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Westchester Women’s Bar Association<br />

APRIL <strong>2017</strong><br />

M<br />

any <strong>WWBA</strong> members celebrated<br />

Read Across America<br />

day on March 2, <strong>2017</strong> at the<br />

Eugenia Maria de Hostos MicroSociety<br />

School, a pre-kindergarten through<br />

eighth grade school with over 600 students<br />

located in southwest Yonkers. The<br />

school’s minority enrollment comprises<br />

approximately 97 percent of the student<br />

body. The staff, students and parents<br />

who compose the community at<br />

the Hostos School are dedicated to providing<br />

an atmosphere in which excellence<br />

and equality in education are valued<br />

and achieved by every student so<br />

that they are encouraged to become<br />

productive and successful members of<br />

our multicultural society.<br />

The <strong>WWBA</strong> was one of the first<br />

chapters of WBASNY to participate in<br />

the Read Across America program when<br />

<strong>WWBA</strong><br />

<strong>WWBA</strong> PARTICIPATES IN ANNUAL<br />

READ ACROSS AMERICA DAY<br />

INSIDE THIS ISSUE<br />

APRIL <strong>2017</strong><br />

Foundation to Award<br />

Justice Sondra M. Miller<br />

Scholarship<br />

(page 4)<br />

An Interview with<br />

Judge Susan Cacace<br />

(page 7)<br />

<strong>April</strong> Litigation Tip<br />

(page 9)<br />

continued on page 6 ➥<br />

<strong>WWBA</strong> Upcoming Events<br />

(page 12)<br />

Jacqueline Hattar and Kelly Ficarotta with<br />

their class<br />

Westchester Women’s Bar Association News<br />

news<br />

www.wwbany.org<br />

SAVE THE DATE<br />

GMM: A CONVERSATION<br />

WITH THE U.S. DISTRICT<br />

JUDGES IN WHITE PLAINS<br />

<strong>April</strong> 4, <strong>2017</strong><br />

LaBocca Ristorante<br />

White Plains, New York<br />

NAVIGATING THE NEW<br />

MAINTENANCE<br />

GUIDELINES<br />

<strong>April</strong> 24, <strong>2017</strong><br />

Sterling National Bank<br />

Tuckahoe, New York<br />

ABCs ON THE ADA<br />

May 9, <strong>2017</strong><br />

Sterling National Bank<br />

Tuckahoe, New York<br />

PRESIDENT’S<br />

MESSAGE<br />

One of the best single<br />

professional decisions<br />

a lawyer can<br />

make is to join and<br />

become active in the<br />

Westchester<br />

Women’s Bar Association.<br />

After moving<br />

to Westchester in the<br />

early 2000’s I was trying<br />

to get established<br />

Susan Edwards<br />

Colson<br />

and therefore looking for a meaningful<br />

network. After several unrelated events<br />

and informal discussions, women who I<br />

admired suggested to me that I should<br />

“join the <strong>WWBA</strong>.” I took their suggestions<br />

to heart and joined. Their statements<br />

of encouragement have resulted<br />

in my involvement now for almost 20<br />

years. Their viewpoint spread a message<br />

to me that joining was an important act<br />

and even an act of critical importance.<br />

As it has turned out, their encouragement<br />

to join the <strong>WWBA</strong> has brought me<br />

here to serve as president with a long<br />

history of prior service in various capacities<br />

and, importantly, many lasting<br />

friendships.<br />

After officially joining the <strong>WWBA</strong>,<br />

my first step was to join a committee.<br />

Our committees are the backbone of our<br />

activities and it is a rare month that the<br />

calendar is not packed with their fabulous<br />

programs and CLEs. It is through<br />

our committees that our members teach<br />

CLEs, engage speakers, or exchange<br />

practice tips and solutions.<br />

One of the formats that has been<br />

truly useful is the panel discussion. At<br />

least one per year, and often several, of<br />

continued on page 3 ➥<br />

Page 1<br />

The Westchester Women’s Bar Association is a Chapter of the Women’s Bar Association of the State of New York


<strong>WWBA</strong> Member <strong>Newsletter</strong><br />

APRIL <strong>2017</strong><br />

Published Monthly by the<br />

Westchester Women’s<br />

Bar Association, a Chapter of<br />

the Women’s Bar Association<br />

of the State of New York<br />

~ 2016/<strong>2017</strong> Officers and Directors ~<br />

President SUSAN EDWARDS COLSON<br />

Vice Presidents<br />

LISA M. DENIG JOELLE M. BURTON JENNIFER N. NETROSIO<br />

Treasurer<br />

AMANDA C. FRIED Recording Secretary ANGELA MORCONE GIANNINI<br />

Corresponding Secretary KIM BERG<br />

Immediate Past ast President<br />

ROBIN D. CARTON<br />

Elected Directors Westchester Board<br />

GAIL M. BOGGIO HÉLÈNE CÔTÉ AMY E. GEWIRTZ<br />

LONYA A. GILBERT SHARI R. GORDON<br />

State Directors Women’s Bar Association of the State of New York<br />

ROBIN D. CARTON KITLEY S. COVILL DONNA E. FROSCO<br />

MARIAN GENIO THERESA A. GIROLAMO ANNETTE G. HASAPIDIS JAMIESON L. KEISER<br />

ADRIENNE J. ORBACH SUSAN MILLS RICHMOND JANE SILVERMAN<br />

Executive Director ELISABETH CAMPOS<br />

© Copyright 2016 Westchester Women’s Bar Association. All rights reserved.<br />

The opinions expressed herein are those of the author(s) only and do not reflect the official position of the Association.<br />

Editor-in-Chief: Kim Berg • Designed and Printed by IPM Media Group, Inc. (516) 809-0501<br />

2016-<strong>2017</strong> <strong>WWBA</strong> Committee Chairs<br />

S T A N D I N G C O M M I T T E E S<br />

By-Laws .................................................................. Anna L. Georgiou<br />

Corporate & Commercial ........................ Lisa M. Bluestein, Eva David<br />

Criminal Law ....... Kitley S. Covill, Lisa M. Denig, Hon. Sandra A. Forster<br />

Families’, Children & the Courts .......... Shari R. Gordon, Joy S. Joseph,<br />

Lauren Morrissey, Hon. Irene Ratner<br />

Grievance/Ethics ............................ Kitley S. Covill, Deborah A. Scalise<br />

Judicial Screening ............... Hon. Sandra A. Forster, Loren I. Glassman<br />

Judiciary .......... Hon. Delores Scott Brathwaite, Hon. Linda S. Jamieson<br />

Lawyering & Parenting ............................................... Joelle M. Burton,<br />

Jana Kosberg-Kleidman<br />

Legislation ................................................. Angela Morcone Gianinni<br />

Matrimonial .......... Robin Carton, Dolores Gebhardt, Lonya A. Gilbert<br />

Annual Dinner ......... Robin D. Carton, Lisa M. Denig, Jennifer L. Gray,<br />

Stephanie Melowsky, Jennifer N. Netrosio<br />

Annual Dinner Souvenir Journal ................................................. TBD<br />

Appellate Practice ....................... Lisa M. Denig, Hon. Mark C. Dillon,<br />

Hon. Sondra M. Miller, Hon. Robert A. Spolzino<br />

Archive & Historian ..................................................... Susan L. Pollet<br />

