Category: Latest News

Michael Bloch: A Passion To Defend Victims of Persecution

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

New York State Bar Association Mourns the Death of Pioneering Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor

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

Proving Copyright Access in an On-Demand World

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

The Roots of Abuse: Expanding Vicarious Liability for Sexual Abuse in Women’s Sports

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

Declaring the Missing Dead in Surrogate’s Court

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

Capital District Lawyers Helping Lawyers Group Honors Attorney With Ray of Hope Award

David Keehn, an attorney with the state Department of Environmental Conservation, received the Ray of Hope Award in recognition of the significant contributions he has made to lawyer well-being. Keehn is a past co-chair of Capital District Lawyers Helping Lawyers, one of 13 New York State Bar Association peer-led support groups that offer confidential assistance … Continued

Emmy Award Winning Multi-Media Journalist and Attorney Discusses Three Centuries of Unsung Black Female Leaders

Emmy Award winning civil rights attorney Gloria J. Browne-Marshall’s inspiration for her latest book derives from the leadership qualities of 21st century Black female leaders. They were often hidden in the shadows because the social norms of previous eras hindered their opportunities. This is among the many insights Browne-Marshall offered the audience while being interviewed … Continued

New York State Bar Association President: Signing of Clean Slate Act Heralds a Monumental Day for Justice and Fair Treatment

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