annual report 2017 - center for elder law & justice · kelly m. showard jamie smith, esq....
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2017ANNUAL REPORT
MISSION STATEMENT
It is the mission of Center for Elder Law & Justice to improve
the quality of life for elderly, disabled and low-income persons
in Western New York. We do so through the provision of free
civil legal services, primarily to individuals age sixty and over as
defined by the federal Older Americans Act, but also to younger
disabled and low-income individuals, as funding permits. Our
primary goal is to use the legal system to assure that our clients
may live independently and with dignity
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KAREN NICOLSON
C h i e f E x e c u t i v e O f f i c e r
2017 was a landmark year for CELJ. I am extreme-
ly proud and encouraged by this agency’s growth
and development. In 2017 we added two office
locations across Western New York and hired ad-
ditional attorneys to help with the needs of our
community. We have come so far, and yet, we
have so far to go.
I regularly receive effusive letters from our cli-
ents praising the work our team did to save their
homes, their families, and their income. As an
agency, we are proud of the special role we play
in our system of justice. It is because of the pas-
sion of our staff, volunteers, donors, and elected
officials that CELJ is on the path to charting new
territory. And we’re not done yet.
Facilitating the administration of justice is the
mission our agency and one of the things that
makes me most proud to lead this organization.
However, according to a report by the Permanent
Commission on Access to Justice, “only 37% of the
legal needs of low-income New Yorkers are being
met statewide.” Every day, CELJ staff goes above
and beyond to assist as many of our neighbors
as we can. As we all continue to fill this justice
gap, we should remember the words of Supreme
Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor: “We educated,
privileged lawyers have a professional and moral
duty to represent the underrepresented in our so-
ciety, to ensure that justice exists for all, both
legal and economic justice.”
The need for the services that CELJ provides
continues to grow. The aging population is
increasing, elder abuse is on the rise, and fi-
nancial exploitation of older adults is a billion
dollar problem in New York State. As you will
see when reviewing our 2017 annual report,
we address all of these issues and more. Our
impact on the community is vast and compel-
ling—as is our need for continued support. I
am so grateful to our community for embrac-
ing the needs of the aging and less fortunate
among us. With your support, CELJ will con-
tinue to advocate for justice so that our cli-
ents may live independently and with dignity.
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Bruce Reinoso, Esq.President
Jill Bond, Esq. Vice President
John C. Brady, IIIVice President
Holly Hejmowski, CPATreasurer
David J. Starkey, Esq.Secretary
OFFICERS
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
MEMBERS
Claire Fortin, Esq.
Garry M. Graber, Esq.
Ryan D. Ledebur, Esq.
Tolulope F. Odunsi, Esq.
Timothy M. O’Mara, Esq.
Edward C. Robinson, Esq.
Denise Gonez-Santos
Kelly M. Showard
Jamie Smith, Esq.
Robert C. Weissflach, Esq.
(Top L-R) Doug Curella, Jill Bond, John Brady, Hon. Rosalie Bailey, Holly Hejmowski, Robert Weissflach, David Starkey
(Bottom L-R) Ed Robinson, Bruce Reinoso, Cynthia Vance, Claire Fortin, Tolulope Odunsi, Treneeka Fields
(FISCAL YEAR 2017)
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Karen L. Nicolson, Esq.Chief Executive Officer
Jessica Fields, Esq., CPAChief Financial Officer
Shatorah Donovan, Esq.Director of Development & Communications
Helen Ferraro-Zaffram, Esq.Managing Attorney
Sarah Balogh, Esq.Supervising Attorney
Kevin Quinn, Esq.Supervising Attorney
Sarah Duval, Esq.Supervising Attorney
STAFF ATTORNEYS Rachel Baldassaro, Esq.Kelly Barrett, Esq.F. Alex Fehrman, Esq.Lindsay Heckler, Esq.Nicole Komin, Esq.Bradley Loliger, Esq.Roslyn McLin, Esq.Nicole Parshall, Esq.Erin Riker, Esq.David Shapiro, Esq.Molly White, Esq.
