Dear Colleagues, First, I want to acknowledge our newsletter editor, Mark Davies, who has “retired” from the task of publishing the ComFed newsletter after 40 years. Mark served behind the scenes through technological revolutions, changing legal landscapes, and evolving professional practices, seamlessly producing our newsletter. Mark has now stepped down to pursue other interests, and … Continued
Under § 104 of the Internal Revenue Code, compensatory damages for personal physical injuries or physical sickness are free of tax. For generations, “personal injuries” were enough for an exclusion, but since 1996, the injury must be “physical.” Lawyers and clients in serious physical injury and wrongful death cases are used to counting on the … Continued
We cannot incarcerate ourselves out of addiction. Addiction is a medical crisis that – when it comes to nonviolent offenders – warrants medical interventions, not incarceration. – Dominique DuBois Gilliard, pastor, criminal justice reform advocate and author of Rethinking Incarceration: Advocating for Justice That Restores The New York State Bar Association (NYSBA) created a statewide Task … Continued
Where has the time gone? Two years have flown by, and despite all the work that we’ve done, it seems like we have just begun! Allow me a moment to review and reflect on the Criminal Justice Section’s most important achievements. The Criminal Justice Section was very active in letting our voice be heard through … Continued
Although this issue will not be published until the next season, it is springtime as I write this message. It’s a time for change and renewal. For our section, it’s time for us to offer our heartfelt thanks to Leah Nowotarski, our outgoing chair, and a warm welcome to David Cohn, our incoming chair. Let’s … Continued
I am honored to follow Leah Nowotarski as chair of the Criminal Justice Section. We thank Leah for her tireless service as chair. Under Leah’s tenure, CJS has returned to in-person programming. We have held CLEs addressing cutting-edge issues, such as New York’s criminal discovery laws and the Domestic Violence Survivors Justice Act. We have … Continued
On Feb. 17, New York State corrections officers went on an unauthorized strike and demanded safer working conditions. One of their complaints was that the rules around solitary confinement, which went into effect in 2022, created dangerous conditions and prevented them from being able to adequately do their jobs. This article will examine the passage … Continued
For years, the Real Property Law Section of the New York State Bar Association has helped shape the future of the legal profession through its scholarship program, which has provided critical financial support to law students pursuing careers in real property law. Through the generosity of the section and the friends and family of past … Continued
The state of the real estate markets, historically cyclical, will be hard to predict in the near term. While there is still much volatility in interest rates (both from institutional lenders and private equity funds) there seems to be a heightened appetite for risk-taking by those seeking to propel the markets after a long period … Continued
David C. Mineo is a graduate of Canisius University and received his J.D. from John Marshall Law School after having attended his final year at the University at Buffalo School of Law. He currently is chief compliance officer at Madison Title, located in Lakewood, NJ. Q. What sparked your interest in real estate law? Please tell us … Continued