CURRENT NEWS

What's New at Wilentz, Goldman & Spitzer

Attorney News: Summer, 2002

Christopher Lenzo recently spoke at a Council on Education seminar, given to human resource representatives and other in-house employment specialists, on the current state of mandatory arbitration of employment matters.

Kirsten Branigan was one of two attorneys interviewed for a September 25th Home News Tribune featured article on the front page of the "On the Run" Section on "Abuse of Power," discussing sexual harassment.

Brett Harris was recently recognized for her hard work in the New Jersey Law Journal's "Forty under Forty" listing. The forty attorneys were selected for their achievement in practice areas; recognition by peers and professional organizations; leadership in bar groups; membership in merit-based associations; and records of lectures and publications.

Vincent Maltese has been elected the first Chairman of the new Government Records Council pursuant to the New Jersey Open Public Records Act ("OPRA"), which became effective on July 8, 2002. The Council consists of five members, three public members, the Commissioner of Education, and the Commissioner of DCA. The Council is charged with educating the citizens of New Jersey and public records custodians with the requirements of the new law, and the Council will review and adjudicate complaints stemming from the Open Public Records Act that cannot be resolved through mediation. For more information on the Council and Act, contact Mr. Maltese or visit www.nj.gov/grc.

Through the efforts of Jim Petsche, AmSurg, Inc. is the first operator of a licensed ambulatory surgery center in New Jersey to receive permission from the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services to add a special procedure room to the single operating room at its Mercer County orthopedic surgery facility. This is the first time the Department has permitted sterile and non-sterile procedures to be performed in the same ambulatory surgery facility. In addition, Jim persuaded the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid to pay for the non-sterile endoscopy procedures that are now performed in the special procedure room.

The E-Commerce Law magazine recently published an article by Michael Schaff and Gordon Golum titled "How Will the Requirement for Agreements with Business Associates in HIPAA Affect my E-Business?" E-Commerce Law is published by Aspen Law & Business.

Maureen Binetti and Christopher Lenzo were featured speakers at the American Bar Association Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C. which began on August 9, 2002. Maureen spoke on recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions during a program entitled "Hot Topics in Labor and Employment Law," co-sponsored by the Young Lawyers Division and the Section of Labor and Employment Law. Chris was plaintiffs' program chair for the "Basic Employment Rights and Responsibilities" program, and both Chris and Maureen spoke on that panel. Both were also invited to the Leadership Development Initiative Luncheon sponsored by the Section.

Michael Schaff appeared on the News 12 TV show Fast Track on August 3, 2002. This show explored the recent corporate scandals and lessons to be learned for New Jersey business owners.

Ed Kole was recently elected secretary of the Federal Practice Committee of the N.J. State Bar Association.

Michael Schaff was a speaker, making several presentations, at the American Health Lawyers Association Annual Meeting in San Francisco from June 29, 2002 through July 3, 2002.

Roy Tanzman organized a fundraiser for U.S. Senator Joe Biden, which was held on July 1, 2002 at Wilentz, Goldman & Spitzer.

Michael Schaff was recently appointed to the Board of Advisors of the Ophthalmology Compliance & Reimbursement Insider, a monthly publication of Brownstone Publishing.

Charles Vuotto recently spoke at the ICLE seminar Brown v. Brown: The Most Important Equitable Distribution Decision Since Painter. The decision affects any family law case where valuing an asset is an issue.

Sheldon Jaffe has been elected a member of the Morris County Democratic Committee.

Michael Schaff has been reappointed Chair of the American Health Lawyers Association's Physician Organizations Substantive Law Committee for the June '02 to May '03 term.

Charles Vuotto has been selected to serve on the Executive Committee of the Family Law Section of the New Jersey State Bar Association. He has also been selected to serve as the Second Co-Chair of the new Matrimonial Law Section of NJ-ATLA. Additionally, he has been selected to serve as the Central Jersey Editor on the Board of Editors of the NJ Family Lawyer, which is a publication of the Family Law Section of the New Jersey State Bar Association.

Andrea White O'Brien has been selected to serve on the Executive Committee of the Family Law Section of the New Jersey State Bar Association.

Maureen Binetti was a featured speaker at the Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law's 20th Annual Multi-State Labor & Employment Law Seminar. Speaking as a plaintiffs' attorney to several hundred management lawyers, Maureen's topic was "Attacking Reductions in Force: A Game Plan for Plaintiffs' Attorneys," designed as a "how-not-to" program for employers. Christopher Lenzo and Elizabeth Bair prepared the materials for the seminar.