Katie Earl, Social WorkerKayleah Feser, Social WorkerKathleen Hermann, Social Worker Kathy Kanaley, Social WorkerFidele Menavanza, Law Graduate Shaquilla Reid, Legal Assistant
CELJ STAFF MEMBERS
PARALEGALSSteve DahlbergBrittany DavisDavid GiordanoBrandy HernandezKarlene KristichCheryl KostrewaTheresa MillerRachel SchepartBrenda SymansFurnette WilliamsMelissa Woods
Rachel HaseleyHuman Resource Manager
Christine HalikOffice Manager
Korin FrantzSenior Accountant
Michaelene JeziorowskiOffice Assistant
Gabrielle BrewerPooled Trust
Jamie VokesGuardianship Account Manager
Kirtan PatelStaff Accountant
Judy PiwowarAssistant to the CEO
Kelly Taylor Secretary/Receptionist, Intake Officer
Liam McMahonPooled Trust
(AS OF 2018)
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Dear Ms. Nicolson, Please accept our donation for the excellent job done by your attorney and legal staff. Kelly Barrett and Brandy Hernandez aided us im-mensely. Our case was concluded with efficiency and ended with a favorable decision for us. Therefore, we thank you greatly and will inform others of your excellent, outstanding services.— Morgan* (Medicare Case)
CLIENT TESTIMONIALS
Mine was a financial situation I had got myself into. Kevin and Rachel were a god send to me. I am grateful and appreciate all their help.— Terry* (Consumer Case)
I could not be happier. Thank you all so much!— Matthew* (Housing Case)
3,855
2,477*names have been changed5
STATISTICS
TOTAL STAFF48
PRACTICE AREAS14
COUNTIES SERVED11
NUMBER OF OFFICES3
WHO WE HELPED IN 2017
62%WHITE, NON-HISPANIC
23%
AFRICAN AMERICAN
3%HISPANIC
4% ASIAN
3% NATIVEAMERICAN
5% MULTI-RACIAL,UNSPECIFIED, OTHER
70%
OVER 60 YEARS OLD
30%59 YEARS OLDAND YOUNGER
3,855CASES OPENED
2,477CASES CLOSED
Through our Elder Abuse Prevention, Foreclosure Prevention, Consumer, Housing, Income Maintenance, and Health Care units—CELJ helped our clients recover or save $2,997,027.82.
Our services in the Kinship Care, Housing, Healthcare, Fore-closure, Guardianship, Elder Abuse Prevention units saved tax-payers across New York State $1,342,234.
CELJ provided community legal education to 13,858 individuals in the form of presentations, clinics, and workshops.
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NEW OFFICES
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DUNKIRK314 Central Avenue
Suite 300
Dunkirk, NY
14048
LOCKPORT175 Walnut Street
Suite 1
Lockport, NY
14094
JULY 2017
MARCH 2017
NEW PRACTICE AREAS
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Senior Legal Advice Helpline1-844-481-0973The Senior Legal Advice Helpline launched on
May 9th, 2017. The free Helpline provides an-
swers to brief legal questions and referrals to
other legal resources for seniors in Monroe,
Livingston, Steuben and Allegany Counties.
The Helpline allows callers to reach an attor-
ney right away who can provide them with ad-
vice on a wide variety of legal issues, including
consumer protection, health insurance, housing
issues and more. The Helpline is open Mon-
day through Friday from 9:00am to 11:00am.
Legal Risk Detector AppA legal health check-up tool for housing, con-
sumer, financial exploitation and health care is-
sues. The Legal Risk Detector App is a program
developed with Pro Bono Net that service pro-
viders can use to screen seniors for potential le-
gal issues at no cost. Referrals are sent directly
to the Center for Elder Law & Justice once the
assessment is complete. The app is a web-based
legal health “check-up” tool that allows medical
personnel, social workers, and other allied pro-
fessionals to screen older adults, including home
bound people, for common legal issues, includ-
ing abuse and financial exploitation.