Awards ............................................. Elizabeth M. Barnhard, Kim Berg<br />

Bankruptcy ................... Susan Mills Richmond, Wendy Marie Weathers<br />

Breast Cancer Awareness ...................................... Adrienne J. Orbach<br />

Collaborative Law ........................... Kathleen Donelli, John J. Grimes,<br />

Lynn J. Maier, Hon. Sondra M. Miller<br />

Community Outreach ... Deborah A. Scalise, Hon. Lisa Margaret Smith<br />

Continuing Legal Education ..................................... Ann M. McNulty<br />

Diversity in Membership ........... Jacqueline Hattar, Stephanie Melowsky<br />

Domestic Violence ...................... Natanya L. Briendel, Audrey E. Stone<br />

Education Law ....................... Adrienne J. Arkontaky, Julie P. Passman,<br />

Susan Mills Richmond<br />

Elder & Health Law ............. Patricia L. Angley, Elizabeth A. Cumming,<br />

Shari R. Gordon<br />

Employment Law ...................................... Kim Berg, Hillary Raimondi<br />

Environmental & Land Use .......... Lucia Chiocchio, Anna L. Georgiou,<br />

Jennifer L. Gray, Katherine Zalantis<br />

Gender Dynamics ...................................... Hon. Terry Jane Ruderman<br />

○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○<br />

A D H O C C O M M I T T E E S<br />

Membership ............................................... Sherry Bishko, Hélène Côté<br />

Networking ................................... Jennifer L. Gray, Patricia McCluskey<br />

New Lawyers ............................. Elizabeth Marcus, Jennifer N. Netrosio<br />

Professional Development .............. Adam J. Krim, Stephanie Melowsky<br />

Programs ........................................... Lucia Chiocchio, Amanda Fried<br />

Public Relations ............................... Joelle M. Burton, Jennifer L. Gray<br />

Real Property ............................ Melanie Finkel, Hon. Sandra A. Forster<br />

Sponsorship .................................. Lisa M. Bluestein, Lucia Chiocchio,<br />

Joelle M. Burton<br />

Taxation ....................................................................................... TBD<br />

Trusts & Estates ................................... Gail M. Boggio, Anna B. Parker,<br />

Nancy J. Rudolph, Karen J. Walsh<br />

Golf & Tennis Outing ................................................................ TBD<br />

Holiday Party and Boutique ...... Dolores Gebhardt, Jennifer N. Netrosio<br />

Immigration ................................................................. Henry Mascia<br />

Insurance ..................................................................... Dawn Warren<br />

Intellectual Property .............. Elizabeth M. Barnhard, Donna E. Frosco,<br />

Theresa O’Rourke Nugent<br />

Judgment Enforcement & Collections .............. Christopher T. Bonante,<br />

Daniel F. Florio, Jr.<br />

Litigation ...................... Angela Morcone Giannini, Jacqueline Hattar<br />

Kimberly Sheehan<br />

Long Range Planning ............... Lisa M. Bluestein, Carla D. Glassman,<br />

Linda Markowitz, Ann M. McNulty<br />

Mediation ............................ Amy Carron Day, Hon. Sondra M. Miller,<br />

Lauren S. Morrissey, Abby Rosmarin<br />

Network of Bar Leaders ............................................. Donna E. Frosco<br />

Pace Board of Visitors ....................... Gail M. Boggio, Lonya A. Gilbert<br />

Past Presidents ........... Jane Bilus Gould, Mary F. Kelly, Linda Markowitz<br />

Practice Management ......... Jamieson L. Keiser, Wendy Marie Weathers<br />

Pro Bono .................................................. Marcia Levy, Marian Genio<br />

Technology/Website .......... Donna E. Frosco, Theresa O’Rourke Nugent<br />

WCA Board Delegate ............................................ Anthony Morando<br />

<strong>WWBA</strong> Foundation President ....................................... Julie S. Kattan<br />

<strong>WWBA</strong> Representative Director to the WCBA Board .. Dolores Gebhardt<br />

Page 2<br />

Westchester Women’s Bar Association News


○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○<br />

○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○<br />

President’s Message<br />

from page 1<br />

our general membership meetings and committee<br />

meetings embrace this format. Some<br />

of the most meaningful presentations are<br />

discussions between the bench and our<br />

members. For example, I encourage you<br />

to attend <strong>April</strong>’s General Membership Meeting<br />

“A Conversation with the U.S. District<br />

Judges in White Plains” and the upcoming<br />

program titled “Navigating the New<br />

Maintenance Guidelines and Their Effect<br />

on Child Support From a Judicial Perspective.”<br />

These interactive programs will surely<br />

focus on practical, useful topics, and promise<br />

to expand everyone’s understanding and<br />

knowledge.<br />

Another type of meeting that our committees<br />

continually find useful is the “lunch<br />

and learn.” This is essentially a chance to<br />

chat informally with your colleagues and<br />

then ask questions, typically of an expert or<br />

two who knows a practice area well. The<br />

Elder Law Committee has embraced this<br />

format extensively to present its continuing<br />

series “Elder Law 101.” On March 15th<br />

an informative discussion was had titled<br />

Elder Law 101: Part II – A Continued Discussion:<br />

Medicaid Planning, Wills and<br />

Powers of Attorney, Advance Planning for<br />

Health Care Decisions, Senior Housing<br />

Options. As the name implies, the topic is<br />

immense and lends itself to discussion of<br />

many interwoven topics, approaches and<br />

options. Even experienced attorneys see<br />

pitfalls and solutions that they have not<br />

quite seen or used in exactly the same way.<br />

The last time that I attended an Elder<br />

Law Committee lunch and learn I sat next<br />

to a young attorney whose practice was primarily<br />

municipal law. She was using the<br />

meeting to investigate whether the topic was<br />

of any interest to her at all. Plus, she was<br />

trying to connect with those in a totally new<br />

and different practice area. If she did make<br />

this change into a new practice area she<br />

knew she would certainly need contacts and,<br />

most certainly, a mentor or two. For new<br />

lawyers or law students I have found over<br />

my time with the <strong>WWBA</strong> that there is no<br />

shortage of opportunities to be mentored,<br />

to observe, and to learn.<br />

Mentoring, whether formal or informal,<br />

is not actually a distinct assignment the results<br />

of which often cannot be measured by<br />

continued on page 10 ➥<br />

Editor’s Note<br />

Oh, Spring is surely coming, Her couriers fill the air;<br />

Each morn are new arrivals, Each night her ways prepare;<br />

I scent her fragrant garments, Her foot is on the stair.<br />

~ John Burroughs, “A March Glee”<br />

Making Dates and Getting Published<br />

NEWSLETTER SUBMISSIONS<br />

❑ Deadline for newsletter submissions is the 12th of the month prior to publication (submissions<br />

received after the deadline are subject to the discretion of the editor).<br />

❑ Send submissions as email attachments to Kim Berg at kberg@gouldberglaw.com.<br />

❑ Articles should be 1,000 words or fewer. Remove all pagination, headers, footers or other<br />

formatting, other than bold, underline or italics. Authors are encouraged to submit photographs<br />

for publication with their submissions and include a short biographical statement with<br />

their submissions.<br />

❑ Materials submitted allow the <strong>WWBA</strong> a limited copyright and full permission to reprint the<br />

material in any <strong>WWBA</strong> publication or on its website without additional consent.<br />

