Class Action - August '13

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’50s

Dean A. Drew ’53 has become of counsel with Colligan Law in Buffalo. Drew practices estate planning and administration. He lives in Buffalo.

60s

Hon. Jeremiah J. Moriarty III ’68 was appointed a New York State Supreme Court justice, 8th Judicial District, in Buffalo. He previously served as a New York State Court of Claims judge in Buffalo. Moriarty lives in Allegany, N.Y.

David R. Pfalzgraf ’68 received the Franklin P. Gavin Memorial Award from the New York State Bar Association’s Lawyer Assistance Committee. He is retired of counsel with Pfalzgraf, Beinhauer & Menzies in Cheektowaga, N.Y. Pfalzgraf lives in Buffalo.

Hon. Ralph A. Boniello III ’69 of Lewiston, N.Y., was elected to the board of directors of the New York Bar Foundation. He is a New York State Supreme Court justice, 8th Judicial District, in Niagara Falls, N.Y., and president-elect of the New York State Supreme Court Justices Association.

David.

David R. Pfalzgraf ’68

70s

Diane F. Bosse ’76 was honored by the 8th Judicial District Gender and Racial Fairness Committee at the Women in Courts Lamplighter Luncheon on June 12 in Buffalo. Bosse is of counsel with Hurwitz & Fine in Buffalo. She is a past recipient of the Law Alumni Association's Distinguished Alumna Award and an emeritus member of the Dean's Advisory Council. Bosse lives in Clarence, N.Y.

David J. Colligan ’77 has opened the firm Colligan Law in Buffalo. The firm handles cases involving technology licensing, venture financing, special education and employment law. Colligan was previously a partner with Watson Bennett Colligan & Schechter in Buffalo, where he resides.

Dean M. Drew ’77 has become a partner with Colligan Law in Buffalo. He practices aviation law, real estate litigation and estate litigation. He previously practiced with Drew & Drew in Buffalo, where he resides.

Kenneth A. Manning ’77 has been re-elected vice president of the board of directors for Suneel's Light in Williamsville, N.Y., a foundation that raises funds to research cures for Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Manning is a partner in the Buffalo-based firm Philips Lytle. He is an emeritus member of the Dean's Advisory Council, a past president of the Law Alumni Association and a past recipient of the association's Distinguished Alumnus Award. Manning lives in Williamsville, N.Y.

Dennis R. McCoy ’77 was appointed chair of the New York State Bar Association’s Committee on Association Insurance Programs. McCoy is a partner with the Buffalo office of Hiscock & Barclay. He is a member of the Dean's Advisory Council and a past president of the Law Alumni Association. McCoy lives in Snyder, N.Y.

Bosse.

Diane F. Bosse ’76

Manning.

Kenneth A. Manning ’77

80s

Laurie Styka Bloom ’83 was elected vice president of the Bar Association of Erie County, in Buffalo. She is counsel with Nixon Peabody in the Buffalo office and a member of the firm’s products class action, trade and industry representation practice area. Bloom, a past president of the Law Alumni association, lives in Buffalo.

Hon. Erin M. Peradotto ’84, New York State Supreme Court justice, 8th Judicial District, 4th Department, in Buffalo, was honored by the 8th Judicial District Gender and Racial Fairness Committee at the Women in Courts Lamplighter Luncheon on June 12 in Buffalo. Peradotto, a member of the Dean’s Advisory Council, is a Buffalo resident.

Richard E. Gottlieb ’85 has joined BuckleySandler as a partner in the Santa Monica, Calif., office, practicing class action defense. Gottlieb, a member of the Dean’s Advisory Council, was previously a member with Dykema Gossett in Chicago. He lives in Santa Monica.

Cheryl Dinolfo ’86 received the 2013 Communications Achievement Award from Postprandial Toastmasters in Rochester, N.Y. Dinolfo is Monroe County clerk in Rochester, N.Y., where she resides.

