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Interns Enlightened by Experience at Havkins Rosenfeld Ritzert & Varriale

White Plains, New York (November 18, 2008) —Channel Fitch and Sheila Morales, students of the Gorton High School Law Magnet, participated in the six week internship, which was made available through a program set up and coordinated by the Westchester Women’s Bar Association.

As part of their internship, they did office work, including filing, docketing and pulling exhibits. They also accompanied Tara Fappiano and Carmen Nicolaou, resident attorneys in the White Plains office, on court appearances and depositions.

When asked what they thought of their experience, both said it was “eye opening” and that they “felt like grown ups.” Most fascinating was the realization that the legal field does not have the drama that is often associated with being an attorney. Despite that lack of drama, Channel, who had no intention of entering the legal field when she began working at Havkins Rosenfeld Ritzert & Varriale, LLP, has since changed her mind. In addition, Sheila has also decided to pursue a career in law.

Both Channel and Sheila have set examples for all students at Gorton High School of what they can accomplish if they keep up their grades, a necessary requirement to be part of the Law Magnet. Since the internship, both Channel and Sheila have accepted part-time employment at Havkins Rosenfeld Ritzert & Varriale, LLP.

“They are both hard workers and doing a wonderful job,” said attorney Fappiano.“This firm is very proud of their accomplishments.” 

HRRV Sponsors Mock Trial

Vernon, New Jersey, (October 25, 2008) — Havkins Rosenfeld Ritzert & Varriale, LPP, sponsored and presented a mock trial as part of the 2008 State Day sponsored by the New Jersey chapter of the National Association of Insurance Women. The event was attended by over 100 insurance professionals, several of whom took an active part in the presentation as members of two separate juries. The empanelling of two juries was designed to show the potential for variance of opinion based on the same facts.

HRRV Legal Expert Publishes Article about Legal Controversy involving the Use of Metal Bats in Sports Litigation Alert

New York, New York (June 23, 2008) — Havkins Rosenfeld Ritzert & Varriale, LPP, announced today that Associate Jarett L. Warner’s article, “Family Sues Little League, Retailer and Metal Bat Manufacturer Over Personal Injuries Suffered by Child,” has been published in Sports Litigation Alert (SLA), the sports law industry’s only bi-weekly newsletter reporting on current legal opinions and news developments.

Warner is a sports law attorney and expert in litigation initiated by spectators against sporting venues, teams and, in this case, manufacturers, according to Holt Hackney, the editor and publisher of SLA.

“I am proud to include Jarett L. Warner’s article in this issue of the SLA,” said Hackney. “He is particularly knowledgeable about sports litigation issues and trends, not only in the state of New York, but throughout the United States. His donated expertise is extremely beneficial to every sports professional seeking insight into the industry’s legal opinions and news developments.

“Warner’s Metal Baseball Bat Lawsuit article is a hot topic at the moment as baseball teams around the nation may face bat regulations imposed by the state in the future.”

Warner’s article discusses a lawsuit commenced against a Little League affiliate, a sporting goods retailer and the bat’s manufacturer by the family of a 14-year old boy who is permanently and severely injured after he was struck in the chest by a ball hit from a metal bat. Warner also analyzes past litigation that may contribute to the lawsuit and the ramifications this lawsuit will have on future baseball regulations.

You can view the article by visiting here.

About Hackney Publications: Hackney Publications delivers valuable and important information about the legal side of the sports industry. Its overriding mission, through its publications, is to maintain a narrow editorial focus on issues that matter to its subscribers.

The company was founded by journalist Holt Hackney, who has spent more than 20 years writing about sports, business and the law.

About SLA: Sports Litigation Alert (SLA) is a narrowly focused newsletter that monitors case law and legal developments in the sports law industry. Every two weeks, SLA provides summaries of court opinions, analysis of legal issues, and relevant articles. The newsletter is published 24 times a year.

Havkins Publishes Article on Consequential Claims

New York Court of Appeals Allows Consequential Claims to Proceed, by Abbie Havkins, has appeared in the April 18, 2008 issue of the Insurance Coverage Litigation Reporter. Abbie, an accomplished litigator, focuses his practice on litigating insurance coverage disputes and counseling insurance companies, insurance agents, brokers and third-party administrators on issues involving a wide variety of insurance policies, including errors and omissions, directors and officers, commercial general liability, environmental, professional liability and fidelity policies. Abbie advises insurance companies, claims administrators and brokers on issues involving excess insurance, extra-contractual liability, policy language, conflict of laws, notice requirements, co-insurance, rescission, misrepresentation and the interplay of other insurance clauses.

Matthew Kraus, an associate at the firm, was a co-author on the article.

Sean Dwyer of Havkins Rosenfeld Ritzert & Varriale is One of the First Attorneys in New York to Receive the LEED AP Accreditation in Green Building

New York, New York (April 16, 2008) — Sean Dwyer, a partner at Havkins Rosenfeld Ritzert & Varriale, LPP, whose practice focuses on litigation, construction law, and insurance coverage matters, has received the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design® Accredited Professional (LEED AP) designation by the United States Green Building Council.  Of more than 950,000 practicing attorneys in the United States, there are currently less than 50 registered lawyers nationwide who have received this certification and Dwyer is one of just five accredited lawyers in New York State and the first registered attorney to earn LEED AP Accreditation in the Long Island Area.