❑ Photographs must be high-resolution (150 dpi or more) and the subject and all persons in<br />

each photograph must be fully identified.<br />

PROGRAM SCHEDULING<br />

❑ First visit the <strong>WWBA</strong> website: www.wwbany.org and click on the calendar at the home page to<br />

view scheduled programs. Conflicts in scheduling will be assessed on a case by case basis, with<br />

priority for early submissions.<br />

❑ Contact Kim Berg at kberg@gouldberglaw.com to schedule a <strong>WWBA</strong> sponsored or cosponsored<br />

program, including committee meetings, CLE programs, etc.<br />

❑ Once you have reserved the date with Kim Berg, proceed with planning your program and<br />

creating your flyer.<br />

❑ Flyers must be approved by the Programs Committee. In advance of the 12th of the month,<br />

please send your flyer to the Program Committee Co-chairs for review and copy the Executive<br />

Director. Once approved, please send your final flyer to the Executive Director, Kim Berg and the<br />

President for publication on the website calendar and the newsletter calendar. The final flyer will<br />

also be emailed to the membership.<br />

❑ We will also consider publicizing programs from outside organizations that may be of interest<br />

to our members.<br />

❑ Post-event: You may report on the success of your program and provide photographs of the<br />

speakers and participants that can be included in an upcoming newsletter. Send your submission<br />

to Lisa M. Denig, following the guidelines above.<br />

Contacts<br />

Kim Berg, Corresponding Secretary and <strong>Newsletter</strong> Editor-in-Chief: kberg@gouldberglaw.com<br />

Lucia Chiocchio, Programs Committee Co-Chair: lchiocchio@cuddyfeder.com<br />

Amanda Fried, Programs Committee Co-Chair: afried@cartonrosoff.com<br />

Susan Edwards Colson, President: president@wwbany.org<br />

Ann M. McNulty, CLE Chair: ann.m.mcnulty@morganstanley.com<br />

Elisabeth Campos, Executive Director: executivedirector@wwbany.org<br />

A d v e r t i s i n g R a t e s<br />

Full Page Display Ad<br />

5-10 Issues - $525.00 per issue<br />

1-4 Issues - $575.00 per issue<br />

Half Page Display Ad<br />

5-10 Issues - $275.00 per issue<br />

1-4 Issues - $300.00 per issue<br />

Quarter Page Display Ad<br />

5-10 Issues - $165.00 per issue<br />

1-4 Issues - $180.00 per issue<br />

Business Card Ad<br />

5-10 Issues - $60.00 per issue<br />

1-4 Issues - $75.00 per issue<br />

Classified – office space, furniture/equipment, employment & situation wanted (up to 5 lines)<br />

Members - $50.00 first issue; $25.00 each succeeding issue; Non-Members - $75.00 per issue<br />

Back Cover (3/4 page)<br />

5-10 Issues - $650.00 per issue; 1-4 Issues - $700.00 per issue<br />

Deadline for all ads is the 12th of the month prior to publication. Ads are subject to space limitations.<br />

Call Kim Berg at (914) 397-1050 or kberg@gouldberglaw.com for any questions regarding advertising.<br />

Westchester Women’s Bar Association News<br />

Page 3


○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○<br />

○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○<br />

Elder Law 101 Lunch<br />

and Learn Program<br />

on March 15, <strong>2017</strong><br />

Elizabeth Cumming<br />

On March 15, <strong>2017</strong>, the<br />

Elder and Health and New<br />

Lawyer’s Committees sponsored<br />

a second informative Lunchand-Learn<br />

in their Elder Law<br />

101 series. Jennifer<br />

Bienenstock, Esq. of Maker,<br />

Fragale & Di Costanzo, LLP,<br />

continued the discussion of<br />

“Bob and Jane” and the various<br />

issues they would be facing<br />

now that the couple had to<br />

decide whether Bob could be<br />

safely discharged home or<br />

whether he would have to be<br />

permanently placed in a skilled<br />

nursing facility.<br />

She addressed the importance<br />

of involving family members<br />

in the discussion, the ethical<br />

considerations to be aware<br />

of when involving family members,<br />

and the importance of<br />

obtaining the client’s permission<br />

to involve the family. Jennifer<br />

discussed the challenges<br />

a couple can face when they<br />

are dealing with discharge from<br />

a hospital to a nursing home,<br />

in addition to issues to be<br />

aware of when dealing with<br />

nursing home discharge to<br />

home or permanent placement<br />

in a nursing home. She discussed<br />

Medicare and Medicaid<br />

coverage, the Medicaid application<br />

process, the various<br />

planning tools available to<br />

qualify the ill spouse for Medicaid,<br />

and the need to review<br />

and revise the estate planning<br />

documents of the well spouse.<br />

Jennifer also addressed the issue<br />

of capacity and the importance<br />

of having advance directives<br />

to obviate the need for a<br />

guardianship proceeding.<br />

The question and answer<br />

portion of the program resulted<br />

in a group wide discussion as<br />

many asked questions and all<br />

shared their experiences on several<br />

topics. Thank you to<br />

Glassman & Brown, LLP who<br />

hosted the Lunch-and-Learn for<br />

our many participants. ◗<br />

<strong>WWBA</strong> Foundation to Award<br />

the <strong>2017</strong> Justice Sondra<br />

Miller Scholarship Award<br />

Julie Kattan<br />

The <strong>WWBA</strong> Foundation will again present a Pace University<br />

Law Student with its annual Justice Sondra M. Miller Scholarship.<br />

This award is given in recognition of the incredible, successful<br />

and inspiring efforts of our own Judge Miller. The recipient must<br />

be a second or third year law student who demonstrates: a history<br />

of community, volunteer and/or public service; an intention<br />

to contribute to the Westchester legal community; and, inter alia,<br />

an excellent academic record that considers not only G.P.A. but<br />

professor references, clinic/law review work, and other law related<br />

activities.<br />

The Westchester Women’s Bar Association Foundation<br />

(“<strong>WWBA</strong>F”) is pleased to announce that it will award the Justice<br />

Sondra Miller Scholarship to a deserving Pace Law Student. The<br />

selected awardee for <strong>2017</strong> is Nkasi (Erica) Akpaka, a third-year<br />

law student expected to receive her Juris Doctor in May <strong>2017</strong>.<br />

