SECOND QUARTER 2008

Maryann Saccomando Freedman was recently interviewed by PBS Station WMHT for a national TV program on U.S. Presidents from New York State. While we know that Maryann has not been alive long enough to know many of the Presidents, she is chairing the Steering Committee for a Buffalo Presidential Center.

The Eastern Hills Sunrise Rotary Club recently presented Rocco Lucente, II with the distinguished honor of the Paul Harris Award. This award is attributed to someone whose life demonstrates a shared purpose with the objectives of the Rotary Foundation. The international organization aims to help build a better world through educational, cultural and humanitarian initiatives. Congratulations and thank you Rocco.

We are pleased to announce that Frank Housh has become associated with the Firm. Frank earned a law degree from the State University of New York Buffalo School of Law where he served on the Buffalo Law Review. Frank began his legal career working with the New York State Legislature as an aide to Assemblyman Sam Hoyt before becoming an Assistant District Attorney in 1996. As an Erie County prosecutor, Frank led hundreds of grand jury investigations and conducted felony grand jury trials. Frank subsequently entered private practice defending physicians and hospitals against claims of medical malpractice, after which he served as a trial attorney for GEICO Insurance Company where he handled hundreds of personal injury lawsuits throughout Upstate New York. Frank is an advocate for the rights of disabled children, and his practice will include counseling the families of children with special needs in the areas of special education law, as well as handling civil litigation, insurance work and criminal appeals.

In March, the Matrimonial Department conducted a seminar for mental health professionals at the Sonoma Grill entitled “Techniques for Effective Mental Health Witness Testimony” aimed at helping mental health professionals better understand their role in divorce and family matters. Based on an actual case study, attorneys from our firm participated in a live demonstration of the prosecuting attorney’s examination and Law Guardian’s and defense attorney’s cross-examination of a psychologist, played by Dr. Lorraine Engl. The Honorable Kevin M. Carter of the Erie County Family Court was on hand to provide commentary and guidance from the perspective of the bench.