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CommitteesIn order to have an effective Bar Association, it is important that committee members participate in the committee objective by working actively together. Active committees are the heart of the Bar Association and provide a sense of belonging to the organization. Committees are the "cornerstone” and heartbeat of our association. At the committee level, members share information about the law, discuss legal developments and problems, build a network, foster collegiality, develop CLE programs and men-tor each other. Serving as a committee member carries on the work of the association and provides opportunities for new bar leaders and support to the Board of Managers. Your participation will be personally rewarding and provide a sense of belonging to the organization for you and will be greatly appreciated by me and all your QCBA colleagues. |
CommitteEs
ACADEMY OF LAW | Administration of Justice | AdministratiVE LAW | AMERICAN PRINCIPLES |
Michael D. Abneri, Dean | It shall consider, study and make recommendations on all matters relating to the administration of justice in the State of New York, other than matters of substantive and adjective law; to investigate any complaints affecting the administration of justice; particularly in the County of Queens, and to report its findings and recommendations to the Board of Managers and thereupon to take such action as said Board may direct | It shall consider study and make recommendations on all matters relating to the methods, processes and the extent of the powers exercised by administrative agencies, and on the methods, processes and extent of review exercised by the courts over such agencies and their determinations, and to consider existing and proposed legislation on the foregoing subjects. | It shall study and make recommendations on all matters relating to the rights, liberties and freedoms of individuals and groups under the Constitutions and Laws of the United States and the State of New York. It shall conduct such programs in the name of the Association as will acquaint the public, particularly our youth, with the rights and responsibilities of citizenship under our form of government. |
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ANIMAL LAWHon. George M. Heymann, Chair | ANNUAL DINNERHon. Sidney F. Strauss, Chair | ANNUAL HOLIDAY PARTYGeorge E. Nicholas, Chair Michele Schuster, Secretary | APPELLATE PRACTICEHon. Valerie Brathwaite-Nelson, Co-Chair |
BANKRUPTCY | BAR PANELS | BY-LAWS | CIVIL court |
Norma E. Ortiz, Co-Chair | Maria de la Cruz, Co-Chair | Joseph Carola III, Co-Chair
| Hamid M. Siddiqui, Chair It shall obtain information as to the practice and procedure in all civil courts of original and appellate jurisdiction, other than the Federal, Surrogate’s and the Civil Court of the City of the City of New York, or their successors. It shall consider, study and report on any amendments proposed to be made in connection with the practice and procedure in the civil courts within its jurisdiction as aforesaid. |
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Civil practiceSubcommittee of Supreme Court Committee | Commercial LawIt shall consider and report on all matters relating to the administration of the laws on the subjects of banks and banking; bankruptcy, reorganization and assignments for the benefit of creditors, personal property, sales, chattel mortgages, including and arising under the Uniform Commercial Code, and other proposed legislation. | CoNCILIATION OF FEE DISPUTESLucille DiGirolomo, Chair | CONFERENCE WITH MEDICAL SOCIETY
Subcommittee of Torts Section
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COOPERATIVE / CONDOMINIUM LAW | CORPORATIONS | CRIMINAL COURT | DEFENDANT'S ROUNDTABLE |
Mark L. Hankin, Co-Chair Subcommittee of the Real Property Committee | It shall consider, study and make recommendations on all matters relating to corporation law. | Barbara Wilkanowski, Chair It shall obtain information as to the practice and procedure in all state and city courts of criminal jurisdiction, as well as substantive criminal law. It shall consider, study and report on any amendments proposed to be made in connection with the criminal law and the practice and procedure in the criminal courts. | Jeffrey G. Kuhlman, Vice Chair Subcommittee of Torts Section |
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DIVERSITY & INCLUSION | ELDER LAW | FAMILY COURT | FAMILY LAW |
Maria Galante, Co-Chair | Brian R. Heitner, Chair Deidre M. Baker, Vice Chair | Maria Ventura de la Cruz, Co-Chair | Ravi Cattry, Co-Chair Donald Mastrodomenico, Vice Chair It shall obtain information as to the practice and procedure in all state and city courts having jurisdiction of family matters, adoptions, custody of children and matrimonial actions, as well as the substantive law on domestic relations. It shall consider, study and report on any amendments proposed to be made in connection with the law on domestic relations and the practice and procedure in courts having jurisdiction thereof. |
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FEDERAL PRACTICE
It shall obtain information as to the practice and procedure of all courts of federal jurisdiction including bankruptcy, but excluding federal taxation. It shall consider, study and report on any amendments proposed to be made in connection with the practice and procedure in the federal courts as set forth above.