Ms. Akpaka has overcome many obstacles to reach this<br />

moment in her life. Not only has she persevered and never given<br />

up her dreams despite struggles from childhood but she has<br />

gone above and beyond to obtain an advanced education. She<br />

continued on page 9 ➥<br />

A Leader in Serving the<br />

Legal Services Community.<br />

That’s Sterling.<br />

Expect the highest caliber of personal<br />

service and banking expertise.<br />

Expect extraordinary.<br />

Contact banking professionals<br />

experienced in serving your<br />

unique needs 914-367-9000:<br />

Michael Henderson,<br />

Senior Managing Director<br />

Larry McElroen, Managing Director<br />

Anthony Forgione, Managing Director<br />

Moira Kiernan, Managing Director<br />

To learn about Sterling’s full suite<br />

of services, visit snb.com<br />

Elizabeth Cumming, Jennifer Bienenstock and Patricia Angley<br />

Page 4<br />

Member<br />

FDIC<br />

Westchester Women’s Bar Association News


Westchester Women’s Bar Committee Announcements<br />

The <strong>WWBA</strong>’s Diversity<br />

Committee is Seeking<br />

Nominations for the <strong>2017</strong><br />

Diversity Achievement Award<br />

Description and Criteria: The <strong>WWBA</strong> Diversity<br />

Achievement Award honors <strong>WWBA</strong> members, law<br />

firms and legal organizations, who recognize the value<br />

of diversity in the legal profession and make significant<br />

contributions toward achieving a high level of<br />

diversity in the workplace. Diversity encompasses<br />

race, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation<br />

and physical and mental abilities. Individual<br />

<strong>WWBA</strong> members and law firms/legal organizations<br />

will be honored on alternating years. Past recipients<br />

include the Honorable Terry Jane Ruderman and the<br />

Legal Services of the Hudson Valley.<br />

To qualify, the recipient must be actively involved<br />

in furthering the work of the <strong>WWBA</strong> and demonstrate<br />

a commitment to diversity. The individual recipient<br />

must be a <strong>WWBA</strong> member in good standing. For law<br />

firms and legal organizations to qualify, at least 10%<br />

of the law firm or organization must be members of<br />

the <strong>WWBA</strong> in good standing.<br />

The <strong>WWBA</strong> President, the President’s designee, and<br />

the co-chairs of the Diversity Committee will review the<br />

submissions and select the award recipient. The nominations<br />

should consist of: (1) an essay that shall not<br />

exceed more than 1,000 words describing why the<br />

individual/firm/organization should be selected; (2) the<br />

names of at least two persons, who are familiar with<br />

the initiatives/efforts, in support of the nominee; (3)<br />

for individual nominations, a copy of the individual’s<br />

resume or curriculum vitae; (4) letters of support and<br />

(5) contact information (e-mail and phone number) of<br />

the person submitting the entry. Submissions cannot<br />

exceed 15 one-sided pages.<br />

Nomination deadline/materials: The submission<br />

deadline is <strong>April</strong> 21, <strong>2017</strong>.<br />

The award will be presented at the <strong>WWBA</strong>’s Annual<br />

Dinner on June 7, <strong>2017</strong>. The recipient must be<br />

present to accept the award.<br />

Please visit the <strong>WWBA</strong>’s website for nomination<br />

forms or contact Jacqueline Hattar<br />

jacqueline.hattar@wilsonelser.com or Stephanie<br />

Melowsky smelowsky@mypcsb.com with any questions<br />

or for nomination forms.<br />

The <strong>WWBA</strong>’s Lawyering and<br />

Parenting Committee is<br />

Seeking Nominations for the<br />

<strong>2017</strong> Family Friendly Award<br />

A critical component of success for today’s law<br />

practices and related businesses is the creation of an<br />

environment that encourages employees to balance<br />

professional and family responsibilities. In such a<br />

workplace, morale, job satisfaction, and productivity<br />

are typically higher, while employee turnover is lower.<br />

The <strong>WWBA</strong> has long recognized and honored those<br />

legal employers who provide “family friendly” work<br />

environments.<br />

Nominations for the <strong>2017</strong> <strong>WWBA</strong> Family Friendly<br />

Award are now being accepted.<br />

Description and Criteria: Any legal or law<br />

related business employer with an office located in<br />

Westchester County in either the public or private<br />

sector (including in-house legal departments) employing<br />

at least three attorneys is eligible for nomination.<br />

At least one employee of the organization must be a<br />

<strong>WWBA</strong> member. Factors to be considered include opportunities<br />

offered to employees for part-time employment,<br />

flexible work schedules, maternity and paternity<br />

leave policies, telecommuting options, and partnership<br />

and executive leadership opportunities for<br />

part-time employees. The nomination may be submitted<br />

by any individual familiar with the nominee<br />

and its policies.<br />

Nomination deadline/materials: The submission<br />

deadline is <strong>April</strong> 21, <strong>2017</strong>.<br />

The award will be presented at the <strong>WWBA</strong>’s Annual<br />

Dinner on June 7, <strong>2017</strong>. The recipient must be<br />

present to accept the award.<br />

Please visit <strong>WWBA</strong>’s website or contact Joelle M.<br />

Burton at joelleburton11@gmail.com with any questions<br />

for for nomination forms.<br />

Westchester Women’s Bar Association News<br />

Page 5


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○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○<br />

<strong>WWBA</strong> Participates in Annual Read Across America Day<br />

from page 1<br />

it did so in the Yonkers Public<br />

School approximately ten years<br />

ago. During the course of their<br />

ten year involvement in this inspiring<br />

program, the <strong>WWBA</strong><br />

has donated books, t-shirts and<br />

school supplies to the Yonkers’<br />

students and schools.<br />

The guest readers at this<br />

year’s event included Elizabeth<br />

○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○<br />

Barnhard, Lisa Denig, Shari<br />

Gordon, Jacqueline Hattar,<br />

Ann McNulty, Stephanie<br />

Melowsky and Julie Passman.<br />

<strong>WWBA</strong> President Susan<br />

Edwards Colson stated: “We<br />

are truly proud and honored to<br />

continue to participate in the<br />

Read Across America program<br />

and promote the importance of<br />

reading to children.” ◗<br />

Education Committee Presents Informative Program<br />

Julie P. Passman<br />

On March 8th, the <strong>WWBA</strong> Education<br />

Committee hosted an engaging and<br />

informative presentation and roundtable<br />

discussion on “ADAAA Accommodations<br />

for People with Disabilities: Transitioning<br />

from High School to College and the<br />

Workforce.” While many people are familiar<br />

with the process of advocating for<br />

students with disabilities in kindergarten<br />

through high school settings, there seems<br />

to be a lower level of awareness regarding<br />

accommodations available to students with<br />

disabilities as they transition from high<br />

school to the adult world.<br />

Donna Drumm, Esq. and Molly<br />

McCabe shared their wealth of knowledge<br />

and experience regarding accommodations<br />

available to people with disabilities in college<br />

and employment settings. Ms. Drumm<br />

and Ms. McCabe highlighted the importance<br />

of ensuring that students and young<br />

adults, particularly those with “invisible<br />

Donna Drumm, Adrienne Arkontaky, Julie P.<br />

Passman, Susan Mills Richmond; and Molly<br />

McCabe, Associate Director for the Office of<br />

ACCESSibility at Mercy College<br />

disabilities” (such as ADHD and mental<br />

illness), are aware that they are entitled to<br />

reasonable accommodations as they transition<br />

to post-secondary school and the<br />

workforce.<br />

The two presenters brought to the table<br />

important and diverse perspectives on the<br />

process of obtaining accommodations<br />

under Americans with Disabilities Act<br />

Amendments Act of 2008 (ADAAA). Ms.<br />

Drumm, an attorney and Certified* ADAAA<br />

Advocate, advocates for qualified persons<br />

with disabilities in schools, courts and hospitals.<br />

She is also an adjunct professor in<br />

Health Policy at Mercy College, Masters in<br />

Public Administration program. Ms.<br />

Drumm provided a review of ADAAA Titles<br />

I, II and III and EEOC, and she offered<br />

strategies for attorneys to assist clients in<br />

supporting students during the transition<br />

from high school process and beyond.<br />

In her role as Associate Director for<br />

the Office of ACCESSibility at Mercy College,<br />

Ms. McCabe reviews accommodation<br />

requests and updates and aligns college<br />

policies with current disability law. Her<br />

insight into the needs of college students<br />

is enhanced by her prior experiences as a<br />

continued on page 9 ➥<br />

Page 6<br />

Westchester Women’s Bar Association News


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An Interview with Hon. Susan Cacace<br />

