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News & Updates....

Installation of Officers & Directors 2010

More than 400 NYSTLA members filled the courtroom at the historic Brooklyn Borough Hall as Judge Sylvia Hinds-Radix, Administrative Judge for Civil Matters (Second Judicial Department), swore in Nicholas I. Timko as our 43rd President on Wednesday, June 23rd. New York City Public Advocate was the featured speaker.






Nick Timko and Past President Nicholas Papain presented Richard Binko with the President's Award for outstanding leadership during his term in office.


Genesee Valley Civil Justice Update

Genesee Valley practitioners welcomed NYSTLA President Richard S. Binko to the Rochester Oak Hill Country Club for a civil justice update on May 12th, 2010. President Binko emphasized the need to sustain our presence in all areas of New York State to ensure the protection of the civil justice system. The reception's esteemed guest speakers were Judge Stephen K. Lindley and Justice William P. Polito.


Paul Shanahan, Judge Stephen K. Lindley, President Richard S. Binko, & NYSTLA Partner John Bair


Justice William P. Polito & Richard S. Binko


Flight 3407 crash documents need for better training

The Buffalo News published President Richard Binko's opinion piece on May 7th, 2010. The Op Ed calls for tougher air safety regulations in the wake of the crash of Continental Flight 3407 in February 2009.

Read the entire article here.

Law Day 2010

More than one thousand lawyers and state judges attended NYSTLA's signature event, the Law Day Dinner on Wednesday, May 5th, 2010.



President Richard S. Binko presented the Law Day Award to the Honorable Henry J. Scudder, Presiding Justice of the Appellate Division, Fourth Department; New York City Comptroller John C. Liu gave the evening's Keynote Address.


President Richard S. Binko's Letter to the Editor is published in the New York Times

The New York Times published President Richard S. Binko's letter to the editor on March 13, 2010 regarding an editorial entitled "A Nonfrivolous Suit." Please click here to read the full letter on why every American should be guaranteed their day in court.

On industry reform, courts can get there before regulators

Newsday published an opinion piece submitted by President Richard S. Binko on March 3rd, 2010. The article brings attention to the need for courts to regulate the auto industry in the wake of Toyota recalls.

Read the full article here.
 


Toyota makes the case for U. S. lawsuit system

The Buffalo News published an opinion piece submitted by Richard Binko on Monday, February 22. The article, which was printed in the "Another Voice" section and titled "Toyota makes the case for U. S. lawsuit system," discussed the important role the civil justice system plays in forcing manufacturers to make safer products.

You can read the full article online here.

Richard Binko Inducted into Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity

NYSTLA President Richard Binko was recently inducted into the Phi Alpha Delta International Law Fraternity in a surprise ceremony. Ronald J. Winter, Esq., the Fraternity's International Vice Justice and Law Clerk to Hon. Richard C. Kloch, Sr. of the 8th Judicial District, Niagara County, presented Binko with a key and certificate of induction at the Buffalo Club.

The Phi Alpha Delta International Law Fraternity was formed in 1902 to advance integrity, compassion and courage through service to the student, the school, the profession and the community. Phi Alpha Delta was the first law fraternity to open membership to all genders, races, creeds and national origins and it continues to hold up these core values.


Ronald J. Winter and Richard S. Binko at the ceremony


NYSTLA Participates in Legislative Conference

NYSTLA President Richard Binko, President-Elect Nicholas Timko, and Past President Joseph Awad joined with state legislative leaders to discuss important community issues at the Black and Puerto Rican Legislative Conference February 12th – 14th. The weekend is an opportunity for legislators and community leaders to develop strategies, policies and goals to better enhance the quality of life for all New Yorkers.

Richard Binko participated in a workshop on workers' rights, titled "winning justice in the workplace." Binko joined New York City Comptroller John Liu, Assemblymembers Hakeem Jeffries and Brian Kavanagh, as well as leaders from the community group Make the Road NY and labor union SEIU 32BJ to talk about ways to bring the working poor out of poverty. He focused his presentation on basic workers' legal rights, such as minimum wage, overtime pay, and the right to organize.

