Columbian Lawyers Association take lesson on Elder Law from Anthony Lamberti

April 6, 2016 By Rob Abruzzese Brooklyn Daily Eagle

The Columbian Lawyers Association of Brooklyn and its president RoseAnn Branda (left) welcomed attorney Anthony Lamberti (right) to its monthly meeting on Tuesday at which Lamberti gave a lecture on Elder Law. Eagle photos by Rob Abruzzese

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The Columbian Lawyers Association of Brooklyn got a lesson in Elder Law practice from attorney Anthony Lamberti on Tuesday during its monthly Continuing Legal Education (CLE) meeting at the Rex Manor in Dyker Heights.

“Anthony Lamberti is an expert in the field of elder law, has been a member of the Columbian Lawyers for a long time and a very dear friend over the last 20 years,” said President RoseAnn Branda. “In addition to his distinguished private practice, he was also the principal law clerk from 1989 to 2002 to Justice Leonard Scholnick.

“He’s presently the representative of the 13th Judicial District for the Elder Law Section of the New York State Bar Association and co-chairs the NYS Bar Association Subcommittee Elder Law Section,” Branda continued. “He’s the treasurer at the Brooklyn Bar Association, past president of the Bay Ridge Lawyers Association and is editor-in-chief of the Brooklyn Barrister. He’s very accomplished and we are lucky to have him speak for us.”

Lamberti, who last lectured the Columbian Lawyers on elder law five years ago, opened his speech with a joke. He said that it’s important for elder law practitioners to stay upbeat because they often deal with dire situations.

“A lot of the cases are very sad and difficult, people are in a very emotional state and those are the good family members,” Lamberti said. “Unfortunately, a lot of the family members we’re dealing with in the guardianship cases, many don’t even understand what’s going, so if I can get a little levity at my own expense to make this experience easier, I try to do that.”

Lamberti focused on the basics of elder law and offered practical advice during his speech. He also mentioned Ellyn S. Kravitz, who is going speak more in depth on the topic during a CLE session scheduled to take place at the Brooklyn Bar Association on April 28.

One of the topics he discussed in depth was how attorneys can help their clients obtain home medical care. He said that a person can only have up to $14,850 in assets to qualify for certain Medicaid expenses, which leads people to transfer assets and, if done incorrectly, in some cases, it can disqualify them for certain care.

“Many times people transfer their assets, they may even do it without advice of an attorney, and then low and behold something happens and they need care,” Lamberti said. “There are two sets of rules. There is a one-month look back for home care. People think there is a five-year lookback, but that’s for facility care. When I say that there is only a one month look back, they are stunned.”

With the CLE season coming to an end, Branda remarked that the next Columbian Lawyers meeting, on May 3 at the Rex Manor, will be her last as president and encouraged everyone to attend. Following the upcoming meeting, the Columbian Lawyers Association will hold its annual Installation Dinner Dance for its new officers at El Caribe on June 10.