Susan L. Pollet<br />

Chair of the Archive and<br />

Historian Committee<br />

Q: Please tell us about<br />

your legal career prior to becoming<br />

a Judge, and then<br />

after.<br />

A. Upon my graduation<br />

from Pace University School<br />

of Law in 1989, I was hired<br />

by then Westchester County<br />

District Attorney, Carl<br />

A.Vergari and began my<br />

14-year career as a<br />

Westchester County Assistant<br />

District Attorney. Upon joining<br />

the office, I worked in<br />

the office’s Motions and<br />

Appeals Division, where I<br />

researched and drafted<br />

appeals and motions, thus<br />

gaining a detailed understanding<br />

of the law and preparing<br />

me for the transition<br />

to the courtroom. I spent<br />

several years in what is commonly<br />

referred to as “local<br />

court,” where I prosecuted<br />

misdemeanor crimes, trying<br />

more than 150 jury and<br />

non-jury trials. Thereafter, I<br />

was transferred to the<br />

Grand Jury Bureau where I<br />

investigated and presented<br />

hundreds of violent and<br />

non-violent felony cases to<br />

grand juries. Finally, I was<br />

assigned to the Superior<br />

Court Trial Division, where<br />

I litigated over 20 felony<br />

jury and non-jury trials to<br />

verdict.<br />

I left the District<br />

Attorney’s Office in 2003 to<br />

make my first run for<br />

Westchester County Court<br />

Judge. Unfortunately it was<br />

not a successful run, but still<br />

following my love of criminal<br />

law, I opened up my<br />

own practice with my husband,<br />

James G Dibbini,<br />

“[W]omen lawyers<br />

should truly support<br />

other women lawyers,<br />

because if we stick<br />

together, we can only<br />

become stronger and<br />

even more successful.”<br />

forming the law firm of<br />

Dibbini and Cacace in<br />

2003. Between 2003 and<br />

2005, I defended all the<br />

criminal cases in our office,<br />

while my husband handled<br />

all of the civil matters. This<br />

time in my career was an<br />

eye-opening experience: it<br />

was a time when I stood on<br />

the other side of the room<br />

from the prosecution table;<br />

interacted with my clients, the<br />

defendants, many of whom I<br />

had prosecuted in the past 14<br />

years; and even entered the<br />

area where prosecutors seldom<br />

ventured – the “lockups”<br />

and “the jail,” to meet<br />

with my clients. Those two<br />

years as a defense attorney,<br />

however, provide the balance<br />

in my career that properly<br />

prepared me for the<br />

bench, to which I was eventually<br />

elected in 2005.<br />

My first year as a newly<br />

elected Westchester County<br />

Court Judge was spent in the<br />

Superior Court Arraignment<br />

(SCI) Part conducting conferences<br />

where I negotiated<br />

pleas and sentence dispositions<br />

for violent and non-violent<br />

felony cases. Thereaf-<br />

Westchester Women’s Bar Association News<br />

ter, I began presiding over<br />

felony jury and non-jury trials,<br />

while still conferencing<br />

and negotiating SCI cases.<br />

Then, in or around 2010, I<br />

was assigned to preside over<br />

the Westchester County Sex<br />

Offense Part, a position that<br />

I still hold today. This is a<br />

specialized part, in which<br />

defendants who are charged<br />

with sex crimes have their<br />

cases heard from the conference<br />

stage, through plea,<br />

sentence, and a Sex Offense<br />

Registration (SORA) hearing.<br />

I preside over sex offense (<br />

and non sex offense) jury and<br />

non-jury trials, and monitor<br />

compliance of convicted sex<br />

offenders. In a civil capacity,<br />

I preside over all proceedings<br />

related to the Sex Offender<br />

Management and<br />

Treatment Act (SOMTA),<br />

which includes Mental Hygiene<br />

Law Article 10 probable<br />

cause hearings, trials,<br />

and dispositional hearings.<br />

More recently, I became<br />

the presiding judge of<br />

Westchester County’s designated<br />

DWI Part, where, with<br />

the hope of promoting uniformity<br />

in pleas and sen-<br />

Hon. Susan Cacace<br />

tences across the county,<br />

one judge conducts conferences<br />

and negotiates plea<br />

offers in all of Westchester’s<br />

felony DWI cases.<br />

Q: Why did you want to<br />

become a Judge?<br />

A: I knew that I wanted to<br />

become a judge when I was<br />

a young girl. My father, the<br />

late Robert W. Cacace, was<br />

a judge for nearly 20 years<br />

and ultimately he became<br />

the Chief Administrative<br />

Judge in the Yonkers City<br />

Court. Unfortunately, he<br />

passed away when I was<br />

22, but not before he witnessed<br />

my graduation from<br />

college and acceptance<br />

into Pace Law School. As a<br />

little girl, I always loved<br />

going to court with him to<br />

watch the proceedings, and<br />

it was then that I knew I<br />

wanted to become a judge.<br />

Q: What are the biggest<br />

challenges for you on the<br />

bench?<br />

A: The biggest challenges<br />

for me on the bench are presiding<br />

over cases involving<br />

very young defendants (i.e.<br />

continued on page 8 ➥<br />

Page 7


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An Interview with Hon. Susan Cacace<br />

