2022 September Message:

I hope you all had a wonderful summer and are looking forward to the beautiful weather that is the Fall season. I am honored to serve as the President of the Richmond County Bar Association and am looking forward to the year ahead.

In the coming months, we intend to keep you posted on any changes in the judiciary and the manner in which the judges are handling his/her calendar. In a recent meeting with the Hon. Desmond Green, Administrative Judge, Supreme Court, Richmond County, we were advised that each judge will continue to determine if appearances will be in-person, virtual, or hybrid in his/her part. To that end, we are working with the Hon. Judge Green to have our attorney room located in 25 Central Avenue restored or obtain an alternative space in the meantime so that that there is a quiet location for attorneys to attend virtual appearances while also being in the Courthouse for in-person appearances.

As many of you know, RCBA joined numerous other bar associations seeking to raise the 18-b compensation for indigent children and adults. The matter is pending before the Hon. Lisa Headley in Supreme Court, New York County who recently granted plaintiffs’ motion for a preliminary injunction seeking interim payment in the amount of $158 per hour. New York City filed a notice of appeal, but the State did not. We will keep you posted on this matter as same progresses and are happy to report on the interim relief.

As a reminder, please note the following:

· The Appellate Division, Second Department is resuming in person oral arguments today, September 6, 2022. See attached.

· Surrogate’s Court, Richmond County is resuming in person court appearances for the Wednesday Motion and Proceedings Calendar Effective commencing September 28^th, 2022.

· SITLA 58^th Anniversary Gala – Wednesday, September 14, 2022. See attached.

· Hispanic Heritage Celebration – Monday, September 26, 2022. See attached.

· RCBA Golf & Tennis Outing – Thursday, October 6, 2022. See attached.

Lastly, we encourage any members who have any issues which they believe the Association might address to let us know. Without your input and suggestions, we are unable to always address your needs and concerns.

Thank you and I look forward to working with you during my term.

Kerri L. Bringslid

President

Fall 2021. President Gervasi: I hope that everyone had a healthy and enjoyable summer. As we enter the fall, we are unfortunately again beset by the uncertainty of the continuing COVID-19 pandemic. A large part of that uncertainty pertains to the re-emergence of people in public areas, and it seems that mask and vaccine rules and requirements are created or amended daily. So that we may stay informed of the latest COVID-19 protocols and policies relevant to the practice of law, the RCBA is continually working with the administrative judges and their respective staffs to learn the latest policy updates, to devise methods to maintain the county courts’ high functionality, and to increase individual comfort while complying with federal, state, and city safety regulations. Naturally, we will continue to monitor the situation closely and disseminate pertinent information to our members.

Unfortunately, uncertainty surrounding the new COVID-19 variants and outbreaks has caused the Board, after much deliberation, to cancel the upcoming annual Golf & Tennis Outing. Ultimately, changing public health policies, the emergence of a new COVID-19 variant and outbreak, and, most importantly, the health, safety, and comfort of our members, led to the postponement. This was a very difficult decision to make, especially considering everyone’s need for enjoyment and levity in these trying times. However, the RCBA is unwilling to compromise the great value, fun, and stature that members have come to expect—and deserve—from this event. Currently, the Golf & Tennis Committee is considering rescheduling the outing for Spring 2022.

Despite the unpredictability of this time, the RCBA, by way of its continues to plan and coordinate other events that will allow members to safely enjoy the camaraderie that is the corner stone of this association. The CLE Committee is currently developing several interesting programs, notably a lunchtime CLE presentation in recognition of October as Global Diversity Awareness Month that will satisfy the mandatory Diversity, Inclusion, and Elimination of Bias CLE credit. The RCBA will contribute to court-sponsored educational diversity presentations that are expected to begin this October. The New Lawyers Committee is also planning several networking events for the near future, and encourages all lawyers, even the not-so-new ones, to participate. The Attorney Fee Arbitration Committee continues to help efficiently and cost-effectively resolve attorney-client fee disputes. Finally, the Judiciary Committee is working to evaluate judicial candidates for the upcoming General Elections in November.

The heart and soul of the RCBA is its members. With 2022 membership dues fast approaching (and collection of past-due 2020/2021 dues still pending), we are reminded that our members provide the revenue that is essential to the continued vitality of the association. But much more than that, our members are the heart and soul of the RCBA. Without you, the RCBA cannot operate and certainly cannot flourish. I encourage every member—experienced or newly-admitted, practicing or retired—to actively participate in the association. There are many ways to get involved and at various levels of involvement: join one of the many committees; voice your ideas, concerns, and proposed resolutions; inform us of the community’s legal needs; attend social events; sponsor (in whole pr part) an event; contribute to the RCBA Journal or assist with its editing and publishing; seek election to the Board of Directors; and, most importantly, encourage other attorneys to join.

Michael V. Gervasi

Partner | Litigation

Scamardella, Gervasi, & Kasegrande P.C.

1010 Forest Avenue

Staten Island, New York 10310

Tel: (718) 442-0900 Ext. 5446 | Fax: (718) 816-8037

mgervasi@statenlaw.net | www.statenlaw.com