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.
Buffalo teen Jean Sanchez, who pleaded guilty in October to second degree murder in the May 2014 killing of another teen, was sentenced to nine years to life in prison on Thursday afternoon. Although Sanchez pleaded guilty as an adult, his initial sentence is less severe than it might otherwise have been because of his age. NBC news affiliate WGRZ aired a report going through the details of the case, including my legal analysis of Sanchez's sentencing. Click on the image above for the full interview.
New York State's civil confinement program allows for some sex offenders to be involuntarily placed in a psychiatric facility, even after they've served their full sentences. Recently, 5 patients have filed a class action, asking a federal judge to rule the program unconstitutional. NBC news affiliate WGRZ recently aired a report on the civil confinement program, including my legal analysis on the constitutionality of the program. Click on the image above to watch the full report, which includes my analysis.
A collection of gun rights groups, pro-fracking advocates and other activists will rally Sunday in a small town near Binghamton. They are gathering to unveil two proposals, both of which call for the separation of upstate New York from downstate New York. NBC news affiliate WGRZ recently explored the details of these proposals, including the economic and legal implications. WGRZ's report include an interview with me, where I provided legal analysis on the feasibility of the proposals. You can watch the full report, including my legal analysis, by clicking on the image above.