WWBA Dec 2017 - Jan 2018 Newsletter

Westchester Women’s Bar Association 

DECEMBER 2017/JANUARY 2018 

WWBA 

GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING: 

Achieving Powerful Presentation and 

Communication Skills 

Hon. Lisa M. Smith 

T 

he November General 

Membership Meeting on 

November 1, 2017, featuring 

expert communications 

coach Gilda Bonanno, was a complete 

success. Ms. Bonanno 

shared her advice with a roomful 

of WWBA members and friends, all 

INSIDE THIS ISSUE 

DECEMBER 2017/ 

JANUARY 2018 

Women in Professional 

Transition Project 

(page 4) 

An Interview with 

Hon. Daniel D. Angiolillo 

(page 7) 

Litigation Tip 

(page 9) 

Upcoming Events 

(page 12) 

General Membership Meeting: Achieving Powerful 

Presentation and Communication Skills 

of whom gave the presentation an enthusiastic thumbs up. The presentation, entitled 

“Achieving Powerful Presentation and Communication Skills,” reminded each audience 

member that the skills involved in delivering a message to a particular audience are not 

innate; rather, they are skills that can be learned and improved, and used for any message, 

whether it is a one-on-one client presentation, or a talk for a large group. Using a 

four step approach, Ms. Bonanno demonstrated, and had her audience practice, the 

methods for effective communications. 

The first of Ms. Bonanno’s four steps is to develop and demonstrate self-confidence. 

She emphasized that self-confidence is not the same as being cocky, and that one way to 

assure self-confidence is to practice looking and sounding confident. She also advised 

replacing any negative voice inside your own head with a positive mantra, to effectively 

serve as a foundation for the presentation. “Believe in yourself,” was one of her direc- 

SAVE THE DATE 

PAINT NIGHT AT 

MUSE PAINT BAR 

January 18, 2018 

Muse Paint Bar 

White Plains, New York 

Westchester Women’s Bar Association News 

news 

www.wwbany.org 

continued on page 5 ➥ 

WWBA BOOK CLUB 


Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult 

Valhalla, New York 

INTERSECTIONALITY OF 

INTIMATE PARTNER 

VIOLENCE CLE 


Pace Law School 

White Plains, New York 

PRESIDENT’S 

MESSAGE 

It’s hard to believe 

that 2017 is 

almost over and 

we are moving into 

a New Year! The 

prospect of starting 

fresh, setting goals 

and making resolutions 

always energizes 

me and I 

Lisa M. Denig 

look forward to the exciting opportunities 

that a new calendar year always 

brings. 

However, my list of resolutions does 

not simply include the standard “eat 

better,” “exercise more,” and “be 

more efficient” objectives that many 

people set for themselves on January 

1. No, my goals this year (and, 

yes, I DO make a list of resolutions 

– goal setting is an integral part of 

my life plan) include lofty objectives 

for us to reach as an organization. 

The WWBA is an amazingly wellrun 

and vibrant group; but we can 

always climb higher. 

While increasing membership is 

generally the main objective for any 

WWBA president, I have taken this 

challenge to heart not just from a 

numbers standpoint but from a 

“value” standpoint. The pivotal 

question for me this year is this: 

What can we do/change/create that 

will draw new members in and keep 

current members? To that end, I 

have instituted some new programs 

and events – a trip to Broadway, a 


Page 1 

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

WWBA Member Newsletter 

DECEMBER 2017/JANUARY 2018 

Published Monthly by the 

Westchester Women’s 

Bar Association, a Chapter of 

the Women’s Bar Association 

of the State of New York 

~ 2017/2018 Officers and Directors ~ 

President LISA M. DENIG 

President-Elect KIM BERG 

Vice Presidents 

AMANDA C. FRIED JENNIFER L. GRAY HON. LISA M. SMITH 

Treasurer 

ANGELA MORCONE GIANNINI Recording Secretary NATANYA BRIENDEL 

Corresponding Secretary ELIZABETH Z. MARCUS 

Immediate Past ast President 

SUSAN EDWARDS COLSON 

Elected Directors Westchester Board 

GAIL M. BOGGIO HÉLÈNE CÔTÉ LONYA A. GILBERT 

SHARI R. GORDON ADRIENNE J. ORBACH 

State Directors Women’s Bar Association of the State of New York 

ROBIN D. CARTON KITLEY S. COVILL SUSAN EDWARDS COLSON 

DONNA E. FROSCO MARIAN GENIO THERESA A. GIROLAMO 

ANNETTE G. HASAPIDIS JANE SILVERMAN 

Executive Director ELISABETH CAMPOS 

© Copyright 2017 Westchester Women’s Bar Association. All rights reserved. 

