WWBA May 2023 Newsletter

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WWBA Member News and May Events Susan L. Pollett Publishes “Hope May Come at a Snail’s Pace But It Makes Me Happy” A special thank you to Susan L. Pollet, WWBA Archive & Historian Chair, for sharing her creative content on these newsletter pages. Susan’s latest publication, on the theme that timing is all in life, is entitled “Hope Comes At A Snail’s Pace But It Makes Me Happy.” This is Susan’s third children’s picture book, which she both wrote and illustrated, and is appropriate for children ages 4-10 and the adults who love them. Truly we all need a giant dose of good feeling, which this book provides. It is the story of a young boy and his family who lived through the Coronavirus pandemic in France. By focusing on the joyful and creative elements of life, they were able to find happiness in simple things, most especially, pet snails. It is a primer on how to navigate all challenging times. Please visit SusanPollet.com for more information. “Hope May Come At A Snail’s Pace But It Makes Me Happy,” and Susan’s additional publications, are available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other online and local retailers. ◗ Westchester Women’s Bar to Broadway Building upon a prior visit years ago to see The Band’s Visit, the WWBA again traveled in good company to Broadway on May 7, 2023, for a matinee performance of Prima Facie. Prima Facie, a one-woman play, stars Jodie Comer as a British defense lawyer whose experience with a traumatic event leads her to become disillusioned with the legal system. As the Playbill provides, the play was written by Suzie Miller, a former lawyer, whose goals included that of exposing “[t]he reality of race, gender, and class before the law,” and “the endemic unfairness.” The play powerfully explores a complicated topic in its layered dimensions. Prima Facie was recognized with multiple Olivier Awards for its run in London’s West End and has been nominated for multiple Tony Awards. ◗ Become a New Member Today RENEW YOUR WWBA MEMBERSHIP TODAY FOR THE PERIOD JUNE 1, 2023 TO MAY 31, 2024. RENEW NOW! DON’T WAIT! WWBA Membership includes membership to the Women’s Bar Association of the State of New York (WBASNY). January 31, 2023 is the closing date in order to count the WWBA members towards our certification to WBASNY and assure our number of delegates. 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. President Marcus with Catalina Blanco Buitrago and Shari R. Gordon President Marcus and Gladys Ullmann outside the Golden Theatre Lisa Denig Appointed Westchester County Commissioner of Human Resources from page 6 perienced professionals that make up the Human Resources Office, stating “I’m confident that my experience dealing with personnel issues as Chief of Staff in Putnam County as well as my legal education and training will provide me with a solid base to confront the issues and challenges that make up the new, post-pandemic employment landscape.” Lisa received her Juris Doctorate from Pace University Law School and a Masters Degree in Public Service from the University of Arkansas. As Chief of Staff to the Putnam County Executive, she managed over 500 County personnel and supervised 20 County departments, and was additionally responsible for negotiating union contracts and handling personnel grievances. The WWBA congratulates Lisa and has every confidence in her ability to succeed in her new role. ◗ Hélène Côté, Sherry A. Bishko, Elisabeth Campos 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. Page 10 Westchester Women’s Bar Association News
○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ 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. WBASNY Supports Passage of the Grieving Families Act The Women’s Bar Association of the State of New York (“WBASNY”) supports A.6698 (Weinstein)/S.6636 (Hoylman- Sigal), which would amend the Estates, Powers and Trusts Law, (EPTL) Section 5-4.3 in relation to payment and distribution of damages in wrongful death actions. This law, which was enacted over 110 years ago, recognizes mostly pecuniary injuries as damages for wrongful deaths in New York. This category of damages, which is the quantifiable calculable gross income at the time of a person’s death, was created as a means to value the life of a working man and breadwinner. The computation is based upon the decedent’s age, health, earning capacity and life expectancy. The amendment of this section would right the wrong of historical discrimination against women, children, infants, homemakers, minorities, the “The damages for the wrongful death of a person should be measured equitably. One person’s life should not be ‘worth’ more than anyone else’s life.” infirm, the mentally ill, the disabled and the elderly. The wrongful death statute was included in the Real Property Law of 1896 which became the Decedent’s Estate Law in 1909, and in 1966 became the Estates Powers and Trusts Law. This law places value on an employed or self-employed person while placing little to no value on everyone else. Due to the gender pay gap, there continues to exist a significant pay disparity between men and women. Accordingly, when “computing” the worth of a woman as against a man in the same job, the man will more often than not have earned more. Thus, the damages computation in a wrongful death claim of a wage earner, in general, will frequently be larger for a man than for a woman. Also, when using the current calculation method for damages in New York State, a working person who earns a salary and who has children under the age of 21 years old is “worth more” than an infant, homemaker, child, disabled person, mentally ill person or an elderly person. The current law perpetuates the discrimination. The damages for the wrongful death of a person should be measured equitably. One person’s life should not be “worth” more than anyone else’s life. Damages that are currently “valueless” under the current law are emotional distress, mental suffering, loss of companionship, anguish, sorrow, grief, loss of affection, loss of society, loss of comfort, and loss of enjoyment of life. More than forty-one (41) states have enacted a “fair and equitable” wrongful death statute. New York should not be in the minority on this basic right. By enacting the proposed statute, the discrimination inherent in New York State’s current wrongful death statute would place the life of all people on equal footing when measuring the value of a life. ◗ Westchester Women’s Bar Association News Page 11
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WWBA May 2023 Newsletter

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