MedLaw is a partnership like no other in our com-
munity, as it combines the passion and knowledge
of a proven legal services agency, the prestige
of one of our region’s largest hospitals, with the
skills of exceptional healthcare providers– all in
an effort to improve health outcomes and quality
of life for our local population. After a generous
grant was awarded to CELJ by Judges & Lawyers
Breast Cancer Alert (JALBCA), a partnership was
formed between CELJ and Erie County Medical
Center (ECMC) that created MedLaw. Here, at-
torneys from CELJ are embedded at ECMC and
included as an integral part of the patient care
team. Referrals to MedLaw are made directly by
healthcare providers, who are trained to identify
common legal problems impacting their patients.
A medical-legal partnership (MLP) is a unique col-
laboration that unites the healthcare community
with agencies like CELJ under the common mis-
sion of addressing and preventing health-harm-
ing social conditions for vulnerable patients and
communities. MLPs link lawyers, with doctors,
nurses, social workers, and other clinical staff to
help patients address underlying legal problems
that harm their health. Through MedLaw, CELJ has
opened a legal assistance center located on the
ECMC Campus.
The goal of MedLaw is to address a patient’s legal
needs that are beyond the scope of a healthcare
provider’s clinical capacity and expertise. To that
end, MedLaw embraces the notion that at times,
the best medicine for a patient might include not
only clinical healthcare measures, but also the re-
ceipt of ‘legal care’ (i.e. legal assistance from an
attorney).
MedLaw is currently serving ECMC, ECMC Foun-
dation Mobile Mammography Unit, and Western
New York Breast Health patients being treated
for breast cancer, or at risk of breast cancer. We
are also serving patients being treated by ECMC’s
palliative medicine team. MedLaw offers full rep-
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resentation and/or brief advice and counsel in
such matters as: access to state and federal pub-
lic benefits, health insurance, housing and utili-
ties, employment, legal status, planning for future
decision-making, end of life planning, consumer
issues, and other personal/family concerns.
In addition to the legal assistance center, MedLaw
offers free monthly educational events that are
open to the public. Each month different speakers
present on important legal topics impacting pa-
tients and the community.
Our MedLaw unit is run by staff attorney, Rachel
Baldassaro—a passionate advocate for breast
cancer survivors. The launch of this program,
aimed at helping individuals impacted by breast
cancer, holds personal significance for Baldassa-
ro. She is the daughter of a breast cancer survivor
who observed first-hand the effects chemother-
apy and radiation had on her mother. “I endured
the stress of watching a loved one face a serious
illness, and I felt first-hand the anxiety of the un-
known. To say that my mother’s cancer diagnosis
impacted my life significantly would be an under-
statement,” says Baldassaro.
The news of a cancer diagnosis is devastating –
devastating not only to the individual impacted by
the disease, but also to their family and friends. “If
one positive thing came of my mother’s disease, it
is that I learned how critical it is for a patient and
their families to lean on their support networks,
and that sometimes these support networks take
an unexpected shape,” said Baldassaro.
At CELJ, we advocate for justice at all stages of
life, so that our clients may live independently and
with dignity. The MedLaw program is one of the
boldest and most direct ways we can fulfil our
mission in our community. CELJ thanks JALBCA for
their financial support and ECMC, ECMC Founda-
tion, and WNY Breast Health for their partnership.
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MEDICAL LEGAL PARTNERSHIP LAUNCHES WITH NYC BACKING
M e d L a w C a n c e r
P a r t n e r s h i p o f W e s t e r n
N e w Y o r k : A n
i n t e r s e c t i o n o f l a w ,
h e a l t h c a r e , a n d
p h i l a n t h r o p y .
Paul knows more about these rules than most
attorneys. As founder and chief counsel of
Paramount Settlement Planning, he’s dedicat-
ed to helping injured and disabled plaintiffs
transition to life after litigation. And for him,
CELJ has been an indispensable resource.
DONOR SPOTLIGHT
P a u l I s a a c
Nearly every day I witness
firsthand the works of
[CELJ], says donor Paul Is-
sac. “They are an incred-
ible organization with a
depth of knowledge, com-
passion, understanding,
and experience practicing
in an arena where most
would find it impossible to
understand the rules.
“CELJ is always willing to take a call and give
guidance or take steps to actively intervene to
assist a disadvantaged Western New Yorker,”
Paul says. “I doubt that most people would
have any idea of the level of dedication that
this organization has for the elderly and dis-
advantaged.”
