Barry O’Neill of Lodi and Steven Getman of Ovid, directors of the Seneca Lake ByWay Inc., report that the group’s seven-year campaign to have an 18-mile stretch of Route 414 from Watkins Glen to the Ovid-Lodi border on Seneca Lake is nearing final approval by the state Department of Transportation.
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Seneca County Scenic Byway Plans Move Forward
Finger Lakes Times:
Monday, September 20, 2010
Dogs’ deaths spur outrage
Finger Lakes Times:
ROMULUS - It’s a case that’s caused a wave of reaction near and afar.
In July, according to a U.S. Department of Agriculture report, the owner of the Black Diamond Acres dog breeding kennel admitted to an animal health inspector that he took the lives of 93 dogs in his care by poisoning them with carbon monoxide generated by a small gas engine.
Exhaust fumes from the engine were piped into a small enclosure inside the barn where the dogs were kept, the report said.
David Yoder, a member of the area’s growing Amish population, had been in the business of producing small breed dogs for the past few years.
****
Romulus Town Supervisor David Kaiser quickly reacted to the situation that has drawn national attention.
“Like most of our community, I am outraged by these allegations. This story is a horrible reminder that state and federal oversight of these facilities is incredibly lax and may cause needless suffering to innocent animals,” Kaiser said.
“Several years ago [the town] took the initiative to regulate dangerous puppy mills, by enacting a new zoning law that required breeders to treat animals humanely. That law has been used by other communities as a model to fight the public health threats caused by mistreated pets. Our town will continue to push for fair treatment for our companion animals,” he said.
Town Attorney Steven Getman will be consulted to determine whether any violations of the town’s zoning law occurred...Kaiser said.
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Many Families to be Impacted by Changes in New York Laws
OVID, NY--Attorney Steven Getman is urging New York State residents to became aware of recent changes to state law which may impact them or their families.
According to Getman, these changes include the following legislation:
According to Getman, more information on each law may be available here.
“These new laws, once they take effect, have the potential to dramatically impact several aspects of New Yorker’s lives,” Getman explained.
“As with any laws, persons who believe they may be affected should consider consulting with a qualified attorney of their own choosing to discuss their rights and potential responsibilities.”
According to Getman, these changes include the following legislation:
• Allowing No-fault Divorce in New York.
• Revising the New York State Power of Attorney rules.
• Authorizing Family Court judges to issue orders of protection for witnesses in domestic abuse cases.
• Requiring employers to give same-sex couples the same funeral leave benefit for a death in the family as other couples.
• Providing domestic workers with industry-specific protections and labor standards.
• Enhancing protections for consumers in case a health insurer or health maintenance organization (HMO) discontinues a class of policies or contracts.
According to Getman, more information on each law may be available here.
“These new laws, once they take effect, have the potential to dramatically impact several aspects of New Yorker’s lives,” Getman explained.
“As with any laws, persons who believe they may be affected should consider consulting with a qualified attorney of their own choosing to discuss their rights and potential responsibilities.”
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Beware this Travel-related Email Scam
OVID, NEW YORK—Attorney Steven Getman is warning consumers to be aware of a scam involving unlawfully accessed email accounts from web-based email providers.
According to Getman, potential victims report receiving an urgent email from an account known to them. The email includes an urgent plea for money, recounting a false claim that the email sender was traveling abroad and was mugged or robbed of all cash and property. The email also requests that funds to be wired via Western Union to help cover expenses during the interim period, with a promise to repay the loan. The same email is sent to nearly every email address listed in the sender’s address book.
This scam relies on the fact the potential victim will act swiftly because of the urgency of the message coming from a trusted source – often the account of a friend, relative, or colleague. This scam has multiple victims — the people who receive this email as well as the sender, whose email account is compromised and used for the scam. The perpetrators often gain unauthorized access to the email account used for the scam through an earlier “phishing” (identity theft) scam, whereby the email account holder is tricked into revealing his or her password information.
Because the scammers have access to all of the saved emails in the compromised email accounts, they may learn a significant amount of personal information about the email account holders and be able to convince skeptical recipients of these emails that the scammer is, in fact, the actual friend, relative, or colleague associated with the email account.
According to Getman, since the vast majority of these scams originate on other continents, the best way to combat this newest type of e-mail scam is simple: education. Getman suggests some tips to avoid becoming a victim of this and similar email schemes:
According to Getman, potential victims report receiving an urgent email from an account known to them. The email includes an urgent plea for money, recounting a false claim that the email sender was traveling abroad and was mugged or robbed of all cash and property. The email also requests that funds to be wired via Western Union to help cover expenses during the interim period, with a promise to repay the loan. The same email is sent to nearly every email address listed in the sender’s address book.