Frank A. Sedita III ’86 was appointed to the newly formed Moreland Commission on Public Corruption by New York Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo. The commission will probe public corruption in government, political campaigns and elections. Sedita is Erie County district attorney in Buffalo, where he resides.

Hon. Leslie A. Stroth ’86 of New York City was appointed a judge for New York City Civil Court, Bronx Housing Court, in Bronx, N.Y. She previously served as a senior court attorney for the New York City Civil Court.

Bloom.

Laurie Styka Bloom ’83

Peradotto.

Hon. Erin M. Peradotto ’84

90s

Gail I. Hallerdin ’90 has been appointed parole commissioner of the New York State Division of Parole by Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo in Albany, N.Y. Hallerdin previously served as a hearing officer for the state Office of Temporary Disability Assistance in Brooklyn, N.Y. She lives in Jamaica, N.Y.

Jennifer Prescod May-Parker ’91 was nominated to serve as a judge of the U.S. District Court, Eastern District, in North Carolina by President Obama. She currently serves as chief of the appellate division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Eastern District, in Raleigh, N.C., where she resides.

Hon. Javier E. Vargas ’92 was appointed a judge for New York City Civil Court, Bronx Housing Court, in Bronx, N.Y. Vargas lives in New York City.

John J. Jablonski ’93 received the Alfred W. Cortese Jr. Award from Lawyers for Civil Justice. He is a partner with Goldberg Segalla in Buffalo, specializing in litigation. Jablonski is a past member of the board of directors of the Law Alumni Association. He lives in Hamburg, N.Y.

Peter E. Nussbaum ’93 is named in the 2013 edition of Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business in the intellectual property category. He is a partner with Wolff & Samson in West Orange, N.J., and co-chair of the firm’s intellectual property group. Nussbaum is a New York City resident.

Cynthia E. Vance ’93 was named in Buffalo Business First “Who’s Who in Banking & Finance.” Vance is a certified financial planner and a chartered financial consultant with Jensen Marks Langer & Vance in Buffalo. She lives in Orchard Park, N.Y.

Alana M. Fuierer ’95 has been promoted to partner with Heslin Rothenberg Farley & Mesiti in the Rochester, N.Y., office. She practices patent, copyright and trademark litigation. Fuierer resides in Spencerport, N.Y.

William A. Santmyer ’97 of Penfield, N.Y., received the Bronze Star for his work in Afghanistan in 2012. He served as a judge advocate for the U.S. Marine Corps. Santmyer is currently in the Marine Corps Reserves and is an associate with Harter Secrest & Emery in the Rochester, N.Y., office, practicing litigation and general business law.

Jonathan D. Weir ’97 is listed in Buffalo Business First “Who’s Who in Banking & Finance.” Weir is principal of Weir Financial Resources in Buffalo, where he resides.

Tasha E. Moore ’98 was elected a local director of the Western New York chapter of the Women’s Bar Association of the State of New York, in Buffalo. She is regional director for the New York State Division of Human Rights in Buffalo, where she resides. Moore is a member of the Dean’s Advisory Council, a past vice president of the Law Alumni Association and a past president of the Minority Bar Association of Western New York, in Buffalo.

Heath J. Szymczak ’98 has been appointed to the executive committee of the commercial and federal litigation section of the New York State Bar Association. Szymczak is a partner with the Buffalo firm Jaeckle Fleischmann & Mugel, handling cases involving business-related torts, complex commercial litigation and civil litigation. He is a resident of Java Center, N.Y.

Jason C. Luna ’99 was appointed to the Hilbert College Board of Trustees in Hamburg, N.Y. Luna is a solo practitioner in Hamburg, practicing personal injury. He resides in Lake View, N.Y.

Santmyer.

William A. Santmyer ’97

Moore.

Tasha E. Moore ’98

'00s

Jeffrey L. Kingsley ’02 was named to Buffalo Business First 2013 “Forty Under 40” list. He is a partner with Goldberg Segalla in Buffalo, practicing in the firm’s global insurance services and environmental practice groups. Kingsley is a past member of the board of directors of the Law School’s GOLD Group. He lives in Amherst, N.Y.