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

Editor-in-Chief: Elizabeth Z. Marcus • Designed and Printed by IPM Media Group, Inc. (516) 809-0501 

2017-2018 WWBA Committee Chairs 

S T A N D I N G C O M M I T T E E S 

By-Laws ............................................. Hélène Côté, Anna L. Georgiou 

Corporate & Commercial ........................ Lisa M. Bluestein, Eva David 

Criminal Law ....... Kitley S. Covill, Lisa M. Denig, Hon. Sandra A. Forster 

Families’, Children & the Courts .......... Shari R. Gordon, Joy S. Joseph, 

Lauren Morrissey 

Grievance/Ethics ............................ Kitley S. Covill, Deborah A. Scalise 

Judicial Screening ............... Hon. Sandra A. Forster, Loren I. Glassman 

Judiciary .......... Hon. Delores Scott Brathwaite, Hon. Linda S. Jamieson 

Lawyering & Parenting .......... Joelle M. Burton, Jana Kosberg-Kleidman 

Legislation ................................................. Angela Morcone Gianinni 

Matrimonial .......... Robin Carton, Dolores Gebhardt, Lonya A. Gilbert 

Annual Dinner ......... Robin D. Carton, Lisa M. Denig, Jennifer L. Gray, 

Jennifer N. Netrosio, Katie Wendle 

Annual Dinner Souvenir Journal .............................. Andrea Friedman 

Appellate Practice ....................... Lisa M. Denig, Hon. Mark C. Dillon, 

Hon. Sondra M. Miller, Hon. Robert A. Spolzino 

Archive & Historian ..................................................... Susan L. Pollet 

Awards .................................................. Elizabeth Barnhard, Kim Berg 

Bankruptcy ................... Susan Mills Richmond, Wendy Marie Weathers 

Breast Cancer Awareness ...................................... Adrienne J. Orbach 

Collaborative Law ............................. Kathleen Donelli, Lynn J. Maier, 

Hon. Sondra M. Miller 

Community Outreach ... Deborah A. Scalise, Hon. Lisa Margaret Smith 

Continuing Legal Education ..................................... Ann M. McNulty 

Diversity in Membership ........... Jacqueline Hattar, Stephanie Melowsky 

Domestic Violence ........... Natanya L. Briendel, Beth Levy, Audrey Stone 

Education Law ....................... Adrienne J. Arkontaky, Julie P. Passman, 

Susan Mills Richmond 

Elder & Health Law & Reproductive Rights ....... Elizabeth A. Cumming, 

Shari R. Gordon, Moira Laidlaw 

Employment Law ................................................ Kim Berg, Sara Kula 

Environmental & Land Use .......... Lucia Chiocchio, Anna L. Georgiou, 

Jennifer L. Gray, Katherine Zalantis 

Gender Dynamics ...................................... Hon. Terry Jane Ruderman 

Golf & Tennis Outing ................................................................ TBD 

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A D H O C C O M M I T T E E S 

Membership ............................................... Sherry Bishko, Hélène Côté 

Networking ............................................ Arin Liebman, Suzanne Volpe 

New Lawyers ................................... Elizabeth Z. Marcus, Katie Wendle 

Professional Development ......... Susan Edwards Colson, Adam J. Krim, 

Stephanie Melowsky 

Programs .......................................... Natanya Briendel, Amanda Fried 

Public Relations ............................... Joelle M. Burton, Jennifer L. Gray 

Real Property ................................... Allyson Magliery, Michelle Murphy 

Sponsorship .......................... Susan Edwards Colson, Lucia Chiocchio 

Taxation ....................................................................................... TBD 

Trusts & Estates ........ Gail M. Boggio, Nancy J. Rudolph, Karen J. Walsh 

Holiday Party and Boutique ...... Dolores Gebhardt, Jennifer N. Netrosio 

Immigration ................................................................. Henry Mascia 

Insurance Law ........................................................................... TBD 

Intellectual Property .............. Elizabeth M. Barnhard, Donna E. Frosco, 

Theresa O’Rourke Nugent 

Judgment Enforcement & Collections .............. Christopher T. Bonante, 

Daniel F. Florio, Jr. 

Litigation ...................... Angela Morcone Giannini, Jacqueline Hattar 

Kimberly Sheehan 

Long Range Planning ................ Carla D. Glassman, Linda Markowitz 

Ann M. McNulty 

Mediation ............................ Amy Carron Day, Hon. Sondra M. Miller, 

Lauren S. Morrissey, Abby Rosmarin 

Network of Bar Leaders ............................................. Donna E. Frosco 

Pace Board of Visitors ................................................ Gail M. Boggio 

Past Presidents ........... Jane Bilus Gould, Mary F. Kelly, Linda Markowitz 

Practice Management .............. Jamieson L. Keiser, Jennifer N. Netrosio 

Wendy Marie Weathers 

Pro Bono ........................................... Marian Genio, Natalie Sobchak 

Social Media .............. Hélène Côté, Kristen Motel, Jennifer N. Netrosio 

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

WCA Board Delegate ............................................ Anthony Morando 

WWBA Foundation President ..................................... Susan S. Brown 

WWBA Representative Director to the WCBA Board .. Dolores Gebhardt 

Page 2 

Westchester Women’s Bar Association News

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President’s Message 

from page 1 

“While increasing 

membership is 

generally the main 

objective for any 

WWBA president, I 

have taken this 

challenge to heart not 

just from a numbers 

standpoint but from 

a ‘value’ standpoint.” 

wine tasting, volunteering at the Hillside 

Food Outreach, a newly created 

Book Club – to entice members to participate 

that perhaps have never attended 

a WWBA function before. We 

have planned programs for different 

days of the week and in different venues 

in an attempt to reach segments of 

our membership that cannot attend the 

traditional after-work CLE. We have 

seen great results with these changes 

and plan to continue being creative into 

2018. 