This scam relies on the fact the potential victim will act swiftly because of the urgency of the message coming from a trusted source – often the account of a friend, relative, or colleague. This scam has multiple victims — the people who receive this email as well as the sender, whose email account is compromised and used for the scam. The perpetrators often gain unauthorized access to the email account used for the scam through an earlier “phishing” (identity theft) scam, whereby the email account holder is tricked into revealing his or her password information.
Because the scammers have access to all of the saved emails in the compromised email accounts, they may learn a significant amount of personal information about the email account holders and be able to convince skeptical recipients of these emails that the scammer is, in fact, the actual friend, relative, or colleague associated with the email account.
According to Getman, since the vast majority of these scams originate on other continents, the best way to combat this newest type of e-mail scam is simple: education. Getman suggests some tips to avoid becoming a victim of this and similar email schemes:
• Avoid immediately responding to information provided via email until you have first verified the source. Confirm the information contained in an email by speaking directly with the parties in question.
• Be skeptical of any request for money made via email, particularly if accompanied by claims of urgency or necessity.
• Do not respond to unsolicited email such as “spam,” since these emails may potentially contain software that is harmful to your computer and which may be designed to compromise your passwords and other personal identifying information.
• Be extremely cautious about sending any personal identifying information, banking information, or any other sensitive information in response to email requests. Unless you are expecting such a request, or you have initiated them yourself, in most instances you should not be sending this information to anybody.
• Be cautious about any emails which appear to come from financial institutions. Many scams involve emails that appear to be legitimate bank communications and even provide links to the financial institution’s web site. These links may look exactly like the actual bank’s web site, but in reality, may be capturing the login and password information that you provide.
Sunday, July 18, 2010
New Drunk Driving Laws Take Effect in August
Attorney Steven Getman is reminding New Yorkers that new penalties for drunken driving take effect next month.
“The state’s new DWI law takes effect August 15,” Getman said. “This law forces anyone convicted of Driving While Intoxicated, even first-time offenders, to equip their vehicles with ignition locks.”
These locks, Getman explained, are intended to make it impossible for anyone to drive drunk.
Drivers will need to blow into a nozzle when starting their cars, Getman said.
Blowing more than a .025 percent blood-alcohol content will lock the car’s ignition. Some models will also sound an audible alarm.
According to Getman, the new law requires the devices in even in the family cars of convicted drivers, meaning that family members will have to submit to the same tests in order to use the vehicles.
The interlock devices are estimated to cost up to $100 to install and then another $70 to $110 a month -- paid for by the defendant -- for a minimum of six months.
“The punishments for those convicted of DWI are severe,” Getman noted. “In addition to fines and jail, the convicted drunk driver can lose both their ability to drive and, in some cases, the ability to travel to and from employment.”
According to Getman, any person accused of Driving While Intoxicated should retain the counsel of a legal professional to insure that they are fully aware of their rights and responsibilities under the law.
“The state’s new DWI law takes effect August 15,” Getman said. “This law forces anyone convicted of Driving While Intoxicated, even first-time offenders, to equip their vehicles with ignition locks.”
These locks, Getman explained, are intended to make it impossible for anyone to drive drunk.
Drivers will need to blow into a nozzle when starting their cars, Getman said.
Blowing more than a .025 percent blood-alcohol content will lock the car’s ignition. Some models will also sound an audible alarm.
According to Getman, the new law requires the devices in even in the family cars of convicted drivers, meaning that family members will have to submit to the same tests in order to use the vehicles.
The interlock devices are estimated to cost up to $100 to install and then another $70 to $110 a month -- paid for by the defendant -- for a minimum of six months.
“The punishments for those convicted of DWI are severe,” Getman noted. “In addition to fines and jail, the convicted drunk driver can lose both their ability to drive and, in some cases, the ability to travel to and from employment.”
According to Getman, any person accused of Driving While Intoxicated should retain the counsel of a legal professional to insure that they are fully aware of their rights and responsibilities under the law.
Friday, June 25, 2010
New York's Family Health Care Decisions Act
Attorney Steven Getman is reminding New York families that the state's "Family Health Care Decisions Act" is now in effect.
"This law establishes the authority of a patient's family member or close friend to make health care decisions for someone who is incapacitated and cannot make his or her own medical decisions," Getman explained.