Joseph Awad joined a workshop led by State Senator Bill Perkins on the issue of eminent domain, including the recent notable US Supreme Court Case, Kelo vs. City of New London. He presented "what every tenant, landowner, and business owner needs to know" if they face an eminent domain seizure.


Richard Binko and Nick Timko with State Senate Democratic Leader John Sampson at the successful Caucus Weekend.


Past President Joe Awad spoke at State Senator Bill Perkins' workshop on eminent domain issues.


Governor Signs Anti-Subrogation Law

NYSTLA achieved an extraordinary legislative victory when Governor Paterson signed into effect new General Obligations Law §5-335 on November 12, 2009. This law now bars any benefit provider, such as an HMO or private health insurer, from seeking any reimbursement or subrogation against any settling party to a personal injury or wrongful death action with respect to benefits it may have paid or is obligated to pay. The only exceptions are for claims for which there is a statutory right of reimbursement (e.g., Medicaid, Medicare, workers' compensation) and subrogation claims to recover excess no-fault benefits.

This new law directly overrules two problematic Court of Appeals decisions, Teichman v. Community Hosp. Of Western Suffolk, 87 N.Y.2d 514 (1996), and Fasso v. Doerr, 12 N.Y.3d 80 (2009), to the extent they recognized non-statutory rights for reimbursement or subrogation against a settling party.

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President Richard Binko Testifies at Patient Safety Hearing

NYSTLA President Richard Binko testified before the Joint Senate and Assembly Standing Committees on Health on October 19, 2009 to discuss improving patient safety and the effectiveness of the New York Patient Occurrence and Tracking System (NYPORTS). President Binko testified about the disturbing frequency of medical errors in New York State and across the nation and the detrimental effects of underreporting and lax enforcement in hospitals. President Binko cited a number of leading government and consumer group studies showing the frequency, severity and costs of medical errors, as well as the deeply personal costs to victims and their families. In addition to statements by government agencies and health care associations, consumer organizations including the Center for Medical Consumers and Consumers Union also provided testimony.


Binko testifying at the Committee Hearing on patient safety


Governor David Paterson & Congressmember Jerrold Nadler Address NYSTLA Board of Directors

Governor David Paterson and Congressmember Jerrold Nadler, a member of the House Judiciary Committee and Chair of the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties Subcommittee, met with members of NYSTLA's board of Directors on Monday, October 5 to discuss current legislative proposals in Albany and Washington, D.C.


President Richard Binko with Governor Paterson and Immediate Past President Nick Papain with Congressmember Nadler.


Labor Law Symposium with Assembly Labor Committee Chair Susan John

Susan John, Chair of the Assembly Labor Committee, along with representatives from local organized labor, met with NYSTLA's Labor Law Committee on Monday, October 5 discuss new legislative challenges to Labor Law § 240 & 241 and NYSTLA's efforts to combat these measures.


NYSTLA Labor Law Committee Co-Chair Daniel O'Toole and Assemblymember John

The Labor Law's protections are indispensable to New York workers, particularly as the number of construction related accidents and deaths soar across the State. The New York City Department of Buildings recently reported a 40% increase in construction accidents over the last year. The Labor Law is more important to the workers in New York State than it has ever been.

If you would like to join with NYSTLA to protect worker safety, please contact Legislative Director Tara Lai Quinlan at 212-349-5890 or tquinlan@nystla.org


Membership Outreach Campaign

Thank you to those who participated in NYSTLA's membership outreach campaign event on September 15th. NYSTLA's voice is only as loud as the size of our membership and we will continue to build on the past year's growth.

Save the date for our next membership outreach event on November 2nd from 11am – 4pm at NYSTLA's office. For more information please contact Amanda Widom at 212-349-5890 or awidom@nystla.org


NYSTLA Officers and members making membership outreach calls


U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand Speaks to NYSTLA Board of Directors

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand visited NYSTLA's Board of Directors meeting on Tuesday, September 15th to give an update on politics and legislation in Washington, D.C.


Senator Gillibrand and NYSTLA President Richard Binko