Chuck Otey’s Pro Bono Barrister for September 23

September 23, 2013 By Chuck F. Otey, Esq. Brooklyn Daily Eagle

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Lawyers Will Walk for Lisa’s Battle With Leukemia

In the late afternoon of Sept. 28, scores of barristers from the Bay Ridge Lawyers Association will cross the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge into Staten Island. Their goal will be to show support for a colleague and officer who is an excellent lawyer.

At on the island well before 5:30 p.m. they will begin a “Light The Night Walk” dedicated to their very talented vice president, Lisa Becker.

President Joann Monaco has assembled the team out of the admiration and esteem in which the BRLA holds Becker.

“We are participating in this event to fight leukemia,” said Monaco, noting that “our vice president, Lisa Becker, who is currently fighting this disease, usually walks every year but is unable to this year.”

For details of the exact meeting location contact President Monaco at [email protected]

Other officers include Secretary Grace Borrino, Treasurer Stephen Spinelli and Corresponding Secy. Margaret Stanton. Immediate Past President is Pat Russo. The Bay Ridge Lawyers Association is the longest-standing local bar association in the city and is now entering its 60th year of service.
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Columbian Lawyers Explore How To Avoid Probate

The Columbian Lawyers Brooklyn Association will find out more ways to “Avoid Probate” when they gather Oct. 1 at the Rex Manor, 1100 60th St.

Speaking will be one of the city’s leading probate lawyers, Steve Finklestein, a former president of the Kings County American Inns of Court.

Heading the Columbians this year are President Robert Musso, First Vice President Bartholomew Russo, Second Vice President Rose Ann C. Branda, Third Vice President Dean Delianites, Treasurer Mark Longo, Corresponding Secretary Linda Locascio, Recording Secretary Frank Seddio and Historian George Siracuse.

Msgr. David Cassato is chaplain, while Lucinda DiSalvo serves as executive secretary. She reminds all that the meeting begins promptly with a delicious dinner.
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Big Brooklyn Bar Fete Is Set For December 9

The Brooklyn Bar Association’s Annual Dinner — a tradition that reportedly began back in 1872 — will be held on Dec. 9 at the Brooklyn Marriott on Adams Street.

Honors will be paid to leading legal figures, including members of the judiciary. The President of the BBA is Andrew Fallek. Dinner arrangements are made by President-elect Rebecca Woodland with the invaluable aid of BBA Executive Director Avery Okin.

Meanwhile, the irrepressible CLE Director Meredith Symonds is reminding all that the BBA’s third and final CLE in the accredited Bankruptcy Series will take place on Sept. 26 when experts David Doyaga and Gregory Messer explain the intricacies of “Advanced Bankruptcy.”

Topics will include “The New [bankruptcy] Exemptions—Advanced Analysis; Exemption Planning, Recent Decisions’ with an emphasis on Chapter 13 filings; and “Lien Stripping.”

As usual, the CLE program will begin promptly at 6 p.m. at BBA headquarters, 123 Remsen St.
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Director Chidekel Readies Inn Cast For Sept. 24 ‘Show’

Like any good trial lawyer, Dave Chidekel knows the value of intense preparation. That’s probably why he’s spent a lot of time and effort getting his Kings County Inns of Court panel ready to offer its season premiere skit—“Handling Difficult Attorneys at A Deposition”—on Sept. 24 at BBA headquarters.

He is joined by fellow Panel leaders Chief Administrative Civil Judge William Judge Lawrence Knipel and Federal Judge William Kuntz. In Inn tradition, a “collegial repast” will be provided by Inn Executive Director Jeff Feldman and Inn Administrator Lucy DiSalvo.
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BCC President Carlo Scissura Heads Pioneer Fete Honorees

Most publications cover our legal system only in terms of negatives — judges who free “murderers to roam the streets” and the occasional misdoings of lawyers who historically been the butt of thousands of (usually unfair) lawyer jokes.

Our mission statement calls for us to “tell about the good that lawyers do.” Hence, our freely translated column title—Pro Bono Barrister

This week we talk a little about the good deeds of attorney Bob Howe, who heads the Merchants of Third Avenue as they plan their 20th Annual Pioneer Reception. The MTA is a business/civic organization. “For 20 years, we’ve tried to select honorees who, professionally and personally, help promote our unique sense of community” he told us.

Some Pioneers are local, he added. “But some serve borough-wide, and this year we’re pleased to single out as Pioneers: Carlo Scissura, president, Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce; Myles Davis, Senior V.P. of Lutheran Medical Hospital; and Doug Jablon, V.P. at Maimonides Hospital.”

“The good news”, says attorney Howe, also a Republican Party executive, “is that, even after 20 years we can still cite a growing and sustaining number of those who care for Third Avenue and our community at large.”

The gala event will get underway 7 p.m., Oct. 28 at the Café Remy on Third Avenue in Bay Ridge. Ten percent of all ticket proceeds will go to aid victims of Hurricane Sandy.

Scissura, an attorney and a native son of Bay Ridge, has assumed leadership of the Chamber at a challenging time when businesses large and small are still recovering for the great Recession of 2008. He is getting positive reviews for bringing in new members and is working with Vice President Rick Russo to help businesses throughout the County of Kings.

Pioneers Davis and Jablon, according to Howe, have successfully helped their institutions grow and thrive while many hospitals throughout the city have been shut down, while others, such as LICH, fight to stay alive.

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‘Two Martys’ Will Present Awards at Café Remy

Other civic honorees include, Kadren Tadross, director of the Ridge Chorale, and Larry Morrish, community organizer, who twice led successful campaign to save the historic Fort Hamilton Army Base when it was threatened with closure.

Third Avenue Pioneers—“those who take part and help our community as well’, in Howe’s words — include Courtney Sessa Flynn, McLaughlin Funeral Home; Danielle Jabour, Jabour Realty; Charles Elias, Charles Elias Salon; Ralph Succar, Empire Development; and Seamus Labradoodle, the beloved “partner” of Deidre and Michael Butler, proprietors of Paws Truly.

B.P. Marty Markowitz, Sen.Marty Golden and Councilman Vinnie Gentile are among the list of distinguished presenters.
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