows wills to be handwritten, as long as they clearly state how the assets will be distributed and who is in charge of the estate,” Ms. Hobson-Williams says. “In New York, a handwritten will is allowed, but it is not recommended. Further, it is not valid under most circumstances. The best way  to draft a will is to work with an elder law and estate planning attorney who can help you determine how your estate will be settled.”

Ms. Hobson-Williams concentrates her practice in elder law, estate planning, Medicaid planning and guardianships. She is currently representing and advising celebrity clients in estate and guardianship matters.

For more information, call 1-866-825-1529 or visit www.nyguardian.com.

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About Hobson-Williams, P.C.

With offices located in Jamaica Estates and Brooklyn, New York, the law firm of Hobson-Williams, P.C. is comprised of a highly knowledgeable and diligent staff. With over 20 years of experience, the firm’s skilled attorneys are dedicated to protecting and serving tier clients’ needs and legal interests, and are committed to providing unparalleled client service. Practice areas include elder law and estate planning, guardianships, Medicaid, real estate, landlord/tenant and business law. For more information, call 1-866-825-1529 or visit www.nyguardian.com.

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