Paul first became affiliated with CELJ
fifteen years ago. “I realized that the
organization had a heavy concentra-
tion of very knowledgeable attorneys
and support staff who were extremely
dedicated and highly experience in a
very nuanced area of the law.”
Paul’s fight for justice continues as
part of Precision Resolution, which
challenges liens levied against plain-
tiffs’ settlement proceeds, and CELJ
has stood with him every step of the
way. “Everyone who I ever came in
contact with has compassion for the
elderly, disabled and disadvantaged,”
Paul tells us. “This talent is put to great
use daily to help our most disadvan-
taged citizens.”
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79TOTAL ATTORNEY VOLUNTEERS
229.1TOTAL HOURS
25TOTAL INTERN VOLUNTEERS
3,359.9 TOTAL HOURS
Lisa AllenEric AndrewMelissa BaderLydia Beebe SafulkoCharles BeinhauerSteve BengartSteve BengartMargot BennettElizabeth Bertrand Andrew BeschJohn BrillAnthony ColucciStephanie CookBenjamin CransionJudy Cuzacrea-WagnerPhi DelmontJoshua DubsLydia EvansPatricia FayRobert FeldmanNoemi FernandezHenry GartnerKathleen GarveyRuth GeorgeBill GerkenBill GirouxWilliam Giroux
Krista GottliebLeonard GrahamAmy Avers HareJean HarrisJean HarrisonJesslyn HolbrookElizabeth IngoldNina JuncewiczMegan KnepkaMarianne E. KoenigRobert KutzubaGraham LeonardBob LittleDevon LittleJames LoreeAlexandra LugoRichard MarcheseLindsay McKennaBritta McKennaMindy MenkeDenny MenshelElaina MonteTerrie Benson MurrayTolu OdunsiGerald ParadiseJessica PerazaKaren Perrigo
Ray PfieferPaul PochepanLeah RankeBruce ReinosoJay RickettsGeorge RiedelGeorge E. Riedel Jr.Edward RobinsonTodd RobinsonRichard RossoAnne RutlandLisa Beebe SafulkoLawrence R. SchwachAmanda ScottJamie SmithCarly SpeyerValerie StanekLinda Stravalaci GrearJames ThomanTyler ThreehouseAmanda TownsendFrank VavoneseMary VirginiaRob WeissflachSamantha White
2017 PRO BONO ATTORNEYS
Thank you to the following attorneys who support our Pro Bono program and make it possible for CELJ to help more in our community!
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2017 PRO BONO VOLUNTEER STATISTICS
Center for Elder Law & Justice is co-trustee for the West-
ern New York Coalition Pooled Trusts (“the Trust” or “the
Pooled Trust”). The Trust is a Supplemental Needs Trust
(“SNT”). An SNT is a vehicle that can be used to enhance
the quality of life for individuals with disabling condi-
tions. The SNT must be used for the benefit of an indi-
vidual with a disabling condition and the expenditures
made on behalf of that person should supplement, not
replace, their government benefits. Beneficiaries pool
their money together to take advantage of better invest-
ment opportunities. The Pooled Trust is considered an
exempt resource for purposes of Medicaid and Social
Security. The Trust takes individuals out of the cycle of
poverty, by allowing them to live in the community and
maintain a comfortable quality of life.
2017 was a record year, with approximately 600 bene-
ficiaries and almost $9 million in trust assets. In order to
meet our clients’ needs, we hired new staff and doubled
our pooled trust team during the year.
POOLED TRUST
The Trust is a collaboration between Center for Elder Law
& Justice, People Inc, and Key Bank.