I am also working diligently to 

reach out to the law students in the 

Westchester community. These are our 

future members and we cannot expect 

them to understand the value of the 

WWBA the instant they accept their diploma. 

In this regard, several of us 

set up a table at Pace Law School during 

the common hour and we were 

able to sign up 50 law students! More 

importantly, a core group of these new 

members have participated in several 

programs and helped our committees 

with the administration of certain events. 

I truly believe that incorporating these 

young lawyers into our organization not 

only will increase our membership in 

years to come but will infuse our group 

with exciting new ideas and energy. 

Finally, I have focused on expandcontinued 

on page 11 ➥ 

Editor’s Note 

“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you 

did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” 

~ Maya Angelou 

Making Dates and Getting Published 

NEWSLETTER SUBMISSIONS 

❑ Deadline for newsletter submissions is the 12th of the month prior to publication (submissions 

received after the deadline are subject to the discretion of the editor). 

❑ Send submissions as email attachments to Elizabeth Z. Marcus at elizabeth.z.marcus@gmail.com. 

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

formatting, other than bold, underline or italics. Authors are encouraged to submit photographs 

for publication with their submissions and include a short biographical statement with 

their submissions. 

❑ Materials submitted allow the WWBA a limited copyright and full permission to reprint the 

material in any WWBA publication or on its website without additional consent. 

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

each photograph must be fully identified. 

PROGRAM SCHEDULING 

❑ First visit the WWBA website: www.wwbany.org and click on the calendar at the home page to 

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

priority for early submissions. 

❑ Contact Elizabeth Z. Marcus at elizabeth.z.marcus@gmail.com to schedule a WWBA sponsored 

or co-sponsored program, including committee meetings, CLE programs, etc. 

❑ Once you have reserved the date with Elizabeth Z. Marcus, proceed with planning your 

program and creating your flyer. 

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

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

Director. Once approved, please send your final flyer to the Executive Director, Elizabeth Z. 

Marcus and the President for publication on the website calendar and the newsletter calendar. 

The final flyer will also be emailed to the membership. 

❑ We will also consider publicizing programs from outside organizations that may be of interest 

to our members. 

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

speakers and participants that can be included in an upcoming newsletter. Send your submission 

to Elizabeth Z. Marcus, following the guidelines above. 

A d v e r t i s i n g R a t e s 

Full Page Display Ad 

5-10 Issues - $525.00 per issue 


Half Page Display Ad 



Contacts 

Elizabeth Z. Marcus, Corresponding Secretary and Newsletter Editor-in-Chief: elizabeth.z.marcus@gmail.com 

Natanya Briendel, Programs Committee Co-Chair: nbriendel@law.pace.edu 

Amanda C. Fried, Programs Committee Co-Chair: afried@cartonrosoff.com 

Lisa M. Denig, President: president@wwbany.org 

Ann M. McNulty, CLE Chair: ann.m.mcnulty@morganstanley.com 

Elisabeth Campos, Executive Director: executivedirector@wwbany.org 

Quarter Page Display Ad 



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

Members - $50.00 first issue; $25.00 each succeeding issue; Non-Members - $75.00 per issue 

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5-10 Issues - $650.00 per issue; 1-4 Issues - $700.00 per issue 

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

Contact Elizabeth Z. Marcus at elizabeth.z.marcus@gmail.com for any questions regarding advertising. 


Page 3

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WWBA’s Women in Professional Transition Project 

Allyson Lanahan Magliery 

First Fridays at 1:00PM at 445 Café, 

445 Hamilton Avenue, White Plains. 

Change is inevitable, and 

at one point or another we all 

find ourselves in a period of 

transition professionally. 

Whether the transition is an 

exciting step up the corporate 

ladder, a lateral move in a familiar 

field, or an entirely new 

beginning, we can all use extra 

support at these times. The 

Women in Professional Transition 

Project was formed to address 

this need. 

“One of the most striking 

things about WWBA is how 

many women are in transition. 

In the last year alone, I have 

been approached about networking 

opportunities by recent 

grads, women new to the area, 

and women new to an area of 

practice,” said Susan Edwards 

Colson, WWBA’s Immediate 

Past President. “Several women 

looking for jobs noted how difficult 

it was for women reentering 

practice after a period of 

absence, particularly for women 

in their 50’s or 60’s.” 

New WWBA member, 

Allyson Lanahan Magliery, is 

one of the women who spoke 

with Susan about reentry networking 

opportunities. A University 

of Miami Law School 

grad whose family responsibilities 

brought her to Westchester, 

Allyson is squarely in a period 

of transition in her career. “After 

taking time off to start a family 

I am reevaluating my professional 

options and examining 

how to navigate opportunities 

in the legal field while 

balancing my family responsibilities,” 

noted Allyson. “After 

joining the WWBA I realized 

how valuable it was to have 

other professionals with whom 

I could examine various opportunities 

and challenges. I hope 

the Women in Professional 

Transition Project will offer this 

kind of support to other members. 

