Brian Lee

December 18, 2024 | New York Law Journal

Right-to-counsel measures for children, families and immigrants are at the top of the legislative agenda for the New York State Bar Association in 2025.

By Brian Lee

4 minute read

December 17, 2024 | New York Law Journal

The "SeeClickFix" app and similar technology that New York municipalities offer to allow the public to suggest road fixes, serves as prior written notice, according to a 7-0 Court of Appeals ruling issued Tuesday. The decision allows an injured motorcyclist's negligence claim against the City of Albany to proceed. Five large cities in central and western NY that are using the technology say the decision puts them on the hook for greater liability.

By Brian Lee

3 minute read

December 17, 2024 | New York Law Journal

A proposed regulation aims to assess nonbank mortgage lenders' equity in underserved communities, the New York State Department of Financial Services said.

By Brian Lee

2 minute read

December 17, 2024 | New York Law Journal

New York's first-in-the-nation paid prenatal leave law is set to take effect Jan. 1, requiring all employers to provide pregnant workers with up to 20 stand-alone hours of paid leave. Employment lawyers agree that it'll be a significant requirement.

By Brian Lee

7 minute read

December 17, 2024 | New York Law Journal

Legal advocates applauded New York Gov. Kathy Hochul for signing a bill that allows Chief Administrative Judge Joseph Zayas to institute e-filing in any of the state's trial courts. Currently, e-filing exists in 12 of New York's 62 counties, with court officials planning to expand the program to 19 counties in mid-January, with expansion to continue throughout the state during 2025.

By Brian Lee

3 minute read

December 16, 2024 | New York Law Journal

A Schenectady County town court justice is resigning on Dec. 31 amid the Commission on Judicial Conduct's investigation that he told local officials that litigants in his court were "animals," and sarcastically stated he found it "debatable" that a certain assistant public defender was an actual lawyer.

By Brian Lee

5 minute read

December 16, 2024 | New York Law Journal

The Association of Justices of the Supreme Court of the State of New York and New York State Bar Association expressed their disappointment with the veto of the bill, starkly coined as the "Death Gamble Bill." Gov. Kathy Hochul said she was concerned about the lack of a dedicated funding source.

By Brian Lee

5 minute read

December 13, 2024 | New York Law Journal

A New York trial court judge on Thursday preliminarily enjoined state cannabis regulators from processing dispensary licenses of applicants who hadn’t secured municipal approval as of Nov. 17, 2023, on behalf of four applicants who are awaiting approval.

By Brian Lee

3 minute read

December 13, 2024 | New York Law Journal

In explaining Lippes Mathias' alignment with a respected Buffalo lobbying firm, law firm managing partner Kevin Cross says: "At a high level, the hope is that, while we’re not combining together, we are collaborating and forming an alliance so we can both better service our clientele."

By Brian Lee

5 minute read

December 12, 2024 | New York Law Journal

The New York State Trial Lawyers Association and other proponents of the twice-amended Grieving Families Act are hopeful there are enough revisions in the latest version to convince New York Gov. Kathy Hochul not to break out her veto pen to spike the measure for a third consecutive occurrence.

By Brian Lee

5 minute read