| GOLF OUTINGDavid L. Cohen, Chair | GRIEVANCEPaula Pavlides, Co-Chair Bernard Vishnick, Co-Chair | HOUSEIt shall provide for the proper maintenance and equipment of the quarters occupied by the Association, and the employment of necessary attendants; it shall make rules for the use of the quarters of the Association, having regard for the convenience and comfort of its members in the pursuit of their daily vocations. The committee shall have power to expend such moneys in connection with its functions as shall be approved in the annual budget of the Association, or as shall be separately appropriated by the Board of Managers, or shall be procured by gifts. The powers and duties of the committee shall be in other respects as defined by resolution of the Board of Managers. The committee shall hear charges against any member for violation of the house rules. If the charges are deemed proved by a majority voting at such hearing, recommendation to the Board of Managers may be made for the suspension of the member involved from membership in the Association, or his suspension for a stated period, or the withholding of house privileges. The Board of Managers may take such action thereon as it may deem advisable. |
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HUMAN RIGHTS | IMMIGRATION & NATURALIZATION | INSURANCE | JUDICIAL RELATIONS |
Paul E. Kerson, Co-Chair | Joseph F. DeFelice, Co-Chair Norma T. Garcia-Miret, Co-Chair Mark S. Drucker, Vice Chair It shall consider, study and make recommendations on all matters relating to immigration and immigration law. |
It shall consider, study and make recommendations on all matters relating to insurance and insurance law.
| Steven Miller, Chair |
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JuDICIARYLeslie S. Nizin, Chair The principal function of the Committee is to evaluate and rate candidates for the courts or offices of The District Attorney of Queens County; all courts functioning in Queens County; the New York Court of Appeals; the New York Court of Claims; the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York; the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit; and the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York. | JUVENILE JUSTICEIlene Kass, Co-Chair | LABOR RELATIONSStephen D. Hans, Chair | LANDLORD & TENANTJames P. DeFranco, Jr., Co-Chair Philip A. Rosen, Co-Chair Mohamed Saif Baig, Vice Chair |
LAW SCHOOL LIAISON | LAWYER'S ASSISTANCE | LAWYERS REFERRAL SERVICE | LEGISLATION & LAW REFORM |
Joel Serrano, Chair Jasmine I. Valle, Vice Chair | Diana C. Gianturco, Chair | It shall supervise the function and operation of the Association’s Legal Referral Service. | It shall examine all bills introduced in the Legislature of the State of New York which are of general interest to the membership. It shall approve or oppose, on behalf of the Association, any legislative proposal not sponsored by the committee whenever in the judgment of a majority of the entire committee such action is advisable and is not inconsistent with any prior action of the Board of Managers. It shall also be its duty to propose to the Association changes or reforms in law deemed necessary and advisable by the committee, and after obtaining the approval thereof from the Board of Managers, cooperate with other associations, civic bodies and individuals in promoting such changes or reforms, to the end that they may be enacted into law as soon as practicable. It shall refer to any other committee of the Association any bills primarily within the scope of such other committee, for consideration and report. Such other committees shall examine such bills and submit their reports to the Committee on Legislation and Law Reform for appropriate action, following which it shall proceed in the manner herein above provided. |
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LGBTQ+ | MEDICAL MALPRACTICE | MEMBERSHIP | MENTOR |
John F. Duane, Co-Chair | Thomas J. Principe, Vice Chair Subcommittee of Torts Section | It shall recruit new members, attempt to increase the number of sustaining members and seek reinstatement of former members of the Association. It shall publish a brochure from time to time to advise prospective members of the advantages of membership. | Kristin J. Dubowski Barba, Chair |
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MILITARY / VETERAN'S LAW | municipal LAW | NEGLIGENCE TRIALS | PER DIEM ATTORNEYS |
Hon. Leonard Livote, Chair | Subcommittee of Torts Section | Subcommittee of Torts Section | George E. Nicholas, Vice Chair Subcommittee of Torts Section |
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PLAINTIFF'S ROUNDTABLE | PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT | PROFESSIONAL ETHICS | program |