Steven E. Peiper ’04 was promoted to partner with Hurwitz & Fine in Buffalo. He concentrates his practice in insurance coverage analysis and coverage litigation of first- and third-party claims. Peiper lives in Amherst, N.Y.

Elizabeth L. Perry ’04 has become associated with Phillips Lytle in the Buffalo office. She counsels clients regarding trust and estate administration, estate planning, estate and gift taxation, elder law and guardianship. Perry lives in Buffalo.

Bethany A. Solek ’04 was elected a local director of the Western New York chapter of the Women’s Bar Association of the State of New York, in Buffalo. She is an assistant district attorney for the Erie County district attorney’s office in Buffalo. Solek lives in West Seneca, N.Y.

Robert Spampata '04 has been elected to a two-year term on the Board of Trustees of Oracle Charter High School. Managing Director of Corporate Affairs for Tonawanda, NY-based NOCO Inc., he holds J.D., LL.M and undergraduate degrees from the UB. He is a former confidential law clerk to US Bankruptcy Judge Michael Kaplan, and a former adjunct instructor in bankruptcy at SUNY Buffalo Law School. Prior to attending law school, he worked for 25 years in investment and merchant banking and investment management in Buffalo and New York City. He resides in Buffalo.

Carolyn N. Gorczynski ’05 has become a partner with Colligan Law in Buffalo. She counsels clients regarding commercial litigation, special education law and employment law. Gorczynski lives in Getzville, N.Y.

Molly L. Miranda ’05 of Amherst, N.Y., was elected secretary of the Western New York Chapter of the Women’s Bar Association of the State of New York, in Buffalo. She is confidential law clerk to Hon. Richard J. Arcara, U.S. District Court, Western District of New York, in Buffalo.

Joseph D. Morath '05 was promoted to partner with Connors & Vilardo in Buffalo. He handles cases involving business litigation, personal injury, civil litigation, white-collar investigation, appeals and representing professionals. Morath is a member of the board of directors of the Law Alumni Association. He lives in North Tonawanda, N.Y.

Jennifer R. Scharf ’05, an associate with Duke Holzman Photiadis & Gresens in Buffalo, was elected a state director of the Western New York chapter of the Women’s Bar Association of the State of New York, in Buffalo. Scharf, a past member of the board of directors of the Law School’s GOLD Group, lives in Williamsville, N.Y.

Robert C. Whitaker Jr. ’05 was honored by the Syracuse Vet Center in Syracuse, N.Y., for his commitment to providing pro bono legal services for Central New York veterans. Whitaker is an associate with Hancock Estabrook, practicing labor and employment, construction and intellectual property law in Syracuse. He lives in Camillus, N.Y.

Elizabeth M. Fox-Solomon ’06 was elected a local director of the Western New York chapter of the Women’s Bar Association of the State of New York, in Buffalo. She is principal law clerk to Hon. Erin M. Peradotto ’84, New York State Supreme Court, Appellate Division, 4th Department, in Buffalo, where she resides. Fox-Solomon is a member of the board of directors of the Law School’s GOLD Group.

Ally Windsor Howell ’06 wrote the book Transgender Persons and the Law. The book discusses laws and court cases involving transgender individuals to educate and aid attorneys. She practiced law for about 25 years in Alabama and currently resides in Elmira, N.Y.

Elizabeth A. Kraengel ’07 was elected a state director of the Western New York chapter of the Women’s Bar Association of the State of New York, in Buffalo. She is a partner with Duke Holzman Photiadis & Gresens in Buffalo, where she resides.

Kara M. Addelman ’08 was elected treasurer and a state director of the Western New York Chapter of the Women’s Bar Association of the State of New York, in Buffalo. Addelman is an associate in the litigation department with Damon Morey in the Buffalo office. She lives in Williamsville, N.Y.

