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President’s message: A view from the 18th tee or the 4th green
Commentary: As I begin my last month as your Monroe County Bar Association President, I am volunteering for the Lawyers for Learning golf tournament, sitting on the green of the fourth hole at Irondequoit Country Club to be a witness in case anyone hits a hole-in-one.
New York State closes loophole in retainage law | Advocate’s View
In 2023 Governor Hochul signed into law an amendment to Section 756-c of the New York General Business Law, a section of New York’s Prompt Payment Act, capping the amount of retainage at 5% that may be withheld on a private construction contract of $150,000 or more.
Third-party practice after the AVOID Act: What defense counsel and claims professionals must know now
New York's "Avoiding Vexatious Overuse of Impleading to Delay" (AVOID) Act represents the most significant change to third-party practice in decades.
The USPTO’s PIER Pilot Program: A small change with potentially big patent implications
In April 2026, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) introduced a new pilot program, the PCT Informed Examination Request (PIER) Pilot Program.
Ohio hands down AI guidance for lawyers and judges | Legal Loop
Another day, another state issues AI guidance for lawyers and judges. This time, it’s the Ohio Board of Professional Conduct, which released “Artificial Intelligence for Lawyers and Judicial Officers” in April, a concise,16-page document that covers a wide range of ethical issues.
My top iPhone apps for maximum productivity | Legal Loop
Every year or so, I like to share a roundup of the iPhone apps I use most often for work-related purposes. I find that the apps I rely on change over time.
Law Day – Celebrate judicial independence
We celebrate Law Day, a day that reminds us, as retired judges, of the importance of judges in how our country has operated for 250 years and, even now, upholds the best of our traditions and values.
The rule of law & the American Dream: A renewed commitment on Law Day
Tomorrow morning at 8:45 a.m., please join the Monroe County Bar Association, the Greater Rochester Association of Woman Attorneys, and the Rochester Black Bar Association at the Civic Center Plaza to celebrate Law Day by reaffirming your attorney oath.
Effective client communication in the AI era
Time is a precious resource. There never seems to be enough of it, especially when you’re running a busy law practice. Keeping up can be a challenge, and when you’re […]
From the jobsite to the shop floor: New York’s expansion of prevailing wage coverage | Advocate’s View
Commentary: For contractors, subcontractors, and fabricators that have long relied on off‑site manufacturing to manage labor costs, scheduling, and staffing, the amendment represents a fundamental shift in risk allocation and project pricing.
VIP Products v. Jack Daniels’ Properties: Even a successful parody can violate the Lanham Act through dilution by tarnishment
Commentary: Jack Daniels’ iconic bottle design is an example of a famous trade dress, which is registered as a trademark. A trademark is a type of intellectual property that includes a logo, symbol, phrase, word, name, or design that is used to identify products or services of a particular source from those of other sources.
Rethinking how we train the next generation of lawyers | Legal Loop
Commentary: This rate of technology adoption is unprecedented in our profession, and its long-term impact on the legal field’s structural underpinnings is hazy, at best. What is clear, however, is that things will never be quite the same.
Case Digests
- Fourth Department – Election Law: Torres v. Zellner
- Second Circuit – Bankruptcy proceedings: Ryniker v. Sumec Textile Co.
- Court of Appeals – Murder: People v. Harris
- Court of Appeals – Justice for Injured Workers Act: Garcia v. Monadnock Construction Inc., et al.
- Second Circuit – Bankruptcy proceedings: Ryniker v. Sumec Textile Co.
- Fourth Department – Family Court: Werner v. Kenney
- Second Circuit – Appellate counsel: United States v. Samuels
- Fourth Department – Pre-answer motion to dismiss: Villalba v. City of Auburn, et al.
- Court of Appeals – Office of Children and Family Services: Lawyers for Children, et al. v. NYS Office of Children and Family Services, et a.
- Fourth Department – Assault: People v. Talley
- Court of Appeals – Family Court Act: Abdoch v. Abdoch
Law News
- Attorneys presented with Dillon Awards for child advocacy
- NY appeals court upholds tax exempt status for human service agency
- Convictions reversed over illegal NY State Police search
- President’s message: A view from the 18th tee or the 4th green
- NY judge rejects motion to collect on Iowa court judgment
- Bronx prosecutor misses filing deadline by 12 seconds
- Second-degree murder count reversed, leaving first-degree conviction
- Court of Appeals ends foster care program
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