This week, a Nashville jury awarded sportscaster and Dancing with the Stars co-host Erin Andrews a $55 million verdict in a negligence lawsuit. Andrews filed the suit against convicted stalker Michael David Barrett, who secretly recorded nude video of Andrews through a peephole in her room at the Nashville Marriott at Vanderbilt University in 2008. I spoke to Scott Levin of WGRZ about the verdict. Click the image above to see the story on WGRZ or click here for more.
As the city of Buffalo continues to grow and new businesses open, some businesses are experiencing problems in their attempts to open or expand. I spoke to WGRZ's Claudine Ewing about one such business that I represent, as well as the zoning codes that make it difficult for some business-owners to do business in Buffalo. Click the image above to see the story on WGRZ or click here for more.
For the past two months, I have been leading a Title IX investigation into allegations against Niagara University. The investigation is now completed and our findings indicate that Niagara University and its personnel fully complied with Title IX requirements. I spoke to the Buffalo News and WGRZ about the results of the investigation. Click the image above to watch the story on WGRZ or click here for more.
Former State Assemblyman Dennis Gabryszak has been fined $100,000 by the State Ethics Commission for violating state ethics laws. I spoke to WGRZ about this issue in December when a report was released about Gabryszak's ethics violations, which included allegedly harassing female staffers and using state resources to fund his reelection campaign. See my followup discussion with WGRZ here to discuss the case's new developments. Click the image above to see the full story or click here to read more.
A Depew woman has been charged with criminally negligent homicide and third degree assault for her role in a fatal car crash in September. Sarah Skotnicki, 26, admitted to taking her eyes off the road and speeding. The crash killed a 72-year-old woman. I spoke to WGRZ about the charges Skotnicki faces and the evidence against her. Click on the image above to see the full story or click here to read more.
I was featured as a guest columnist in the January 25 issue of the Buffalo Law Journal. The article focuses on Title IX, its requirements, and its protections. In it, I dispel the myth that Title IX only applies to gender discrimination in college athletics by giving a more comprehensive overview of the law, who it protects, and what it requires from the institutions it covers. To read more, click here.
A judge has ordered New York State Police to turn over 911 tapes relating to a man's death during the Snowvember storm. Donald Abate's family has fought for months to get the tapes released in order to find out why patrols did not find him until it was too late. I gave WGRZ my legal analysis of why patrols and emergency vehicles may have been turned away. Click the image above to see the full story or click here to read more.
Buffalo Municipal Housing is scheduled to start a soft implementation of its new smoke-free policy in July of this year in the hopes that it will be able to implement in full in early 2017. This policy does not allow employees or residents of BMHA buildings to smoke in their apartments or within 25 feet of BMHA property. I spoke to WGRZ about the ban, how the 4th Amendment might apply to it, and what the challenges to the ban might be. Click on the image above to watch the full story or click here to read more.
The legal fees associated with a human rights civil lawsuit involving the Buffalo School District now amount to over $25,000 in taxpayer money. The suit was started over a year ago when former district general counsel Rashondra Martin filed a claim against Carl Paladino for creating what, in her words, was a racially and sexually hostile work environment. I spoke to WGRZ about the case and why the Buffalo School District would get involved financially. Click on the image above for the full story.
The New York Joint Commission on Public Ethics (JCOPE) released a report on Wednesday concerning former New York State Assemblyman Dennis Gabryszak, who resigned from his position in 2014 amid allegations of sexual harassment. The report states that Mr. Gabryszak created "an environment in which he could engage in sexually inappropriate behavior with the female members of his staff." Mr. Gabryszak submitted a written response acknowledging that his "vulgar attempts at humor" were "unbecoming of a public servant", but denied intentionally doing anything wrong. Although he was subpoenaed to testify, he did not appear because his attorney said that he would invoke his Fifth Amendment rights against self-incrimination. I spoke with NBC News affiliate WGRZ about the case and the legal merits of Mr. Gabryszak's invocation of the Fifth Amendment. Click on the image above for the full story.