Jessica L. Foscolo ’08 of Williamsville, N.Y., was elected a local director of the Western New York chapter of the Women’s Bar Association of the State of New York, in Buffalo.  She practices as an associate with Kenney Shelton Liptak Nowak in Buffalo.

Stephanie A. Mack ’08 was elected a local director of the Western New York chapter of the Women’s Bar Association of the State of New York, in Buffalo. Mack practices with the Law Offices of Karen L. Lawrence, staff counsel for Allstate and Encompass Insurance in Buffalo. She is a resident of Amherst, N.Y.

Sarah P. Rera ’09 has joined Gross Shuman Brizdle & Gilfillan as an associate in Buffalo. She counsels clients regarding insurance coverage litigation, personal injury litigation and social media discovery. Rera lives in Buffalo.

William L. Sherlock ’09 has joined Kenney Shelton Liptak Nowak as an associate in Buffalo, where he resides. Sherlock practices workers’ compensation defense.

Kingsley.

Jeffrey L. Kingsley ’02

Robert.

Robert C. Whitaker Jr. ’05

Sarah.

Sarah P. Rera ’09

'10s

Alana P. Carr ’10 has become associated with the new firm Colligan Law in Buffalo, where she resides. She previously practiced with Drew & Drew in Buffalo.

Adam P. Hatch ’10 has joined Webster Szanyi as an associate in the Buffalo office. He practices civil litigation including plaintiff’s personal injury, product liability defense, and business and commercial disputes.

Wende J. Knapp ’10 of Rochester, N.Y., is practicing as an associate with Harter Secrest & Emery in the Rochester office. She focuses her practice on labor and employment litigation matters.

Nicholas P. Yarema ’10 has been promoted to vice president of regulatory compliance, global trade and receivables finance at HSBC Bank in Jersey City, N.J., where he resides. He previously served as manager of specialized compliance.

Aaron Adoff ’11 is practicing insurance defense litigation as an associate with Kenney Shelton Liptak Nowak in the Buffalo office. Before practicing law, Adoff served as a medic in the U.S. Army. He lives in Hamburg, N.Y.

Margaret M. Russell-Shepherd ’11 of Mays Landing, N.J., has joined Levine Staller Sklar Chan & Brown as an associate in Atlantic City, N.J. She counsels clients regarding commercial and business transactions, real estate, federal and state tax matters and estates, wills and trusts.

Joseph A. Canepa ’12 is an associate with Hagelin Kent in Buffalo, where he resides. Canepa practices civil litigation, personal injury and insurance defense.

Martha E. Donovan ’12 has become an associate with Chelus Herdzik Speyer & Monte in the Buffalo and Cheektowaga, N.Y., offices. Donovan practices litigation and general practice matters. She lives in Buffalo.

Ryan C. Mahoney ’12 has joined HoganWillig as an associate in the Amherst, N.Y., office. He practices civil litigation and personal injury. Mahoney lives in North Tonawanda, N.Y.

Brent C. Seymour ’12 is practicing as an associate with Hagelin Kent in the Buffalo office. Seymour practices civil litigation, insurance defense and products liability. He lives in Williamsville, N.Y.

Mengyi Xu ’13 has accepted a position as an associate with Hiscock & Barclay in the Rochester, N.Y., office. She practices torts and products liability defense and real property tax and condemnation.

Margaret.

Margaret M. Russell-Shepherd ’11

Martha.

Martha E. Donovan ’12

In Memoriam

The Law School extends its deepest condolences to the family and friends of the following alumni:

  • Eugene J. Martin '51, Clarence, N.Y.
  • Lowell Grosse '54, Clarence, N.Y.
  • Anthony J. Geraci '54, Canandaigua, N.Y.
  • Harvey N. Mandelkern '56, Boynton Beach, Fla.
  • Julian J. Sugarman '57, Kenmore, N.Y.
  • Charles L. Davis '72, Buffalo