from page 7<br />

16 and 17 year-olds) and<br />

sex offenses involving victims<br />

of tender age. Sixteen<br />

and 17 year-old defendants<br />

who are charged with<br />

violent crimes oftentimes<br />

get stuck between two systems;<br />

they are too young to<br />

get services that adults<br />

would ordinarily receive,<br />

but too old to get assistance<br />

from Family Court, as they<br />

are considered adults under<br />

the New York State Law.<br />

When they are charged with<br />

violent sex crimes, I am required<br />

to balance the<br />

needs of the victims with the<br />

needs of these defendants,<br />

as young adults, and tailor<br />

their dispositions accordingly.<br />

My sex offense cases<br />

involving child victims are<br />

also very challenging, in<br />

that it is very easy for a<br />

young child to be re-victimized<br />

during the trial process.<br />

As a result, the negotiation<br />

of a disposition prior to trial<br />

is critical, and if there is no<br />

disposition and a matter<br />

proceeds to trial, I try to<br />

make the process as comfortable<br />

as possible for the<br />

child, while still affording<br />

both parties, the defendant<br />

and the prosecution, a fair<br />

trial.<br />

Q: What advice would you<br />

give to women lawyers starting<br />

out in the profession?<br />

A. The advice that I would<br />

give to women starting out<br />

in the profession is that you<br />

can accomplish anything<br />

through hard work. I also<br />

advise them to always conduct<br />

themselves in a dignified<br />

manner, in and out of<br />

court; be respectful of their<br />

peers, their fellow attorneys,<br />

and the judiciary; and be<br />

forthright and honest, while<br />

balancing the interests of<br />

their clients – all because<br />

your reputation proceeds<br />

you and you will only be as<br />

effective as your reputation<br />

permits. Most importantly,<br />

women lawyers should truly<br />

support other women lawyers,<br />

because if we stick together,<br />

we can only become<br />

stronger and even more successful.<br />

Q: How has the practice of<br />

law changed in Westchester<br />

County over the years, if at<br />

all ?<br />

A: In my experience, having<br />

been admitted to the Bar<br />

nearly 30 years ago, the diversity<br />

of the legal community<br />

in Westchester County,<br />

both Bench and Bar, represents<br />

the greatest change I<br />

have observed. As I have focused<br />

most of my career in<br />

the arena of criminal law, as<br />

a prosecutor, a defense attorney,<br />

and as a judge, I am<br />

encouraged by the significant<br />

growth in the ranks of<br />

the female criminal defense<br />

attorneys. At the beginning<br />

of my career in 1990, I can<br />

recall that outside of the District<br />

Attorney’s Office and the<br />

Legal Aid Society, there were<br />

a mere handful of women<br />

practicing criminal law in<br />

Westchester County, whereas<br />

today I would estimate that<br />

women are the most rapidly<br />

growing demographic in<br />

this niche area of practice,<br />

despite the historic misconception<br />

by too many that<br />

such work was better-suited<br />

to our male counterparts.<br />

Similarly, and perhaps even<br />

more gratifying, is the growth<br />

I have seen in the diversity<br />

of the Bench, where women<br />

are now routinely elected to<br />

sit in the Surrogate’s Courts,<br />

the Family Courts, the<br />

County Courts and the State<br />

Supreme Courts, as well as<br />

the United States District<br />

Courts, and all appellate<br />

courts in both systems. Of<br />

course, much has changed<br />

over the course of my career,<br />

but nothing more meaningful<br />

than the diversity of our<br />

legal community.<br />

Q: When you are not on the<br />

bench, what activities do you<br />

like to engage in?<br />

A: When I am not on the<br />

bench, I spend time with my<br />

family, friends, and I try to<br />

work out as much as I can.<br />

As a mother of three teenage<br />

girls, my free time is filled<br />

with traveling to track practices,<br />

school events, and<br />

doing homework. My eldest<br />

daughter is a rising high<br />

school senior, so we are currently<br />

in the midst of a college<br />

search. As a family, we<br />

like to travel and are looking<br />

forward to a trip to London<br />

in August. Finally, I enjoy<br />

getting in my early-morning<br />

workouts on most weekdays<br />

before the whirlwind of<br />

school and work begin.<br />

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Q: How have you managed<br />

the work/family balance over<br />

the years?<br />

A: As any working mother<br />

knows, managing the work/<br />

family balance takes a great<br />

deal of practice and I am<br />

very fortunate to have had<br />

a tremendous amount of<br />

help along the way. My husband,<br />

James G. Dibbini,<br />

has always been my strongest<br />

support both personally<br />

and professionally. An<br />

accomplished attorney in<br />

his own right, Jim is a smart<br />

and successful businessman,<br />

a wonderful father,<br />

and a generous and loving<br />

husband, who always<br />

makes time for me and our<br />

three girls. Throughout the<br />

years, we have had additional<br />

support and assistance<br />

from both of our<br />

families, our friends, and<br />

a few wonderful nannies,<br />

as well.<br />

Q: What are your goals<br />

professionally and personally<br />

going forward?<br />

A: My goals both professionally<br />

and personally going<br />

forward are pretty<br />

much the same -– to strive<br />

to do my best at everything<br />

that I do. In my personal<br />

life, we are currently<br />

searching for that “perfect”<br />

college for my oldest<br />

daughter; I hope she, as<br />

well as my other two<br />

daughters, find colleges<br />

that they love, where they<br />

will thrive as they move on<br />

to adulthood. Professionally,<br />

I feel so fortunate to<br />

have been re-elected as a<br />

Westchester County Court<br />

Judge, a position that I<br />

love, and to work in a field<br />

that I continue to find exciting,<br />

as well as challenging.<br />

Going forward, I will<br />

strive to gain even more of<br />

an expertise in my capacity<br />

as presiding judge of the<br />

Westchester County Sex<br />

Offense Part and continue<br />

to promote the administration<br />

of justice. ◗<br />

Page 8<br />

Westchester Women’s Bar Association News


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<strong>April</strong> Litigation Tip<br />

✦ BURDEN OF PROOF: SEALING COURT RECORDS IN CIVIL ACTIONS<br />

TRIAL COURT RULE §216.1(a)<br />

Even where parties stipulate to seal records, Uniform Trial Court Rule 216.1(a) requires a<br />

finding of good cause by the court. The party seeking to seal court records has the burden to<br />

demonstrate the compelling circumstances which justify restricting public access. It should be<br />

recognized that access includes the right of the press to read and review court documents, unless<br />

the documents have been sealed pursuant to a statutory provision or by a properly issued sealing<br />

order. Confidentiality therefore is viewed as an exception not the rule and both the First and<br />

Second Departments have held there is a broad presumption that the public is entitled to access<br />

to judicial proceedings and court records.<br />

The issue was recently addressed in an appeal of two related actions, Maxim Inc, et al. v Feifer,<br />

et al. and Hearst Newspapers, LLC, et al., Proposed Intervenors, 2016 NY Slip Op 08319. The First<br />

Department unanimously reversed the lower court’s denial of the motion made by Hearst Newspapers<br />

to intervene for the limited purpose of accessing court records and granting public access<br />

to certain redacted records. The appellate court undertook a thorough review of the documents<br />

finding that certain documents were incorrectly sealed and did not involve matters of trade secrets,<br />

confidential business information or proprietary information. While the appellate court<br />

recognized that it may be easier for the parties and the motion court to seal an entire record rather<br />

than make a determination document by document, the court held administrative convenience is<br />

not a compelling reason to seal a record. The court ordered certain documents un-redacted<br />

(action 1) and the sealing order vacated (action 2) but directed the clerk not to release such<br />

documents for ten (10) days to allow the parties time to move by order to show cause to redact or<br />

seal documents on notice and for the trial court to decide the motion in a written decision complying<br />

with Rule 216.1(a). Of note, documents obtained through disclosure and not filed with<br />

the clerk remain subject to protective orders as set forth in CPLR 3103(a). See 22 NYCRR<br />

216.1(b).<br />

Written by Angela Morcone Giannini, Co-Chair, Litigation Committee<br />

Other Co-Chairs: Jacqueline Hattar & Kimberly Sheehan<br />

Education Committee Program<br />

from page 6<br />

special educator. Ms. McCabe highlighted accessibility issues that she has addressed<br />

at Mercy College to ensure that students with disabilities have access to college programs<br />

and services: for example, course substitutions; emotional support animals;<br />

accessible technology; and accommodations in extracurricular activities.<br />

The Education Committee program was very well attended. Attendees participated<br />

in a vibrant and constructive roundtable discussion. The <strong>WWBA</strong> Education Committee<br />

is grateful to Ms. Drumm and Ms. McCabe for providing attendees with valuable<br />

written materials and promoting awareness regarding accommodations for people with<br />

disabilities. The Education Committee appreciates the generosity of White and Williams,<br />

LLP for providing its conference room for the event. ◗<br />

*Certification from the Institute of Disabilities and Equal Access to Legal Systems Approved by<br />

King’s International University of Science & Technology not a governmental entity.<br />

