Appellate Division Fourth Department Attorneys Recieve Pro Bono Service Award
May 01, 2018
Front row, left to right: Erin Sanger Skinner, Kristin Warner, Gabriela Wolfe (all Appellate Court Attorneys in the Legal Research Department), Adam Oshrin (Principal Appellate Court Attorney, Civil Motions), Kristin Dawson Henderson (Principal Attorney, MHLS), and Lisa Paine (Deputy Chief Attorney, MHLS). Back row, left to right: John Ryan, Maria Gaige (both Appellate Court Attorneys, Legal Research), Michael Paul (Principal Appellate Court Attorney, Legal Research), Alan Ross (Deputy Clerk of the Court), Linda Kostin (Assistant Program Director, Attorneys For Children Program), Joseph Dinolfo (Associate Attorney, MHLS), and Andrew Dean (Appellate Court Attorney, Legal Research). Not shown: Michael Tuohey (Senior Attorney, MHLS) and Penfield Town Justice James Mulley (former Executive Assistant to the Presiding Justice and one of the initiators of the Court's involvement in this program).
The Volunteer Legal Service Program of Monroe County, Inc. (VLSP) established the Tenant Town and Village Court Pro Bono Program in 2016 to provide free legal representation to unrepresented tenants in eviction proceedings. This program currently operates in the Town Court of Irondequoit, New York, and is staffed by attorneys from the Appellate Division, Fourth Department, the employees of which have been active in pro bono activities for many years. In the two years of operation of the Tenant Town and Village Court Pro Bono Program, the pro bono attorneys have assisted over 138 tenants facing immediate eviction by evaluating available defenses, making motions and conducting hearings where appropriate, and negotiating additional time to move out or a payment agreement that permits the tenant to remain in his or her home.
Under the leadership of Presiding Justice Gerald J. Whalen and the active management of VLSP and Fourth Department attorneys Alan L. Ross and Linda J. Kostin, the following attorneys from the Fourth Department, actively contributed to the success of the Tenant Town and Village Court Program in 2017: Penfield Town Justice James P. Mulley, Jr., Ross, Kostin, Andrew M. Dean, Joseph F. Dinolfo, Maria V. Gaige, Kristin A. Dawson Henderson, Adam M. Oshrin, Lisa L. Paine, Michael G. Paul, John T. Ryan, Erin L. Skinner, Michael J. Tuohey, Kristin L. Warner, and Gabriela E. Wolfe. This dedicated team includes newly admitted attorneys as well as attorneys with over 30 years of experience. Their participation ranged from overseeing the program and coordinating volunteers to providing legal representation at each court session. Many have volunteered in the program consistently since it was established in 2016.
In recognition of the tremendous pro bono efforts undertaken by these wonderful Fourth Department employees, the New York State Bar Association awarded the Fourth Department the 2018 President’s Pro Bono Service Award in the Government Office category. The Fourth Department also won the award in 2011. Congratulations to all for this well-deserved recognition!
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Pictured Left to Right: Hon. Gerald Whalen (Presiding Justice, Appellate Division Fourth Department), Alan Ross (Deputy Clerk, Appellate Division Fourth Department), Linda Kostin (Assistant Program Director, Attorneys For Children Program), Sharon Sterm Gertsman (President, New York State Bar Association), Edwina Martin (Co-Chair, President's Committee on Access to Justice), Michael Miller (President-Elect and Co-Chair, President's Committee on Access to Justice)
