Practice Area: Litigation & Trials

Arbitration and Equal Justice Under the Law: A Double Victory

While Coinbase Inc. v. Bielski has been hailed as a victory for arbitration, it should also be celebrated as no less a victory for equal justice under the law. This article will examine both victories, as well as suggest a way to ensure a uniform rule of law in the future. The Arbitration Victory Under … Continued

Ten Deposition Lessons You Don’t Want to Learn the Hard Way

Planning, preparation and mastering your presence during a deposition are key to a successful experience. Scott Occhiogrosso, partner at Block, O’Toole and Murphy, hosted a CLE called “Ten Deposition Lessons You Don’t Want to Learn the Hard Way.” Occhiogrosso specializes in catastrophic construction accidents and serious personal injury cases in New York City. His background … Continued

NYSBA Pledges To Continue Its Fight for Equal Rights in Wake of U.S. Supreme Court Decision in LGBTQ+ Public Accommodations Case

Richard Lewis, president of the New York State Bar Association, issued the following statement about the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in 303 Creative LLC v. Elenis, No. 21-476, 599 U.S.__ (2023): “The New York State Bar Association vows to continue its fight for equal rights following the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in 303 Creative LLC … Continued

President of New York State Bar Association Calls Judge Rowan Wilson’s Historic Confirmation a Significant Milestone

Sherry Levin Wallach, president of the New York State Bar Association, issued the following statement about the state Senate’s confirmation of Judge Rowan D. Wilson as chief judge of the Court of Appeals and the State of New York: “The historic appointment and confirmation of Judge Rowan D. Wilson as New York’s first African-American chief … Continued

Vivian Wesson on AI, Facial Recognition and the Law

Technology can both help and hurt in the cause of justice. In a fascinating conversation, Vivian Wesson shares with host David Miranda how artificial intelligence and facial recognition are being used in both criminal and civil law. Wesson says the technology can unearth biases when it cannot distinguish between races of people and lead to … Continued

Commission on Judicial Nomination Seeks Applicants for Chief Judge

The Commission on Judicial Nomination will be accepting applicants for chief judge until March 7. The clerk of the Court of Appeals informed the commission that there continues to be a vacancy in the position of chief judge given the state Senate’s rejection Wednesday of Presiding Justice Hector LaSalle, Appellate Division, Second Department. The vacancy … Continued

Dealing with Implicit Bias During Jury Selection

Implicit Bias. It’s an issue we discuss often, but what does it mean in the context of choosing a jury? The Criminal Justice Section held a panel during Annual Meeting to discuss how implicit bias should be handled during voir dire. With recent changes to jury instructions including a mandatory video presented to prospective jurors, … Continued