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Henry GarnterKathleen GaveyGary GlebaJesslyn HolbrookElizabeth IngoldKristen KozlowskiRichard MarcheseBruce ReinosoTodd RobinsonRichard RossoGary SchaffAmanda Scott
2017 PRO BONO ATTORNEYS
ELDER LAW DAY 2017
Melissa BaderJudy Cuzzacrea WagnerKathleen GarveyLinda GrearBruce ReinosoTodd RobinsonAmanda ScottValerie Stanek
MINI ELDER LAW DAY 2017
2017 INTERNS
William AcevedoLauren AzziAlexandra BalmerAaron BengartShawn ByrnsRyan CarneyMargaret DugganAlex FermanBen GilbergKatelyn GindeleSarah HicksSantos JacobNeal JohnsonCatherine MartinLiam McMahonSaymoe MoePia PerfettoSamantha PersoffMaya RamosHeather RichardsAnthony SantopoloJashanjot Singh-GirnSuzanne StarrZyanna SteeleKortnie Williams
IN HOUSE PRO BONOVOLUNTEERS
Bill GirouxGary GlebaMelissa MummeryDan ShinerTony Szczygiel
Joshua DubsNoemi FernandezHenry GartnerMarianne KoenigTodd Robinson
PRO BONO ATTORNEYSWITH CASES
Thank you ever so much for helping me to get recertified by Medicaid! No matter what a pest I was, you were so patient and ever so polite to my Mom when she came by your offices and to me on the telephone. Please accept my sincere gratitude.
CENTER FOR ELDER LAW AND JUSTICE, INC.STATEMENT OF ACTIVITES AND CHANGES IN NET ASSETS For the year ended December 31, 2017As audited by Bonadio & Co., LLP
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REVENUE
Grants from governmental agencies
83%$3,138,814
Program revenue 11%438,238
Contributions 5%179,023
Special events, net 1%
TOTAL REVENUE $3,797,322 100%
41,247
OTHER INCOME
Investment income, net $91,153
TOTAL OTHER INCOME, NET $91,153
EXPENSES
Program services 87%$3,172,927
Supporting services 12%419,420
Fundraising 1%45,479
TOTAL EXPENSES $3,637,826 100%
CHANGE IN NET ASSETS FROM OPERATIONS
$159,496
CHANGE IN NET ASSETS $250,649
NET ASSETS — beginning of year $1,085,894
NET ASSETS — end of year $1,336,543
Mr. Peter AielloDr. Tosin AkanjiMr. David AlexanderMs. Cheryl AloiDr. Olajumoke AmuwoMs. Grace Marie AngeMr. and Mrs. James and Diane ArnoneMr. Thomas AyersHon. Rosalie BaileyMs. John BallowMr. Adam BarthMs. Robert BelfieldMs. Candace Lynn BellMs. Steven BengartMs. Cindy BennesMs. Megan BermanIDy. David BeyerMr. Ted BickfordMs. Gary BillingsleyMs. Dennis BischofMr. George BlairMs. Sandra BloomMs. Edward BloombergMr. David BowensMr. John BradyMr. Gregory BrownMs. Marc BrownMs. Joel BrownsteinMs. Thomas BrydgesMs. Danielle BurningMs. Martha BuyerMs. Kathleen CarmodyMs. Jerome CarrelMs. Alan CarrelMs. Patricia CarringtonMs. Anthony CasilioMs. Robert CastellaniMr. Joe CavanMs. Marilyn CedroneMr. Philip CelnikerMs. Michael ChelusMs. Daniel ChiacchiaMs. Robert CiesielskiMs. Paula CiprichMs. Peter ClarkMs. Lynn ClarkeMr. and Mrs. David CohenMr. and Mrs. Frederick CohenMs. Debra ColeMr. J. Michael CollinsMr. Anthony Colucci, Jr.Mr. and Mrs. Joseph ConnellyMs. Thomas ConsidineMr. Doug Curella JrMrs. Treneeka Cusack FieldsMs. Victoria D’AngeloMr. Roger T. DavisonMr. John DelMonteMs. Sheila DickinsonMr. and Mrs. Melinda DisareMr. Brian Downey