The project is intended 

to be a forum for brainstorming 

solutions and sharing resources.” 

As part of the WWBA’s 

Professional Development 

Committee, the Women in Professional 

Transition Project is 

intended to provide WWBA 

members with the informal support 

they need to effectively deal 

with professional transition 

phases. “We aren’t offering a 

formal curriculum,” commented 

Allyson. “We will offer 

a regular, dedicated time and 

space for networking, conversation 

and peer-to-peer discussions. 

The goal is to establish 

and foster partnership and collaboration 

among those who 

are new to the area, new to an 

area of practice, or actively job 

seeking.” 

Many WWBA members 

benefited from Pace University 

Law School’s New Directions 

program, which for ten years 

addressed the needs of lawyers 

reentering practice after an absence. 

When the program 

ended earlier in 2017, it created 

a void and inspired the 

inception of the Women in Professional 

Transition Project to 

support WWBA members starting 

a practice, job searching, 

or otherwise developing their 

careers. 

The Women in Professional 

Transition Project will meet the 

first Friday of every month for 

an informal lunch. The Project 

will help members make the 

most of their next transition by 

offering a space for members 

to share their goals, explore 

possibilities, and address the 

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Allyson Lanahan Magliery and 

Susan Edwards Colson 

anxieties that often accompany 

change. By partnering with 

other WWBA committees the 

Project will help forge supportive 

connections among members. 

The networking and 

mentoring opportunities offered 

by the Women in Professional 

Transition Project are intended 

to help women in transition 

harness the power of change 

to create their best professional 

life. The next meeting is January 

5th. ◗ 

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To learn about Sterling’s full suite 

of services, visit snb.com. 

Attendees at the inaugural “First Friday” lunch 

Page 4 

Member 

FDIC 


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Achieving Powerful Presentation and Communication Skills 

from page 1 

tions, because self-image will 

impact on how any speaker 

comes across to the audience. 

Second, Ms. Bonanno advised 

the importance of having 

a clear, concise message. She 

suggested that anyone planning 

to deliver any address should 

ask her or himself, “What is the 

one thing that this audience 

needs to know?” The answer to 

that question, along with one or 

two supporting points, will usually 

define the appropriate content 

of the speech itself. She also 

cautioned – do not ramble, stay 

within your allotted time, and 

eliminate so-called filler words, 

such as “like,” or “I mean,” or 

the dreaded “um.” 

The third step recommended 

by Ms. Bonanno is to 

use varied and powerful facial 

expressions, to engage with the 

audience through eye contact, 

and to adopt powerful and inviting 

body language through 

posture, gestures, movement 

and energy that matches the 

meaning of the spoken words. 

She suggested using video recording 

of your practice sessions, 

so that any speaker can 

watch him or herself on video, 

to be sure to find the optimum 

way of engaging the expected 

group. 

The final step that Ms. 

Bonanno suggested is that a 

speaker not try to “wing” it. She 

recommended preparing and 

practicing not only the message, 

but also the manner of delivery. 

She emphasized, however, that 

one should never memorize a 

presentation, because that 

would detract from the value of 

the message. Rather, any 

speaker should be as authentic 

as possible, which will improve 

the ability to successfully engage 

and communicate with the audience. 

Ms. Bonanno practiced 

what she preached, fully engaging 

her WWBA audience from 

the very outset. She demonstrated 

self-confidence, delivered 

a clear and concise message, 

used powerful and engaging 

body language, and succeeded 

in being her best self, to 

the delight and edification of the 

audience. 

WWBA appreciates Ms. 

THE WWBA’S HOLIDAY PARTY 

~ Our Favorite Event of the Year! ~ 

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Bonanno's generosity in donating 

her time for the November 

presentation. ◗ 

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Gilda Bonanno runs her own business, 

and provides expert speaking, 

coaching, and training focused on 

presentation, communication and 

leadership skills. More information can 

be found at www.gildabonanno.com. 

Presenter Gilda Bonanno 

From the President’s remarks to our annual “red photo” to laughs with dear friends, this year’s WWBA’s holiday party on December 13, 2017 

was a huge hit! Thank you to all who attended and to our generous sponsors! 


Page 5

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WWBA MEMBERS VOLUNTEER FOR THE HOLIDAY 

Lisa M. Denig 

WWBA President 

One of the goals of the WWBA this 

year is to expand our opportunities to 

volunteer and effect change in the 

Westchester community. On November 

27, 2017, a large group of members 

did just that when they descended on 

the Hillside Food Outreach warehouse 

to help stock the shelves of the food 

pantry. 

Volunteers arrived to find bin after 

bin full of donated food that had recently 

been collected by local Girl Scout 

troops. The mission - to organize and 

stock these items on the bare shelves that 

lined the walls of Hillside’s temporary 

warehouse. Many hands make light 

work, and within an hour and a half, 

the once-empty shelves were teeming 

with neatly organized canned good, 

cereal, rice and hygiene products. 

