NY Attorney General Shuts Down Landlord Who Exposed Children to Lead Poisoning

NY Attorney General Shuts Down Landlord Who Exposed Children to Lead Poisoning

New York Attorney General Letitia James announced an agreement resolving her lawsuit against landlord John Kiggins and his company, Endzone Properties, Inc., for failing to protect children from lead paint hazards in Syracuse. The lawsuit, filed in October 2021, alleged that Kiggins and Endzone endangered the health of its tenants, primarily children, by repeatedly violating lead paint […]

Erie County Landlord-Tenant Hub Court Dedicated

Erie County Landlord-Tenant Hub Court Dedicated Rochester Lawyers

A dedication ceremony for the newly created Erie County Landlord-Tenant HUB Court was held on June 2, 2022 at Buffalo City Court, 50 Delaware Avenue, Buffalo, NY.  The Erie County Landlord Tenant HUB Court is the first court in the State of New York to operate virtually with a presumptive Alternative Dispute Resolution model. The […]

Does The Physician-Patient Privilege Apply to NY Guardianship Proceedings?

Does The Physician-Patient Privilege Apply to NY Guardianship Proceedings

Yes, the physician-patient privilege applies to New York Mental Hygiene Law Article 81 (“MHL 81”) guardianship proceedings. In MHL 81 proceedings, the Alleged Incapacitated Person (“AIP) enjoys an absolute right to doctor-patient confidentiality  that precludes admission of his/her medical records or information into evidence unless he/she waives the privilege or has affirmatively placed his/her medical […]

NY Prison Sentence for Defrauding Elderly Victims Out of $2.6 Million

NY Prison Sentence for Defrauding Elderly Victims Out of $2.6 Million

Martin Hogan, 53, of Montreal Canada was convicted of conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud. He was sentenced to serve 111 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Frank P. Geraci, Jr. in Rochester, NY.  Between September 2015 and March 2020, Hogan conspired with multiple co-defendants to defraud elderly victims using a fraudulent telemarketing […]

NY Governor Signs Legislation Strengthening Gun Laws

NY Governor Signs Legislation Strengthening Gun Laws

New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed a landmark legislative package on June 6, 2022 to immediately strengthen New York’s gun laws; close critical loopholes exposed by shooters in Buffalo and Uvalde and protect New Yorkers from the scourge of gun violence.  Raising the Age to Purchase Semiautomatic Rifles S.9458/A.10503 requires individuals to obtain a license prior to purchasing […]

NY Weapon Conviction Reversed Due to Faulty Plea

NY Weapon Conviction Reversed Due to Faulty Plea

The Appellate Division of New York State Supreme Court, Second Department reversed a gun conviction and dismissed the accusatory instrument because of insufficient evidence and an involuntary guilty plea. Defendant David Flores was charged with fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon and third-degree criminal possession of a forged instrument in Southeast Town Court (Putnam County). […]

ABA Urges Swift Action to Stop Gun Violence

Aba Urges Swift Action to Stop Gun Violence

In the wake of recent mass shootings in a Buffalo, New York supermarket, and at an Uvalde, Texas elementary school, American Bar Association President Reginald Turner urged Congress “to take swift, evidence-informed action to dramatically reduce the threat and devastating impacts of gun violence.” He sent a letter to U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., and Sen. John […]

NY Attorney General Cracks Down on Sellers of Ghost Gun Parts

NY Attorney General Cracks Down on Sellers of Ghost Gun Parts

On June 1, 2022 (the first day of Gun Violence Awareness Month) New York Attorney General Letitia James (“NYAG”) took action to crack down on firearms sellers who illegally selling and advertising gun parts that are used to create homemade, untraceable firearms, known as ghost guns. An investigation by the NYAG found that 28 firearms […]

NY Attorney General Successfully Defends Right to Hold Gun Manufacturers Responsible for Gun Violence

NY Attorney General Successfully Defends Right to Hold Gun Manufacturers Responsible for Gun Violence

New York Attorney General Letitia James released the following statement in response to a federal court dismissing a lawsuit from a group of gun manufacturers and sellers challenging a New York law that grants the attorney general the ability to hold gun manufacturers and sellers responsible for gun violence: “As we mourn the deaths of 19 innocent […]