Schuyler County Attorneys to Present at New York State Public Welfare Conference

Schuyler County Attorney Steven Getman has announced that two assistant county attorneys will share insights on child abuse investigations and court orders at the upcoming New York Public Welfare Association (NYPWA)’s Winter Conference on Thursday (January 20).

Assistant County Attorneys Kristin Hazlitt and Vinton Stevens will present a one-hour continuing legal education class, “Obtaining a CPS Access Order When Efforts at Persuasion Fail.” The course, designed for new and experienced attorneys, will look at cases where Department of Social Services child protective services (CPS) and law enforcement respond to a location after receiving a report of possible imminent danger to a child’s life or health and the adult subjects refuse to allow access to the home or child.

“Although DSS is usually able to obtain voluntary access to a home to investigate concerns about possible child maltreatment, occasionally a parent will refuse access,” Getman explained. “This presentation will discuss the law, the rights of the children and parents and administrative guidance for obtaining an access order in these situations.”

This year’s annual NYPWA winter conference, its 153rd, will be held virtually on January 18-21 and January 24-28.

NYPWA was founded in 1869 as the first public welfare association in the United States. It independently represents all of New York's 58 local social services districts. NYPWA is an active partner with government agencies, associations, and community organizations. It fulfills a key public role while presenting a variety of opportunities to exchange ideas, develop new initiatives, and refine existing programs and services.

The Schuyler County Attorney is the prosecuting attorney for all county agencies involving civil cases, including family court matters involving abuse and neglect investigated by the Schuyler County Department of Social Services. Assistant County Attorneys are appointed by Getman, as County Attorney, to assist with the litigation of the various types of civil cases brought by the county.

Hazlitt is originally from Schuyler County and commenced her legal career in Washington, DC after graduating cum laude from American University, Washington College of Law in 1989. She joined the county attorney’s office in 2002. Stevens was born and raised in Elmira, graduated from the University of Rochester and Temple University School of Law and has worked for the county since February 2019.

New Assistant Schuyler County Attorney Named

Watkins Glen, NY--Vinton Bovier Stevens, an Elmira native, has been appointed an Assistant County Attorney.

The appointment was unanimously approved by the Schuyler County Legislature at its February 11 meeting.

As an Assistant County Attorney, Stevens will join Schuyler County Attorney Steven Getman in representing the County in civil litigation, family court prosecutions and related matters.

Stevens has been an attorney since 1999. Prior to joining the County Attorney’s office, he practiced law in New York City, Chemung and Tompkins Counties.

In addition to Getman and Stevens, the Schuyler County Attorney’s staff consists of attorney Kristin Hazlitt, of Hector, as well as secretaries Maryann Friebis and Brandy Bower.

Stevens is a graduate of Notre Dame High School, in Elmira, and attended college at the University of Rochester. He is a 1998 graduate of Temple University School of Law.

In addition to his attorney duties, Stevens serves as Vice Flotilla Commander of the USCG Auxiliary Flotilla, and as a member of Immaculate Conception Parish in Ithaca.

The County Attorney is the legal advisor to all county officials and prosecutes and defends civil actions by and against the county. In addition, the County Attorney prosecutes family court cases involving child abuse and neglect, juvenile delinquency and child support violations.

New York State Appeals Court decides Schuyler County child abuse case.

Albany, NY- The New York State Supreme Court’s Appellate Division issued a decision on Thursday (October 19, 2017) largely upholding a Schuyler County Family Court order that found two local children to be neglected, abused, derivatively neglected and/or derivatively abused.

The Appellate Division further held that that the Family Court should have granted the County Attorney’s application to adjudicate one child to be severely abused at the hands of her father.

The Family Court case was prosecuted by the Office of Schuyler County Attorney Steven Getman. The appeal was argued for that office by Assistant County Attorney Kristin Hazlitt.

The decision, “In the Matter of Logan C. and another, alleged to be Neglected, Abused and/or Severely Abused Children” is available on the court’s website here. (The names have been changed to protect the innocent)

New Assistant County Attorney Named in Schuyler County

Schuyler County Attorney Steven Getman has announced his appointment of Olesya Vernyi-Kellogg as an Assistant County Attorney, effective Monday (April 24).

As an Assistant County Attorney, Vernyi-Kellogg will join Getman in representing Schuyler County in civil litigation, family court prosecutions and social services law.

Prior to joining the County Attorney’s office, Vernyi-Kellogg was a staff attorney with the Legal Resource Center for Public Health Policy at the University of Maryland Carey School of Law. Before that, Vernyi-Kellogg worked at the Maryland Attorney General's Office. In 2012, she worked with Baltimore City's Legislative Reference Department and Board of Ethics in reforming the city's financial disclosure process.

Vernyi-Kellogg is a 2014 graduate of Syracuse University College of Law, and is admitted to practice in the State of New York. Her law school experiences include a litigation externship with the Onondaga County Attorney's Office and extensive work for the law school's technology transfer clinic, for which she earned a Certificate in Technology Commercialization Law Studies. She graduated magna cum laude from Le Moyne College in 2010.

As County Attorney, Getman serves as the legal advisor to the Schuyler County Legislature and all officers of county government. The County Attorney’s office prosecutes and defends civil actions and proceedings brought by or against the county and serves as “public prosecutor” in Family Court cases involving child abuse and neglect, juvenile delinquency and proceedings brought by the county against persons accused of failing to pay child support.

In addition to Getman and Vernyi-Kellogg, the County Attorney’s staff currently consists of attorney Kristin Hazlitt and secretaries Donna Hyer and Vickie Perrazini.