After the work was completed, Kathy 

Purdy, the Founder and Director of Hillside 

Food Outreach, spoke about how 

she began this amazing organization 

and its mission. Hillside is unique in that 

they are the only food pantry that delivers 

entirely to homebound clients. Hillside 

“employs” over 300 volunteers who 

arrive at the pantry on a designated 

Saturday morning, fill up a box of food 

for their “families” that they serve, and 

then personally deliver the goods. By 

doing so, the volunteers get to know their 

clients, their likes and dislikes, their nutrition 

needs and even personal information 

about the recipients’ health and 

family. 

Another thing that makes Hillside 

stand apart from other food pantries is 

that they strive to provide healthy, fresh 

food to their clients. Considering that 

many of the homebound are elderly with 

health concerns that require dietary restrictions 

- such as diabetes - the usual 

fare provided by food pantries is often 

counterproductive and even dangerous. 

When Kathy realized this need, she 

sought out donations from stores, farms 

and individuals that would address this 

issue. In fact, the warehouse separates 

food donations so that volunteers can 

pick from items that their clients with health 

Members of the WWBA volunteering at Hillside Food Outreach 

issues can eat, such as brown rice, lowsugar 

cereals, gluten-free items and 

“natural” peanut butter. With a focus on 

healthy options, many of Hillside’s clients 

no longer have to choose between 

exacerbating serious health issues or going 

without food completely. 

The WWBA volunteers were energized 

to do more to help Hillside Food 

Outreach, whether through a healthy 

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food drive, participating in one of 

Hillside’s fundraisers, or simply returning 

to stock shelves. Watch for more details 

in the coming months of how the WWBA 

can partner again with this great organization 

to address the most needy citizens 

of Westchester County. 

To learn more about Hillside or to 

make a secure online donation, go to 

www.hillsidefoodoutreach.org. ◗ 

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An Interview with Honorable Daniel D. Angiolillo 

Susan L. Pollet 

Chair of the Archive and 

Historian Committee 

Q: You have been a long 

time member of the WWBA. 

Can you please tell us why 

you joined and detail the 

contributions of the WWBA 

in the Westchester legal 

community. 

A: Susan, first I would like 

to thank you and the 

Westchester Women’s Bar 

Association for the honor of 

being interviewed for this 

month’s newsletter. The 

simple answer to your first 

question is- Karen Bell. She 

invited me to join the 

Women’s Bar. Karen was 

serving as law guardian (attorney 

for the child), for two 

teenage brothers on one of 

my Integrated Domestic 

Violence cases in the early 

2000’s when at some point 

during the case she asked 

if I was a member of the 

Women’s Bar. In response 

to my answer she said you 

need to join and then extended 

an invitation. I 

made the right decision and 

joined. The Women’s Bar 

provides an invaluable network 

in the legal community 

for its members, especially 

for those that aspire 

to judicial service. The Bar 

expands opportunities for 

women and advances the 

status of its members in the 

profession. The members 

assist and promote each 

other in many ways- legal 

positions, referrals, awards, 

judicial positions or even a 

simple phone call to a law 

clerk seeking information. 

Judges in Westchester support 

the Women’s Bar. By 

the way, Karen’s advocacy 

“Before being elected as a 

Westchester County Judge I 

served eight years as a law clerk 

to the Hon. Kenneth Lange. 

There I learned how to be a 

non-advocate, in other words, 

learned how to be objective by 

giving each side an opportunity 

to be heard, and by observing the 

judge’s patience, fairness and 

compassion.” 

on that case was extraordinary. 

I admired her as an 

attorney and as a person, 

and miss her presence at our 

meetings and dinners. 

Q: What changes have you 

seen in the legal community 

in Westchester since you first 

started practicing law? 

A: The legal community in 

Westchester is more diverse 

today. There are certainly 

more women and people of 

color in the practice of law in 

Westchester. In March 1979 

when I began my service at 

the District Attorney’s Office 

in Westchester County there 

were less than 10 women 

ADA’s and just two Black 

Americans, one being the 

Hon. Joseph West. We have 

happily improved those statistics 

since then. In my early 

career, there was no such 

thing as dress down Fridays 

and I remember being 

scolded by the Administrative 

Judge, Hon. Joseph 

Gagliardi, for wearing tassel 

loafers. Suits and white shirts 

were required for the men 

and women were expected 

to wear dresses or suits, but 

no pants. A lot has changed 

since then. I enjoyed the camaraderie 

in the DA’s office, 

whether it was playing on the 

DA’s softball team or going 

to Patrick’s Pub after work. 

But I enjoy now having seen 

the legal community grow in 

important and positive ways 

since I entered the ranks. 

Q: Please tell us about your 

legal career, how it developed 

over time, and what led you 

serve on the bench. 