The LEED®  AP Accreditation  in Green Building is a prominent necessity for staying atop of the nation’s growing market for environmentally sound and sustainable construction projects. Having an LEED® Accredited Professional involved with your Green Building project is extremely beneficial because that professional represents the LEED rating system and helps guide your project to be within the LEED specifications from start to finish.

“Being one of a handful of attorneys in New York to have the LEED AP accreditation, I look forward to expanding the firm’s Green Building practice,” said Dwyer. “Clients, such as contractors, architects and their insurers, are increasingly expecting their counsel to understand green building strategies to assist them through the LEED certification process from startup to final verification, as well as navigating projects through the complicated process of complying with local green building regulations and insurance requirements. I can think of no better way toward achieving that objective than by becoming a LEED®  Accredited Professional.”

Dwyer has been a frequent author and speaking on the topic of Green Building.

Varriale Publishes Ticketing Industry Article

That’s The Ticket…What’s Next For The Ticketing Industry After Ticketmaster v. RMG Techs., Inc., by Carla Varriale, has appeared in the April 2008 issue of the ABA’s Entertainment and Sports Lawyer. Carla, who is well known in sports law circles for her work defending professional and recreational sports teams and venues, was the moderator of a panel discussion on this topic at the November 2007 Billboard Touring Conference and Awards  in New York, New York. The panel featured representatives from Ticketmaster, StubHub and Tickets.com.

Havkins Rosenfeld Ritzert & Varriale Expands, Opening a New Office in White Plains

New York, New York (February 21, 2008) – Havkins Rosenfeld Ritzert & Varriale LLP, a law firm that vigorously works with its clients to develop innovative and effective strategies to help them achieve their objectives, announced today that it is opening a new office in White Plains, N.Y. (Westchester County)

Serving as Resident Partner for office is Tara Fappiano, who has already established a presence in the area as the co-chairperson of the Environmental Law and Lawyer Referral Services Committees of the Westchester County Bar Association as well as being very active in the Westchester Women's Bar Association. 

“We’re excited about making a full commitment to Westchester County,” said Fappiano. “There is tremendous growth in this region and with that growth comes the need for legal services.”

HRRV Managing Partner Steve Rosenfeld added that the decision to more fully expand to Westchester County was made easier by the fact that Fappiano has established herself by her experience in a variety of environmental law issues.

“Tara has made great strides in the practice area as well as other areas of law,” said Rosenfeld. “This is a natural step for the firm, given her progress and the fact that she lives in Westchester County.

“With this new office, HRRV can further service our clients in the various courts in Westchester, Putnam, Orange, Dutchess and Rockland counties, as well as the United States District Court for the Northern District of New York, while reducing travel and other costs associated with the defense of matters that are assigned to us.”

HRRV Provides Life Experience
to PowerPlayNYC Intern

August 13, 2007, Havkins, Rosenfeld, Ritzert & Varriale made a 14 year-old girl’s dream come true this week when she shadowed an attorney during in a one-week internship through PowerPlayNYC’s STARS program.

HRRV attorney Carmen Nicolaou took time out of her busy schedule to mentor Devona Adjei Baffour, who will be attending the Masters School in Dobbs Ferry, New York this fall on a full scholarship.

“I am very proud of Carmen's leadership and enthusiasm,” said HRRV partner Carla Varriale. “She truly seized the reins on this project. This is exactly the sort of spirit that we hoped to foster when HRRV was founded.”

During her week at HRRV, Devona participated in various activities to help her get a sense of what it is like to be an attorney.

“Ever since I was seven, I’ve wanted to be a lawyer,” said Devona. “When I found out I got the internship for HRRV my eyes lit up. I was so happy. I wanted to see what kind of life I could live in the future if I were to become a lawyer. HRRV showed me exactly how my life might be.

“When I came in everyone gave me such a warm welcome. As part of the internship, I shadowed Nicolaou. She took me to the Bronx Court House and the Supreme Court House on Centre Street. I watched as she had conferences and filed motions. I even got to see a criminal trial.”

In addition to observing the law in action, Devona also did hands-on work for HRRV such as writing summaries for articles, filing, copying and labeling.

PowerPlay NYC created STARS (Sports Training and Role models for Success), an after-school career education program, to provide an opportunity for New York City high school girls to receive training in important career and life skills and benefit from supportive relationships with positive female role models.

HRRV lawyers preside at New York State High School Mock Trial Tournament

On March 8, 2007, Tara C. Fappiano and Carmen A. Nicolaou "presided" as judges in the New York State High School Mock Trial Tournament, hosted by the Law, Youth and Citizenship Committee of the New York State Bar Association, and conducted at the Supreme Court, Westchester County.

The program is presently in its 24th year, the purpose of which is to teach high school students basic trial practice skills and to teach professionalism. The students learn how to think on their feet while conducting direct and cross examinations, to present opening and closing statements, and how to analyze legal issues, as well as how to be zealous but courteous advocates for their "clients."

HRRV was proud to participate in the program this year and congratulates all of the students for their extraordinary hard work, dedication, and professionalism during the course of the competition. We wish the winners luck as they proceed to the State Finals, to be held in Albany in May.