After hearing about the deadly “Unite the Right” rally in Charlottesville, Va., New York attorney Roberta “Robbie” Kaplan’s first instinct was that lawyers had to stand up to the white nationalists who intimidated and attacked counter protesters. One protester, Heather Heyer, was killed when a self-proclaimed white nationalist rammed his car into a crowd of … Continued
Richard Lewis, president of the New York State Bar Association, issued the following statement about the death of Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor: “As the first female justice on the U.S. Supreme Court, Sandra Day O’Connor occupies a special place in our nation’s history. On every critical issue — affirmative action, abortion, voting rights, … Continued
The United States Constitution contains provisions that support the right to a trial by an impartial jury in both criminal and civil cases. As the Sixth Amendment explicitly states, “[i]n all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein … Continued
For many decades, courts have bemoaned the frequency at which they are presented with ill-conceived copyright infringement claims predicated “upon that obsessive conviction, so frequent among authors and composers, that all similarities between their works and any others which appear later must inevitably be ascribed to plagiarism.”1 This problem has been compounded by the digital … Continued
Ninety-three percent of athletes experience sexual harassment, sexual assault or unwanted contact during their times in sport.[1] The majority of those sexually harassed or assaulted within their sport identify as women.[2] While this news could be stunning to some, fewer are more familiar with the pervasiveness of abuse within women’s athletics than the players of … Continued
The mysterious disappearance of an individual often makes intriguing content for crime shows and podcasts, but it is in the Surrogate’s Court where the harsh reality of declaring the missing dead plays out. This article explores that process. Our roadmap is found in Estates, Powers, and Trusts Law (EPTL) 2-1.7, which provides (a) A person … Continued
The New York State Bar Association honored Anthony Kuhn, managing partner of Tully Rinckey’s Buffalo and Syracuse offices, with the Veteran Advocate of the Year Award. The award recognizes outstanding service on behalf of veterans and active-duty service members. Kuhn is a decorated combat veteran and chair of the firm’s Military and National Security practice … Continued
Richard Lewis, president of the New York State Bar Association, issued the following statement about Gov. Kathy Hochul signing the Clean Slate Act into law: “This is a monumental day for equal treatment in New York. The law now recognizes that offenders who have paid their debt to society should not be permanently marked by … Continued
The New York State Bar Association is honoring the capital region’s largest law firm, Whiteman Osterman and Hanna, for its participation in the association’s enterprise firm membership initiative. Launched earlier this year, the program provides a suite of services designed to meet the needs of an entire law firm including discounted educational programming and opportunities … Continued
A conference organized by the New York State Bar Association will bring together leaders from Ukraine, the U.S. military, United Nations, and peace groups to talk about the threat of Russia using nuclear weapons in its war with Ukraine. The Nov. 8 event will provide a rare opportunity to hear from military strategists about the … Continued