Ms. Catherine EberlMr. Randy FahsMr. Thomas FarleyMs. Wendy FechterMr. John FeroletoHon. Shannon FilbertMr. Brian FitzgeraldMr. Edward FlickerMrs. Geraldine FlickerMr. David FloydMs. Lenora Foote-BeaversMr. Harry ForrestMs. Claire FortinMs. Elizabeth Fox-SolomonMr. Irwin FrancoMr. Lawrence FrancoMr. Robert FrangoolesMr. Howard FrankMs. Rhonda FrederickMr. Jeffrey FuchsMr. Henry GartnerMr. Robert GastleMs. Patricia GeorgeHon. Joseph GeraceMs. Sharon Stern GerstmanMr. Arthur GiacaloneMr. Joseph GiancarloMr. Herman GinsburgHon. Eric GlazerMr. Gary GlebaMr. and Mrs. Howard GondreeMrs. Denise Gonez-SantosHon. Jerome GorskiMr. Garry GraberMr. Kenneth GraberMr. Gerald GraceMr. Leslie GreenbaumMr. and Mrs. Richard GriffinHon. Michael GriffithDr. Kathleen GrimmMs. Laura GroschadlMs. Melinda GrossmanMr. Mark GruberMr. Frederick GuginoMr. Vincent HanleyMs. Donna HaslingerMrs. Holly HejmowskiMr. Franklin HellerMr. Greg HennesseyMr. William Grant HennigarMs. Ann HermanMs. Ann Giardina HessMr. Thomas HewnerMs. Marilyn HochfieldMs. Lynn Horne-MoyerMr. Scott HortonMr. Max HumannMr. Thomas HurleyMr. Thomas HydeMr. Paul IsaacMs. Michaelene JeziorowskiMr. Todd Joseph
Ms. Karen KaczmarskiMr. George KannarMs. Kristie KantorMiss Lindsey KasperczykMr. David KernanMr. Popkin KidsMr. Peter KleinMr. Robert KlumpMs. Pamela Krawczyk-GreeneMs. Eleanor KubiniecMr. Paul KullmanMr. Robert KutzubaDr. Toby LapingMs. Sandra LauerMr. Courtland LaValleeMr. David LazenskiMr. Ryan LedeburMr. Donald LewickiMr. Winston LinMrs. Kimberly LoCurtoMs. Sally LoganMr. Bradley LoligerMr. Leonard LondonMr. Gordon LyonMr. James MagavernMr. Samuel MagavernMr. William MaldovanMr. Edward MarkarianMr. Jeffrey MarkelloHon. Frederick MarshallMiss Ruth MathewsMs. Karen L. MathewsHon. Jeremiah McCarthyMr. William McLaughlinMs. Kathleen McMahon-StollMs. Fanny MeyerHon. Ann MikollMs. Kathleen MolloyMs. Karen MulveyMs. Margaret MurphyMiss Francine NdjatouMs. Nathan NeillMr. Thomas NelsonMr. F. Harris NicholsMr. Robert NicholsMr. Christopher NicksonMs. Karen NicolsonMr. Ilo NobleMs. Sally ObletzHon. John O’DonnellMiss Jesutomiloba OdunsiMrs. Ayo OdunsiMs. Tolulope OdunsiMr. and Mrs. Randall OdzaMr. Timothy O’MaraMs. Kelley OmelMs. Gerald ParadiseMs. Michelle ParkerMr. Paul PearsonMs. Danielle Pelfrey DuryeaMs. Karen PerrigoMs. Kimberly Phelan
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ANNUAL FUND DONORS
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ANNUAL FUND DONORS
Ms. Rosalind PolanowskiMr. Steven PolowitzMs. Marlene PotterMs. Pamela PyleMr. Theodore PyrakMr. Joseph RandazzoMs. Diane RehseMr. Paul ReidMr. Bruce ReinosoMr. and Mrs. Anna Marie RichmondMr. George RiedelMs. Debra RitzMr. Edward RobinsonHon. Lisa RodwinMr. Howard RosenhochMr. Richard RossoMr. Arthur RussMs. Melinda SaranMs. Jennifer ScharfMs. Geralyn SchifflerMr. James SchultzMr. E. Michael SempleMr. Leonardo Sette-CamaraMr. Michael ShannonMs. Kelly ShowardMr. Myron SiegelMrs. Elaine SilverMrs. Anita SmithMs. Jamie Smith
Mr. Christopher SmolkaMr. Eugene SmolkaMr. James SmytonMr. and Mrs. Margaret SnajczukMr. Jeffrey SpencerMr. David StarkeyMr. Thomas SteffanMr. Gregory StewartMs. Courtney StradfordMr. and Mrs. Ronald TalboysMs. Kelly A TaylorMr. and Mrs. Richard TobeMr. Denis UminskiMs. Vicky ValvoMs. Cynthia VanceMs. Mary VirginiaMs. Judith VoitMr. Matthew WagnerMr. Mark WallingMs. Laurie WalshMr. Daniel WebsterMs. Robert WeissflachMr. Alan WilliamsMr. Wayne WisbaumMs. Ruth Wiseman SpivackMs. Jennifer WoodMs. Laurence WoodwardMr. John ZakMr. John Ziegler
JUSTICE BASH 2017
GOLD SPONSORSHodgson Russ LLPPhillips Lytle LLP
