To the Forum: I recently conducted a virtual deposition of the defendant in a case in which I was plaintiff’s counsel. Given that this was a virtual deposition, it seemed that defense counsel felt that this was an informal encounter and did not have to abide by any sort of professional standards and appeared dressed … Continued
In cases where a person is alleged to be unable to make his or her own decisions, the law has traditionally responded by empowering surrogates, including legal proxies or guardians, to act for or on behalf of the individual. Surrogate decision-making regimes have increasingly been scrutinized and criticized, however, for curtailing the rights of people … Continued
New York State Bar Association President-Elect Dick Lewis told 300 people attending a program on implicit bias that unconscious stereotypes plague all of us and “we need to be aware of it.” He pointed out that these beliefs can impact our thoughts about people of different ethnic groups, religious and political persuasions. The NYSBA webinar, … Continued
This has been a tumultuous year in New York congressional politics. The 2020 Census, conducted entirely during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, revealed a diminished population in the state resulting in New York losing a congressional seat. A drawn-out and contentious redistricting process resulted in bitter intra- and inter-party campaigns where senior congressional leaders … Continued
When Somaia Sharif Zada came to the United States in August 2021, she had little more than the clothes she was wearing and her laptop computer. But the 28-year-old Afghan native also brought with her something intangible – and she hopes, in the long term, far more valuable: More than eight years of experience as … Continued
The COVID-19 pandemic shed a glaring light on our nation’s long history of failing to properly care for people with mental health issues. For too long, we have ignored and marginalized people with mental illness, all too readily accepting the reality that too many of such individuals cycle in and out of shelters and jails, … Continued
Sherry Levin Wallach, president of the New York State Bar Association, issued the following statement about Gov. Kathy Hochul’s nomination of Justice Hector D. LaSalle as chief judge of the Court of Appeals and the State of New York. She also praised Justice LaSalle for his intention to appoint Judge Edwina Richardson-Mendelson as chief administrative … Continued
At a New York State Bar Association program on the metaverse Friday at the NYU School of Law, the first order of business was establishing exactly what the metaverse is. A lot of people believe it’s a homogenous place next to the real world where avatars interact. The reality is that it’s many places and … Continued
Don’t let the looming tax season dampen your joy during the most wonderful time of the year. To enjoy your holiday plans without the specter of outstanding tasks hanging over your head, get proactive about closing out your 2022 books. Review cash flow You monitor your cash flow throughout the year, but now is … Continued
What do the monkey selfie and the “Bored Ape Yacht Club” images pictured above have in common? Both depict grinning primates, of course. But less obviously, both may lack copyright. You may recall a dispute between Naruto the monkey and a photographer whose camera Naruto borrowed to take a selfie. The photographer argued that he … Continued