"The family member or friend would also be empowered to direct the withdrawal or withholding of life-sustaining treatment when the requirements set forth in the law are met."
The law only applies to patients who did not leave prior instructions or appoint a health care agent. Valid health care proxies and other forms of medical instructions remain in effect. New Yorkers are still encouraged to prepare a health care proxy, Getman noted.
"The proxy form can be tailored to give the agent as much or as little authority as the individual desires, and the agent must make decisions in accordance with the principal’s wishes or, if such wishes are not known, in accordance with the principal’s best interests," he said.
More information on the new law can be found here. Getman suggests that anyone with questions about the new law and how it might affect themselves or their loved ones should contact a qualified attorney of their own choosing to discuss their legal rights and responsibilities.
"This law establishes the authority of a patient's family member or close friend to make health care decisions for someone who is incapacitated and cannot make his or her own medical decisions," Getman explained.
"The family member or friend would also be empowered to direct the withdrawal or withholding of life-sustaining treatment when the requirements set forth in the law are met."
The law only applies to patients who did not leave prior instructions or appoint a health care agent. Valid health care proxies and other forms of medical instructions remain in effect. New Yorkers are still encouraged to prepare a health care proxy, Getman noted.
"The proxy form can be tailored to give the agent as much or as little authority as the individual desires, and the agent must make decisions in accordance with the principal’s wishes or, if such wishes are not known, in accordance with the principal’s best interests," he said.
More information on the new law can be found here. Getman suggests that anyone with questions about the new law and how it might affect themselves or their loved ones should contact a qualified attorney of their own choosing to discuss their legal rights and responsibilities.
Sunday, June 6, 2010
New Law on Recycling Computer Parts, Printers
From the Auburn (NY) Citizen:
The complete text of the new law can be found here.
Under the law recently signed by Gov. David Paterson, all manufacturers that sell covered electronic equipment in the state must have a free, convenient electronic waste, or "e-waste," recycling program in effect by April 1, 2011.
The law also makes it illegal for individuals to dispose of electronic waste at landfills, effective Jan. 1, 2015.
The law covers televisions, VCRs, DVD and mp3 players, game consoles, fax machines, and computers and their peripherals such as monitors, keyboards, mice, scanners and printers.
The complete text of the new law can be found here.
Monday, May 31, 2010
Area Forum Examines Tax Credits, Scams
From the Ithaca Journal:
A community forum on the 2-1-1 system, the earned income tax credit and consumer scams is planned for 4:30 p.m. Wednesday in the BorgWarner Meeting Room of the Tompkins County Public Library, 101 E. Green St.
Reservations may be made by calling 607-272-6286 or 2-1-1.
Monday, May 17, 2010
Latest Legal Links of Interest
A collection of recent news stories about the law:
Community Leaders Urge Safe Prom and Graduation Celebrations
Tioga County to hold annual Elder Law Clinic
Wegmans alerts consumers to fraudulent checks
Court rules out some life sentences
Cornell study: jurors reward the good-looking, penalize the unbeautiful
Monday, May 3, 2010
Changes in New York Law Affect Teenaged Drivers
Ovid, NY (May 3, 2010)—Attorney Steven Getman is reminding teenaged drivers and their parents that new restrictions on graduated licenses are in effect.
“The New York State legislature has amended several sections of the Vehicle and Traffic Law that affect graduated drivers,” Getman explained. “These changes took effect in late February and will affect many of the state’s teenaged drivers.”
According to Getman, the changes include:
The changes to the law are contained in Chapter 403 of the laws of the 2009, Getman noted.
More information on the new law can be found here. Parents and teen drivers who have questions about how the new laws affect them are encouraged to consult with an attorney of their own choosing, Getman said.
“The New York State legislature has amended several sections of the Vehicle and Traffic Law that affect graduated drivers,” Getman explained. “These changes took effect in late February and will affect many of the state’s teenaged drivers.”
According to Getman, the changes include:
• A junior learning permit must be held at least six months before a junior license issued.
• The number of non-family passengers under the age of twenty-one who may ride in a motor vehicle with the junior operator has been reduced from two to one.
• The number of supervised driving hours before an applicant may take the road test has increased from twenty to fifty hours, including fifteen hours after sunset.
• New provisions related to penalties for violating the graduated licensing laws have been added.
The changes to the law are contained in Chapter 403 of the laws of the 2009, Getman noted.
More information on the new law can be found here. Parents and teen drivers who have questions about how the new laws affect them are encouraged to consult with an attorney of their own choosing, Getman said.
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