BRONZE SPONSORSErie County Medical CenterHarter Secrest & Emery LLPHurwitz & Fine, PCKey Private BankPriam Enterprises, LLCRich Products CorporationSupermarket Management, Inc.The Olear Team at MJ Peterson
TRIVIA NIGHT FOR JUSTICE
TRIVIA SPONSORAdvance2000
CELJ 21ST ANNUAL GOLF TOURNAMENT
SILVER SPONSORSGibson, McAskill & CrosbyGurney Becker & BourneHodgson Russ LLPKenney Shelton Liptak Nowak LLPMattingly Cavagnaro, LLPPfalzgraf, Beinhauer & MenziesSmith Vavonese, LLPThe Olear Team at MJ Peterson
TOWEL SPONSORAdvance2000
PHOTO SPONSORWoods Oviatt Gilman LLP
LUNCH SPONSORJensen, Marks, Langer & Vance LLC
COCKTAIL SPONSORWilliam C. Bernhardi Law Offices
CART SPONSORCollins & Collins Attorneys, LLC
BALL SPONSORBuffalo Building & Construction Trades Council
PARTNER AND FOUNDATION
Baird FoundationCommunity Foundation for Greater BuffaloEmpire Justice CenterEvans-Devereux Memorial FundJudges and Lawyers Breast Cancer Alert Medical Legal PartnershipLifespan Enhanced Multi Disciplinary TeamsNew York State Bar FoundationUnited Way of Buffalo and Erie CountyUnited Way of Buffalo and Erie County-SEFA Campaign
GOVERNMENT SUPPORT
Administration for Community Living-Elder Justice InnovationAllegany CountyCattaraugus CountyErie County Genesee CountyIOLA Fund of the State of New YorkNew York State Attorney General Home Owner Protection ProgramNew York State Division of Criminal Justice ServicesNew York State Long Term Care Ombudsman ProgramNew York State Office of Children and Family ServicesNew York State Unified Court SystemNiagara CountyOffice for Victims of Crime - Risk Detector InitiativeOrleans CountySeneca Nation of IndiansWyoming County
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WHITE PAPERS
In 2017 Staff Attorney Lindsay Heckler wrote a profile on a nursing home, along with UB Law Professor Emeritus, Tony Szcygiel. Profiles like this are distributed to New York State legislators to give an informed and unbiased report of underperforming nursing homes in an effort to protect residents.
At CELJ, we believe in advocating, not only for our clients, but for the rights of all New Yorkers who are impacted by outdated or unfair policies. As a result, our staff works closely with legislators and policy makers to provide unbiased testimony and analysis on relevant laws. This is done through white papers, testimony, and comments on proposed legislation.
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LEGISLATIVE TESTIMONY
Throughout the year, our attorneys have provided testimony to the New York State Assembly Committees on Health, Social Services, and Aging.
On February 27, 2017, staff attorneys Lindsay Heckler and Kelly Barrett submitted tes-timony to the New York State Assembly in order to address Home Health Work Force Issues. Attorney Heckler presented testimony to share experiences of those in our community who have been affected by a shortage of home health care aides.
On September 28, 2017, Attorney Heckler testified regarding adult care facilities. Her testimony focused on the need for better basic conditions of facilities, more trans-parency, and increased penalties.
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A LOOK BACK
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A LOOK BACK
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A LOOK BACK
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A LOOK BACK