Westchester Women’s Bar Association News<br />

<strong>2017</strong> Justice Sondra<br />

Miller Scholarship Award<br />

from page 4<br />

routinely gives back to the community in<br />

various ways including tutoring and<br />

mentoring students, advocating for others,<br />

volunteering and interning, and serving in<br />

leadership roles in various professional<br />

organizations and clubs.<br />

The Justice Sondra M. Miller scholarship<br />

will be awarded to Ms. Akpaka at the<br />

<strong>WWBA</strong> Annual Dinner on June 7, <strong>2017</strong>.<br />

I hope you have the opportunity to meet<br />

Erika, congratulate her and welcome her<br />

to the <strong>WWBA</strong>. ◗<br />

Page 9


Chapter News and Announcements<br />

Classifieds<br />

❑ Attractive furnished and very reasonably priced interior office in congenial suite with<br />

possible overflow work. Rent to include reception, phone, copying, library, conference<br />

room, free parking, and easy access to I287 from Exit 4. Email linda@rosemarklaw.com<br />

for further information. ◗<br />

CLE Program:<br />

Ethics for the Family Law Practitioner<br />

Tanya Briendel<br />

On Friday March 17th the Domestic Violence Sub-Committee presented a CLE<br />

entitled Ethics for the Family Law Practitioner. The program was co-sponsored by the<br />

Westchester Women’s Bar Association, the Pace Women’s Justice Center, the NYSBA/<br />

WBASNY Domestic Violence Initiative and The Ninth Judicial Committee to Promote<br />

Gender Fairness in the Courts.<br />

The program commenced with a presentation by the Honorable Allen A. Hochberg,<br />

Family Court Support Magistrate (Retired) and was followed by presentations by Audrey<br />

E. Stone, Esq. and Deborah A. Scalise, Esq. They spoke about the continuing need for<br />

lawyers to prepare thoroughly, present the court with evidence ethically disclosed and<br />

to expeditiously return evidence wrongfully or erroneously obtained.<br />

Despite the fact that it was St. Patrick’s Day, the room was packed to capacity with<br />

over 30 attendees. ◗<br />

○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○<br />

○<br />

President’s Message<br />

from page 3<br />

the mentor. I have had many mentors and I can honestly say that I do not think any of<br />

them actually knew they were mentoring me. I am grateful to our past presidents, judges,<br />

civil and criminal lawyers as each of them have imparted upon me part of the fabric of<br />

the practice of law. They still do today. I encourage experienced, as well as new lawyers<br />

alike, to take full advantage of the collective wisdom of our diverse <strong>WWBA</strong> membership.<br />

Consider attending a meeting that is outside your specialty which lends itself to presenting<br />

different points of view. Then ask the questions, do the work, listen, observe, and where<br />

appropriate, emulate. In particular, for the new lawyers and law students, there is no<br />

greater opportunity for professional development.<br />

We have added a section under the Membership tab on the website, entitled “Volunteer.”<br />

Our goal is to keep this section updated with ways you can make a difference<br />

within your limits. The depth of commitment we each have is a personal thing, influenced<br />

by many factors and demands on our time. Traditionally, taking an active role in committee<br />

work or projects meant being willing to devote a considerable amount of time over a<br />

period of years. This model is showing signs of strain on both members and the <strong>WWBA</strong>.<br />

I will be actively advertising for members to take on projects (or parts of a project) that<br />

have a discrete lifetime and do not require burdensome amounts of time. It’s always great<br />

to take on a project where you can make a difference without overburdening yourself.<br />

We are a profession that is based on human contact on a very personal level and<br />

one that promotes conflict resolution. The <strong>WWBA</strong> has done an excellent job in fostering<br />

good working relations among members of the bench and bar. While simply becoming<br />

a member is of critical importance, there is no reason to stop at merely paying your dues<br />

each year. <strong>WWBA</strong> offers a single place to network, learn, give, teach, lead and socialize.<br />

With so many opportunities, members can tailor their involvement to meet their<br />

personal and professional preferences and needs.<br />

I encourage you to be active and ask that you encourage your associates and<br />

colleagues to invest in the opportunities the <strong>WWBA</strong> can provide. The <strong>WWBA</strong> is truly one<br />

of the best places to connect. ◗<br />

Become a New<br />

Member Today<br />

RENEW YOUR<br />

<strong>WWBA</strong> MEMBERSHIP TODAY<br />

FOR THE PERIOD<br />

JUNE 1, 2016 TO MAY 31, <strong>2017</strong>.<br />

RENEW NOW! DON’T WAIT!<br />

<strong>WWBA</strong> Membership includes<br />

membership to the Women’s Bar<br />

Association of the State of New York<br />

(WBASNY).<br />

January 31, <strong>2017</strong> is the closing date in<br />

order to count the <strong>WWBA</strong> members<br />

towards our certification to WBASNY and<br />

assure our number of delegates.<br />

Renewing before this date will allow our<br />

Westchester Chapter (<strong>WWBA</strong>) to continue<br />

to be a strong presence in our statewide<br />

organization (WBASNY) while you will<br />

enjoy its many benefits, events,<br />

newsletter and CLE programming.<br />

Hélène Côté, Sherry A. Bishko,<br />

Elisabeth Campos<br />

It is easy to renew by going to the<br />

<strong>WWBA</strong> Website at www.<strong>WWBA</strong>NY.org.<br />

You can use a credit card or<br />

PayPal to make payment.<br />

Page 10<br />

Westchester Women’s Bar Association News


○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○<br />

○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○<br />

○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○<br />

Westchester Women’s Bar Association New Members<br />

The Westchester Women’s Bar Association proudly welcomes our newest members:<br />

TO PROTECT THE PRIVACY OF OUR MEMBERS,<br />

THIS INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE TO MEMBERS OF THE <strong>WWBA</strong> ONLY.<br />

Support the <strong>WWBA</strong> Foundation by Becoming a<br />

Member of the Legacy Society<br />

Linda Markowitz and Kim Berg<br />

The <strong>WWBA</strong> Foundation<br />

relies upon the financial support<br />

of the <strong>WWBA</strong> members to<br />

provide the annual scholarships<br />

and grants aimed at supporting<br />

those underprivileged segments<br />

of our community. One way that<br />

you can support this endeavor<br />

is by becoming a member of the<br />

<strong>WWBA</strong>F Legacy Society.<br />

The Legacy Society has<br />

✄<br />

been established to provide for<br />

the long term sustenance of our<br />

mission. By providing for the<br />

Foundation in your estate plan<br />

your bequest or designation of<br />

the Foundation as a beneficiary,<br />

whether large or small,<br />

will help with continuing the<br />

mission of the <strong>WWBA</strong> and the<br />

<strong>WWBA</strong>F “to improve the position<br />

of women in society and in<br />

the law and help the<br />

underserved women and children<br />

in our society.”<br />

Please consider making a<br />

provision in your estate plan for<br />

the Foundation and if you are<br />

interested in doing so, submit<br />

the form below to the address<br />

or email at the bottom. Letting<br />

us know your intentions now<br />

helps us to be better aware of<br />

your particular interests, and<br />

will allow us to keep you informed<br />

of developments at the<br />

Westchester Women’s Bar Association<br />

Foundation, which<br />

may be relevant to your planned<br />

gift. Unless you choose to remain<br />

anonymous, it is our plan<br />

to recognize your planned gift<br />

by publicizing your name as a<br />

member of our “Legacy Society.”<br />

It is our hope that this recognition<br />

will inspire generosity<br />

in others. ◗<br />

~ LETTER OF INTENT ~<br />

In support of the work of the <strong>WWBA</strong> Foundation, I/we want to provide for future generations and to ensure the continuity of the<br />

funding it provides to assist the underserved segments of our community. This Letter of Intent represents my/our commitment to the<br />