A: I was practicing law with 

my father and his partner 

Barry Kriesberg when afforded 

the opportunity to join 

the staff of District Attorney 

Carl Vergari. I was seeking 

courtroom experience and 

what better place than the 

DA’s office. I accepted a 

three year commitment and 

stayed six and half years. In 

1984 there were two openings 

on the Westchester 

County Court and the Ad- 

Hon. Daniel D. Angiolillo 

ministrative Judge, the same 

sartorial AJ, summoned me 

to his office and encouraged 

me to seek the nomination 

for one of the 

County Court positions. But 

for his support and guidance 

I don’t think I would 

have ever had the confidence 

to seek a judicial 

position. I eventually received 

the nomination to 

run for County Judge in 

1993, after nine years of 

perseverance. Before being 

elected as a Westchester 

County Judge I served eight 

years as a law clerk to the 

Hon. Kenneth Lange. There 

I learned how to be a nonadvocate, 

in other words, 

learned how to be objective 

by giving each side an 

opportunity to be heard, 

and by observing the 

judge’s patience, fairness 

and compassion. My 20 

years on the superior court 

started at the County bench, 

designated Acting Justice of 

the Supreme Court, and 

then elected to the Supreme 

Court in 1999 followed by 

appointments to the Appellate 

Term Ninth and Tenth 



Page 7

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An Interview with Honorable Daniel D. Angiolillo 

from previous page 

Districts and the Appellate 

Division Second Department, 

sitting on over 5,000 

appellate cases. 

Q: Please describe a few of 

the most memorable cases 

you presided over as a 

Judge. 

A: A decision by an appellate 

judge is usually the final 

word on a particular 

case and knowing that the 

court’s decision may have 

a lasting impact on the law 

in New York brings great 

satisfaction, especially when 

a case you’ve authored, 

such as People v Wyatt (89 

AD3d 112 [2d Dept 

2011]), is cited hundreds of 

times and its reasoning is 

accepted by the Court of 

Appeals. At the trial level, 

cases such as the Murder 

First Degree trial and the 

White Plains rapist trial were 

memorable for me. However, 

the opportunity to preside 

over the Integrated 

Domestic Violence Court in 

Westchester County in 

2001, one of three pilot 

courts in New York State, 

was exciting and rewarding. 

I saw firsthand the benefits 

of Chief Judge Kaye’s 

initiative and shared the 

experiences with visitors to 

the court from across New 

York, as well as national 

and international. 

Q: What were your biggest 

challenges on the bench? 

A: For a long time, I had 

always thought that sentencing 

was the biggest 

challenge. Taking away 

someone’s liberty is a formidable 

responsibility. 

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Deciding whether to impose 

probation instead of incarceration 

can at times be 

more difficult than imposing 

an 88 year state prison sentence 

for a rapist in White 

Plains. But then I was assigned 

an O’Connor hearing 

requiring me to determine 

whether life supports 

should be discontinued, thus 

terminating someone’s life. 

Now, that’s a big challenge! 

Q: What are your goals for 

your legal career in the future? 

A: My foremost legal career 

goal is to be the best Town 

Judge in Harrison I can be. 

I accepted an appointment 

to the town bench this past 

April- a part-time judicial 

position, often referred to as 

the “people’s court” or the 

“court closest to the people.” 

Why begin a second tour of 

judicial duty? Because public 

service in the legal community 

defines who I am and 

dates back nearly 40 years. 

After leaving the bench in 

December 2013, I’ve undertaken 

several responsibilities, 

including an appointment as 

jurist in residence at Pace 

Law School where, as an 

adjunct professor, I have 

taught constitutional law 

classes in Election Law, and 

Judicial Ethics and Decision 

Making. County Executive 

Astorino appointed me to 

serve as executive director of 

the county commission that 

oversees the licensing of carting 

and hauling companies 

in Westchester with the goal 

of suppressing the influence 

of organized crime in the industry. 

Interestingly, my first 

assignment in the DA’s office 

was to the Rackets Bureau. I 

have also provided consulting 

services and mediation 

for lawyers in Westchester. In 

the same vein, some more 

exciting news- Judge Dennis 

Lynch and I recently incorporated 

Westchester Mediators. 

We along with Mark 

Blanchard and Professor 

John Nolan from Pace Law 

will be offering mediation 

services in the near future. 

Judge Lynch founded the 

Giving to Ghana Foundation 

and appointed me General 

Counsel. In 2012 we 

traveled to Ghana, West Africa 

to instruct on mediation 

to local community leaders 

and also presented to the 

Ghanaian high court judges 

on judicial decision making. 

There our salutation was “My 

Lord.” 

Q: When not on the bench, 

what activities do you like to 

engage in? 

My activities outside the 

bench revolve around family 

oriented events, with a great 

emphasis on the family farm 

in upstate New York. My parents 

purchased the farm in 

1970 and for many summer 

weeks and weekends the task 

of breeding and raising Standardbred 

horses has consumed 

much of my time. I 

can’t begin to describe the 

tranquility and relaxation I 

find in driving a John Deere 

tractor pulling a brush hog in 

the apple orchard- can’t get 

much better than that. Also, 

service as the president 

emeritus of the New York State 

chapter of a not-for-profit 

organization devoted to 

Prader-Willi syndrome takes 

up some of my free time. 

Q: How have you managed 

to balance family and 

career over the years? 

A: I’ve been blessed these 

past 36 years with an extremely 

supportive and loving 

wife and three beautiful 

children – the youngest 

of whom has an impending 

wedding in June 2018. 

My legal career has taken 

me out of the home many 

nights and weekends and 

caused me to miss family 

activities, especially when 

serving on the Second Department 

for seven years. 