Michael Kohan, Vice Chair Subcommittee of Torts Section | Kristin J. Dubowski Barba, Chair | Richard Michael Gutierrez, Chair It shall receive all inquiries, regardless of source, as to proper conduct of a member of the legal profession in a given case and, in the discretion of the committee, answer such inquiries, to the end that ethical standards may be maintained and promoted. It shall also informally advise any individual attorney involved in any such inquiries of its findings, whether or not the said individual attorney instituted the inquiry. A permanent record of the inquiries and answer shall be maintained. It may institute such programs or activities as will educate the Bar and Bench on their responsibilities under the Canons of Ethics. | Sharifa M. Nasser-Cuellar, Chair |
PUBLIC RELATIONS
It shall promote a better understanding of the lawyers’ role in the community; promote friendly cooperation between all media of public communication and the bar; receive and consider all statements of public importance which pertain to the Association, the bench or the bar generally. The committee shall maintain a Speakers’ Bureau to furnish speakers to civic groups, schools and service organizations, on stated topics relating to the law, the legal profession, its place in government and in the community and similar subjects.
| QUEENS BAR BULLETINPaul E. Kerson, Editor It shall, in the name of the Association, publish the Queens Bar Bulletin monthly from October through May, which Bulletin may contain articles on subjects relating to the law, the practice thereof, the administration of justice, matters of general interest to the profession and to members of the Association, and digests of annual reports of officers and committees. It may also publish supplements to the Queens Bar Bulletin from time to time, including the annual directory of officers, member and committees of the Association. | queens volunteer | real propertySamuel B. Freed, Co-Chair Etan Hakimi, Co-Chair It shall consider and report on all matters relating to real property, including existing and proposed legislation. It shall also arrange such liaison with realtors and their representatives. |
small firm, solo practice & | speaker's bureauGuy R. Vitacco, Jr., Chair | SUPREME COURTMichael D. Abneri, Co-Chair It shall observe and obtain information as to the practice and procedure in the Supreme Court of Queens County. It shall also consider, study and report on any amendments proposed to be made in connection with the practice and procedure of the aforesaid court. | SURROGATE'S COURT, ESTATES & TRUSTSDavid Neil Adler, Chair It shall obtain information as to the practice and procedure in the Surrogate’s Court, Queens County, as well as the substantive law administered in said court, and the law of estates and trusts generally. It shall also consider and report any changes proposed to be made in connection with the practice and procedure in the Surrogate’s Court, and the substantive law administered therein. |
TAXATION | torts | torts section | workers compensation |
It shall consider and report on all matters relating to local, state and federal taxation, including existing and proposed legislation. It shall present and conduct programs to help lawyers enhance their professional effectiveness in solving tax problems and to acquaint them with current changes in the field of taxation.
| Subcommittee of Torts Section | Michael D. Abneri, Co-Chair It shall consider and report on all matters relating to medical malpractice, personal injury, tort law and practice and the handling of civil litigation and trial, including existing and proposed legislation in all New York courts. The Torts Section includes the Conference with Medical Society, Defendant's Roundtable, Insurance, Medical Malpractice, Municipal Law, Negligence Trials, Per Diem Attorneys, Plaintiff's Roundtable, Torts and Workers Compensation subcommittees. | Michael Serres, Vice Chair Subcommittee of Torts Section |
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young lawyers |
Sydney A. Spinner, Co-Chair Ben Margolin, Vice Chair John Ryan, Jr., Vice Chair Membership in the Young Lawyers is open only to law students and attorneys admitted 10 years or less. This committee shall devote itself to the problems of the young lawyer adjusting to practice and the problems of office administration. From time to time this committee should, in conjunction with Program and Continuing Legal Education Committees, mount programs of interest to young lawyers to increase their professional proficiency. |
| Queens County Bar Association P. (718) 291-4500 F: (718) 657-1789 Email : click HERE to email 88-14 Sutphin Blvd, 3rd Floor Jamaica, NY 11435 |