<strong>WWBA</strong> Foundation. It does not represent a legal obligation on my/our part and may be changed at any time.<br />

Please check each of the options you are considering:<br />

❑ Making a bequest in my/our Will or Trust<br />

❑ Naming the <strong>WWBA</strong> Foundation as a Beneficiary of a Charitable Remainder or Lead Trust<br />

❑ Naming the <strong>WWBA</strong> Foundation as a Beneficiary of a Life Insurance Policy or Annuity or a portion of a Life Insurance Policy or<br />

Annuity<br />

❑ Naming the <strong>WWBA</strong> Foundation as a Beneficiary of a Retirement Plan or a portion of a Retirement Plan<br />

❑ Optional: The amount of my/our planned gift is $_____________ or _____% of my/our estate<br />

❑ I/We intend to include <strong>WWBA</strong>F in my/our estate plans by (date): ________________<br />

❑ I/We wish to include the <strong>WWBA</strong> Foundation in my/our estate plan but wish to remain anonymous.<br />

If you prefer to remain anonymous, do not complete the following section:<br />

Name(s):__________________________________________________________________________________________<br />

Address:___________________________________________ City:___________________ State: ______ Zip:_________<br />

Phone: ( )__________________ Email Address:________________________________________________________<br />

Signature:___________________________________________________________ Date:_________________________<br />

Return to: <strong>WWBA</strong> Foundation, P.O. Box 926 Hartsdale, New York 10530 • Questions: email executivedirector@wwbany.org<br />

Westchester Women’s Bar Association News<br />

Page 11


<strong>WWBA</strong> Schedule of Upcoming Events<br />

COMMITTEE DATE/TIME PLACE TOPIC RSVP (also online at www.wwbany.org)<br />

Diversity Committee 3/28/17<br />

6:00-7:30 p.m.<br />

Mediation Committee 3/30/17<br />

5:30 p.m.<br />

Registration<br />

6:00-7:40 p.m.<br />

Program<br />

General Membership<br />

Meeting<br />

Board of Directors<br />

Meeting<br />

Families, Children and the<br />

Courts Committee<br />

4/4/17<br />

5:30-8:00 p.m.<br />

4/5/17<br />

5:30-7:30 p.m.<br />

4/24/17<br />

5:15-5:45 p.m. Light<br />

Supper and Program<br />

5:45-8:00 p.m.<br />

Wilson Elser Moskowitz<br />

Edelman & Dicker LLP<br />

1133 Westchester Avenue<br />

White Plains, New York<br />

McCarthy Fingar<br />

11 Martine Avenue<br />

12 th floor<br />

White Plains, New York<br />

La Bocca Ristorante<br />

8 Church Street<br />

White Plains, New York<br />

BNY Mellon<br />

701 Westchester Ave<br />

White Plains, New York<br />

Sterling National Bank<br />

21 Scarsdale Road<br />

Tuckahoe, New York<br />

Immigration Committee 4/26/17 Elizabeth Haub School of<br />

Law at Pace University<br />

White Plains, New York<br />

Board of Directors<br />

Meeting<br />

Elder/Health Law and<br />

Trusts & Estates<br />

Committees<br />

Corporate and<br />

Commercial<br />

5/3/17<br />

5:30-7:30 p.m.<br />

5/4/17<br />

5:30-6:00 p.m.<br />

Registration and<br />

6:00-8:00 p.m.<br />

Program<br />

BNY Mellon<br />

701 Westchester Ave<br />

White Plains, New York<br />

Sterling National Bank<br />

21 Scarsdale Road<br />

Tuckahoe, New York<br />

5/9/17 Sterling National Bank<br />

21 Scarsdale Road<br />

Tuckahoe, New York<br />

Community Outreach 5/23/17 United States District Court<br />

300 Quarropas Street<br />

White Plains, New York<br />

<strong>WWBA</strong> Annual Dinner 6/7/17<br />

5:30 p.m. Cocktails<br />

7:00 p.m. Dinner<br />

Mamaroneck Beach and<br />

Yacht Club<br />

Mamaroneck, New York<br />

A Discussion on<br />

Diversity and Inclusion<br />

Bioethics and Family<br />

Conversations: Primer on<br />

Normative and Legal<br />

Ethics as Applied to<br />

Medical Decision-<br />

Making<br />

A Conversation with the<br />

U.S. District Judges in<br />

White Plains<br />

Navigating the New<br />

Maintenance Guidelines<br />

and Their Effect on Child<br />

Support from a Judicial<br />

Perspective<br />

Immigration Law for the<br />

General Practitioner<br />

Guardians Ad Litem and<br />

Court Evaluators: A<br />

Comparison of Ethical<br />

and Procedural<br />

Obligations under the<br />

Part 36 Rules<br />

ABCs on the Americans<br />

with Disabilities Act<br />

Law Day and Take Your<br />

Children to Work Day<br />

Annual Dinner and<br />

Installation of Officers<br />

Rregister online at<br />

www.wwba.org<br />

or email<br />

executivedirector@wwbany.org<br />

register online at<br />

www.wwba.org<br />

or email<br />

executivedirector@wwbany.org<br />

Register online at<br />

www.wwbany.org<br />

or email<br />

executivedirector@wwbany.org<br />

Susan Edwards Colson<br />

president@wwbany.org<br />

if you are unable to attend<br />

Register online at<br />

www.wwbany.org<br />

or email<br />

executivedirector@wwbany.org<br />

Register online at<br />

www.wwbany.org<br />

or email<br />

executivedirector@wwbany.org<br />

Susan Edwards Colson<br />

president@wwbany.org<br />

if you are unable to attend<br />

Register online at<br />

www.wwbany.org<br />

or email<br />

executivedirector@wwbany.org<br />

Register online at<br />

www.wwbany.org<br />

or email<br />

executivedirector@wwbany.org<br />

For information email<br />

dscalise@scaliseethics.com<br />

Register online at www.wwba.org<br />

or email<br />

kwendle@bakerleshko.com<br />

Unless otherwise indicated, events are for <strong>WWBA</strong> members and invited guests only.<br />

The opinions expressed by any program presenter are the presenter’s own, and do not reflect<br />

the official position of the <strong>WWBA</strong>.<br />

<strong>WWBA</strong> is a chapter of WBASNY, which is an approved provider of CLE credit. Full and partial scholarships for CLE programs based<br />

on financial need are available. For information on the guidelines and procedures for applying, please contact the person running<br />

the program. All requests are strictly confidential. All programs are for transitional credit unless the program states otherwise.<br />

REMEMBER, YOU CAN FIND THE WBASNY WEB PAGE<br />

AT WWW.WBASNY.ORG.<br />

PLEASE REMEMBER TO RECYCLE<br />

Connect<br />

with<br />

us<br />

THE <strong>WWBA</strong> MEMBERSHIP PERIOD FOR<br />

2016-<strong>2017</strong> BEGAN ON JUNE 1, 2016.<br />

PLEASE RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP TOD<br />

ODAY AT<br />

WWW.<strong>WWBA</strong>NY<br />

.<strong>WWBA</strong>NY.ORG<br />

.ORG

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