An associate justice of the 

appellate court is truly a 

24/7 job consuming endless 

hours with reading and 

preparation for oral argument. 

An understanding 

spouse makes that possible. 

Q: What advise do you 

have for new lawyers entering 

the profession; and 

what advice do you have for 

seasoned lawyers to continue 

being productive and 

satisfied in their careers? 

A: First, I would suggest 

that lawyers join a bar association 

like the WWBA. 

The networking can be indispensable 

at times and 

friendships will last a lifetime. 

I impart to my students 

the importance of respect, 

as well as, preparation, 

reputation and civility 

in the legal profession. It 

is my belief that lawyers 

can “strive mightily but eat 

and drink as friends,” to 

borrow a line from 

Shakespeare. And a final 

thought- a smile and a bit 

of humility can go a long 

way. ◗ 

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December/January Litigation Tip 

✦ NEW CHOICE OF VENUE 

Article 5 of the CPLR governs venue and place of trial in civil cases. For well over 60 years, 

choice of venue has been limited by domicile. Pursuant to CPLR 503 (a), proper venue for a 

civil action has been limited to the county where one of the parties resided at the time the action 

was commenced. If a party is a resident in more than one county, the party is deemed a resident 

of each county. If neither party resides in the state, venue is proper as designated by the Plaintiff. 

Pursuant to CPLR 503 (b) if the party is an executor, administrator, trustee, committee, conservator, 

general or testamentary guardian or receiver, that party is deemed a resident of the county 

of his/her appointment as well as the county in which he/she resides. A Corporation is generally 

deemed a resident of the county in which its principal office is located [CPLR 503(c)] and a 

partnership is deemed a resident in any county in which it has its principal office as well as the 

county in which the partner suing or being sued resides. [CPLR 503(d)]. 

As of October 2017, a new choice of venue has been added to the CPLR 503(a): the COUNTY 

IN WHICH A SUBSTANTIAL PART OF THE EVENTS OR OMISSIONS GIVING RISE TO THE 

CLAIM OCCURRED. No longer are the parties limited by domicile. The location in which the 

cause of action arose is now a proper venue. The rationale for the amendment is that it will 

allow actions to be properly commenced in the county where witnesses to the event are located 

and for the action to be tried in the county community where the alleged wrong occurred. As 

Plaintiffs start to elect this new basis for venue, we will need to wait and see what impact, if any, 

this has on motions to change venue and how the courts will define “a substantial part” of the 

events or omissions. 

Written by Angela Morcone Giannini, Co-Chair, Litigation Committee 

Other Co-Chairs: Jacqueline Hattar & Kimberly Sheehan 

Informative CLE on Americans with Disabilities Act 

Lisa M. Bluestein 

The Corporate & Commercial, Environmental 

& Land Use, and Elder & Health 

Law Committees joined forces in October 

to present a CLE entitled: “ABC’s of ADA: 

Protecting Your Client and Expanding Your 

Practice under the Americans with Disabilities 

Act.” The brown bag lunch setting 

allowed attendees to learn about the ADA 

while on a midday break. Speakers Lucia 

Chiocchio, Esq., Eva David, Esq., Donna 

Drumm, Esq., and Crystal Collins of the 

NYS Justice Center for the Protection of 

People with Special Needs, provided an 

overview of the ADA and applications to 

business, real estate, and landlord/tenant 

settings. Lisa M. Bluestein served as moderator. 

The speakers and attendees discussed 

examples of accommodations, as well the 

applicable laws and statutes not only at 

the Federal level, but also the State and 

Attendees at the CLE on Americans with 

Disabilities Act 

Local levels. There are so many aspects of 

the ADA that can be covered in a program, 

and as such, the presenting committees 

are considering an expanded program 

sometime in the future. ◗ 

Donna Drumm, Lisa M. Bluestein, Lucia 

Chiocchio, Eva David 


Page 9

Chapter News and Announcements 

Announcements & Notes on Members 

❑ On October 11, 2017, Justice Mark C. Dillon of the Appellate Division, 2nd 

Dept., was “vouched in” to help hear a case at the Court of Appeals in Albany. 

Vouching in is a rarely-used procedure where the state’s Chief Judge, Hon. Janet 

DiFiore, selects Appellate Division justices to substitute for Court of Appeals judges that 

have recused off a case. The appeal here was Bransten v. State of New York. ◗ 

Become a New 

Member Today 

RENEW YOUR 

WWBA MEMBERSHIP TODAY 

FOR THE PERIOD 

JUNE 1, 2017 TO MAY 31, 2018. 

RENEW NOW! DON’T WAIT! 

WWBA Membership includes 

membership to the Women’s Bar 

Association of the State of New York 

(WBASNY). 

January 31, 2018 is the closing date in 

order to count the WWBA members 

towards our certification to WBASNY and 

assure our number of delegates. 

Justice Dillon, second from right, posing a question to attorney Judith Vale, who represented 

the State of New York. 

Job Postings 

Legal Services of the Hudson Valley: 

Staff Attorney (General Practice) – Mt. Vernon, NY 

Staff Attorney (Housing and Public Benefits) – Mt. Vernon, NY, Temporary (6 months) 

For more information: https://wwbany.org/Job-Posts-Careers/ 

Extra! Extra! Read All About It! 

