SPOTLIGHT ON LITIGATION PRACTICE

Over the past several months, the Firm has obtained a number of impressive rulings from trial and appellate courts which highlight the diversity and complexity of the Firm’s litigation practice. We will be including briefs of some of these decisions in this and upcoming editions of this e-newsletter.

Led by Jon Ward, the Firm saved a Vietnam veteran from losing his home in a tax lien sale. The veteran had lost title through the foreclosure of a tax lien. When the Firm brought a civil rights suit in federal court, the settlement that followed restored title to the veteran's home.

Contesting a claim of unfair competition, Christian Browne defended the right of a restaurant owner to retain the use of the restaurant's name. A competing restaurant had challenged the right of the Firm's client to use the name, but the court rejected this claim.

As reported in Newsday, Jon Ward and fellow litigators Andrew Roth and Joseph Bjarnson obtained injunctive relief to stop the developer of an adjoining parcel of land from cutting off our client's utilities and vehicular access to his commercial building.

Keeping the doors open for a family-owned dog kennel, Ward, Roth and Bjarnson teamed up to obtain a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction in the Nassau County Supreme Court enjoining a municipality from enforcing a condemnation order directing the kennel to vacate an allegedly unsafe kennel structure. The TRO and preliminary injunction prevented the closure of the kennel which had been operating from the same location since 1923. The case was covered by News4 New York.

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NEW YORK CITY LAND USE AND DEVELOPMENT UPDATE

The Firm's New York City zoning practice continues to grow. Daniel Braff is presently representing several clients on complex New York City zoning matters. He is representing a popular boutique fitness client in securing BSA special permit approval for a new studio location in midtown Manhattan. He is providing zoning counsel to one of the City's largest public garage operators/owners in connection with securing renewals and amendments to variances and special permits for public parking garages at both the BSA and City Planning. He is representing an active Brooklyn developer in connection with providing zoning analyses for the acquisition of several Brooklyn properties for mixed-use redevelopment. He continues to represent a developer in connection with an assemblage in Clinton Hill, Brooklyn, including the acquisition of development rights and fee parcels for a new mixed-use development. Daniel is also assisting clients with responding to City-issued RFPs in Manhattan and Brooklyn.

MATTERS OF INTEREST

Memory Care Assisted Living Project in Lake Success

Michael Sahn and Jason Horowitz led the Firm's efforts on behalf of The Engel Burman Group to achieve all development approvals necessary for a new, 88-unit Bristal Assisted Living facility that will specialize in dementia, Alzheimer's and cognitive and memory care.

The facility is under construction in the Village of Lake Success, on the north Service Road of the LIE, between Community Drive and Lakeville Road. As reported in Newsday, the facility is literally a groundbreaking development. It will be the first of its kind in Nassau County and will provide opportunities for research and new care protocols for residents with special needs for cognitive and memory care through a research partnership with Northwell's Feinstein Institute for Medical Research.

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New Firehouse for Roslyn Rescue Hook and Ladder Company #1

Michael Sahn and John Christopher led the Firm's successful representation of Roslyn Rescue Hook and Ladder Company #1 in obtaining approvals from the Town of North Hempstead Board of Zoning Appeals to construct a new firehouse in Greenvale. The new, state of the art firehouse will replace Roslyn Rescue's existing firehouse that was originally built in 1966. The existing firehouse is obsolete, and no longer sufficient to allow Roslyn Rescue to serve the public for both fire protection and emergency services.

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Christian Browne Successfully Represents Developer before City of Long Beach in Smart-Growth Residential Project to Convert Sandy-Damaged Building

Christian Browne, a Partner with the Firm, successfully represented a developer before the City of Long Beach Zoning Board seeking use variance approval to convert an abandoned, Sandy-damaged office building that Long Beach Hospital previously occupied for offices into a residential apartment building.

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firm news

Chris Coschignano Named as LIBN's "Ones to Watch"

Chris Coschignano, a Partner with the Firm, was named one of Long Island Business News' "Ones to Watch" in Commercial Real Estate/Architecture/Engineering/Construction/Green. Ones to Watch is featured each week in LIBN, highlighting six people who stand out in their respective fields.

CLICK HERE TO READ THE ARTICLE.

Sahn Ward Braff Koblenz Attorneys Robert Abiuso and Ralph Branciforte Recognized for Public Interest Service by Touro Law Center

Robert Abiuso, Counsel with the Firm, and Ralph Branciforte, an Associate with the Firm, were selected as Touro Law Center's 2016 Public Interest Attorneys of the Year. Mr. Abiuso and Mr. Branciforte were recognized with the other honorees at a special awards ceremony held during the law school's 22nd Annual Goods and Services Auction on March 16. The Public Interest Attorney of the Year program recognizes attorneys for their commitment and dedication to performing pro bono work for the good of the public.

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Josh Brookstein Developing New Moot Court Program for High School Students With Committee of Nassau County Bar Association

As a member of the Nassau County Bar Association's Community and Public Education Committee, Josh Brookstein has been working to create a moot court program for high school students per the proposal of Judge Joseph F. Bianco of the Eastern District of New York. The program's goal is to partner law firms and government agencies with high schools to mentor teams of students who will present arguments to a panel of judges.

Josh is also a member of the Bar Association's Law Day Committee to prepare for the annual Law Day celebration on May 3.

John Christopher Participates in State Bar Leadership Activities

John P. Christopher, a Partner with the Firm, has been busy fulfilling his role and responsibilities as an officer of the New York State Bar Association (NYSBA), Young Lawyers Section (YLS).

In March, Mr. Christopher attended the YLS Trial Academy Program, held at Cornell Law School. Trial Academy is a five-day program that teaches courtroom skills and trial techniques to young and new lawyers with an emphasis on direct participation. The program is taught by a faculty of over 50 attorneys, comprised of distinguished judges and trial attorneys throughout the State.

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NEW TO THE FIRM'S BLOG

Divorce and Your Credit

NEW DEVELOPMENTS IN THE LAW

New York State Raises Estate Tax Exemption, but Assets Still may be Subject to Full Tax

New York raised the State’s Estate Tax Exemption on April 1st, from $3,125,000.00 to $4,187,500.00 per person. While this sounds like good news at first glance, in fact, it is not necessarily the case. The way the law is written, everyone does not get the benefit of the exemption. The reason is that the law says that, if your assets exceed $4,396,875.00, you lose the exemption. In other words, there is no exemption at all in New York for people whose assets exceed $4,396,875.00, and the estate tax will be calculated on the first dollar of assets. So, proper planning for asset allocation is very important, and consideration must be given to revising estate plans.

Elaine Colavito's "Bench Briefs" Appears in Suffolk Lawyer

Elaine Colavito had her "Bench Briefs" column published in the April 2016 edition of The Suffolk Lawyer. "Bench Briefs" is a roundup of recent decisions from Suffolk County trial courts.

TO REVIEW THESE DECISIONS, CLICK HERE.

DOWNLOAD OUR NEW BROCHURE

Download our New Brochure

Sahn Ward Braff Koblenz Coschignano, PLLC recently re-designed its Firm brochure, featuring the Firm's partners and practice areas.

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