The WWBA Launches a Book Club! 

Renewing before this date will allow our 

Westchester Chapter (WWBA) to continue 

to be a strong presence in our statewide 

organization (WBASNY) while you will 

enjoy its many benefits, events, 

newsletter and CLE programming. 

Hélène Côté, Sherry A. Bishko, 

Elisabeth Campos 

The WWBA’s newly formed Book Club held its inaugural meeting on November 30, 2017. The 

discussion was lively, even heated at times, but these ladies made our conversation about 

Hillary Clinton’s book “What Happened” a wonderful experience. Thank you to Hélène Coté for 

being such a fantastic hostess. Join us January 25th for our next book, “Small Great Things” by 

Jodi Picoult. 

It is easy to renew by going to the 

WWBA Website at www.WWBANY.org. 

You can use a credit card or 

PayPal to make payment. 

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Westchester Women’s Bar Association New Members 

The Westchester Women’s Bar Association proudly welcomes our newest members: 

TO PROTECT THE PRIVACY OF OUR MEMBERS, 

THIS INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE TO MEMBERS OF THE WWBA ONLY. 

President’s Message 

from page 3 

ing our social media presence. 

The last few months 

have seen our use of social 

media increase tenfold. 

With the help of the newly 

created Social Media Committee, 

I am able to 

Instagram or Tweet or post 

to Facebook from all of our 

events. This allows members 

and non-members alike to 

see what we are accomplishing 

in real time and to keep 

abreast of all the new programs 

we have created. I am 

committed to increasing and 

intensifying our use of these 

platforms in the New Year 

and I urge our members to 

use them (or LEARN how to 

use them, if that is the case!). 

I have so many ideas for 

new events in 2018 – we already 

have planned a Paint 

Night for January 18th and I 

am setting up a “Learn to 

Spin” class for Heart Healthy 

month in February. Is there 

something that you would like 

to see the WWBA put together 

in the New Year? Then 

email me your ideas at 

president@wwbany.org. 

Lace up your sneakers, we 

have a lot to do in 2018! ◗ 


Page 11

WWBA Schedule of Upcoming Events 

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

WWBA Women in 

Professional Transition 

Project 

Board of Directors and 

General Membership 

Meeting 

1/5/18 

1:00 p.m. 

1/10/18 

5:30-6:00 p.m. 

Board Meeting 

445 Café 

445 Hamilton Ave. 

White Plains, NY 

(Parking is available in 

the garage next door; 

follow signs for “office 

parking”) 

BNY Mellon 

701 Westchester Ave. 


“First Fridays” with the 

WWBA’s Women in 


Project 

The Grievances/ Ethics 

& Appellate 

Committees Present: 

“Ethics Update 2018” 

No RSVP necessary 

For more information go to 


Register online at 


6:00-8:00 p.m. 

General 

Membership 

Meeting 

Networking Committee 1/18/18 

6:30-9:00 p.m. 

(Doors Open at 

6:00 p.m.) 

Muse Paint Bar 

84 Mamaroneck Ave. 


Two (2) CLE credits – 

Ethics and 

Professionalism 

(Pending) 

Join the WWBA for an 

evening of painting at 

Muse Paint Bar in 

White Plains 

Buy Your Ticket Here: 

https://www.musepaintbar.com/eve 

nts/51641 

Questions: Contact Allison Sloto at 

aesloto@gmail.com 

WWBA Book Club 1/25/18 

6:00 p.m. 

Domestic Violence 

Committee 

WWBA Women in 


Project 

1/31/18 

6:00-8:00 p.m. 

2/2/18 

1:00 p.m. 

WWBA President Lisa 

Denig’s Home 

Valhalla, New York 

Pace Law School 

Tudor Room 

78 North Broadway 


445 Café 

445 Hamilton Ave. 


(Parking is available in 

the garage next door; 

follow signs for “office 

parking”) 

Second Meeting of the 

Newly-Created WWBA 

Book Club 

Book: 

“Small Great Things” 

by Jodi Picoult 

LGBTQ 101: The 

Intersectionality of 

Intimate Partner 

Violence 

One (1) CLE credit – 

Diversity and Inclusion 

(Pending) 

“First Fridays” with the 

WWBA’s Women in 


Project 





Questions: Contact Beth Levy at 

blevy@mspny.org 

No RSVP necessary 

For more information go to 


Unless otherwise indicated, events are for WWBA members and invited guests only. 

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

the official position of the WWBA. 

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

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

the program. All requests are strictly confidential. All programs are for transitional credit unless the program states otherwise. 

REMEMBER, YOU CAN FIND THE WBASNY WEB PAGE 

AT WWW.WBASNY.ORG. 

PLEASE REMEMBER TO RECYCLE 

Connect 

with 

us 

THE WWBA MEMBERSHIP PERIOD FOR 

2017-2018 BEGINS ON JUNE 1, 2017. 

PLEASE RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP TOD 

ODAY AT 

WWW.WWBANY 

.WWBANY.ORG 

.ORG

WWBA Dec 2017 - Jan 2018 Newsletter

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