MEN’S CLUB NEWS
Protecting Your Assets: Eldercare Attorney Ann Margaret Carrozza
did in 1954 in Brown vs Board of
Education which overturned Plessy
vs Ferguson and banned segregation
in our schools.
Another duty of the Chief Justice
is to preside over the impeachment
of the president. Up until recently
he hasn't been too busy. Only three
Justices have had to perform this duty
since the Court’s inception 232 years
ago: Salmon Chase in 1868, William
Rehnquist in 1998 and John Roberts
in 2019. None of the three presidents
impeached were convicted.
The club was very appreciative
and we will certainly be asking
Professor Coll back again when we
can do this live.
BY HOWARD ARKIN
On Thursday, April 15, Jerry Siegel,
Chairman of the Men’s Club entertainment
committee, introduced us
to Ann Margaret Carrozza, the evening’s
guest speaker. Ann Margaret is an accomplished
attorney who specializes in wealth
management and eldercare law.
She gave a very thought-provoking presentation
on how to protect our assets and
how to navigate through health issues in
our "Golden Years."
Ann Margaret’s background is quite
eclectic. She has served in the New York State
Assembly, teaches classes at Hofstra University,
Is an author and has consulted, and has been
seen on quite a few TV shows. I might add that
she is very engaging and personable.
One question that was touched on has posed
a problem for parents since time in memorial:
“How to divide their assets among their children?”
Do I leave a lesser amount to my son who
manages a very successful hedge fund or give a
greater amount to his brother
who cuts hedges?
Ann Margaret did not have
a legal remedy for this question,
but she had a strong one
pertaining to your home: Do
not leave it to your children
while you are still living.
The tax situation in all probability
will not work to your
advantage.
The "look-back period"
was also discussed. This is a
set period of time before one
applies for Medicaid where all of your financial
transactions are reviewed in order to determine if
you are eligible for assistance. The waiting period
in New York is currently 30 months.
We all must have a countless number of questions
regarding health issues and estate planning,
having spent too many years not paying attention
to them. The New York State tax exemption was
another point of interest from the club members.
The current exemption is $5,930.
The federal exemption
is $11,700. This presents no problem in this
corner.
Judging from the questions that were asked to
Ann Margaret, it was quite obvious to me that
the club’s membership was very well versed on
the subjects of eldercare and protecting one’s
assets. For those of you that could use some help,
I would suggest that you visit Ann Margaret’s
website at https://www.myelderlawattorney.
com/. It is quite informative and will answer
many of the questions that you may have.
Due to the fact that the subjects discussed
could be difficult for some of us to understand,
club president Toby Horowitz offered to have
the whole session transferred to your lap tops
or computers. He is also making arrangements
to have sessions shown on Channel 995.
As you read this article, the building lounges,
card rooms, theater, library and art room should
be up and operating although with limited
access. Other Men’s Club activities are certain
to follow shortly. The light at the end of the
tunnel is in sight.
Understanding the Supreme
Court: Professor James Coll
BY HOWARD ARKIN
The Men’s Club was pleased to
welcome Professor James Coll
to its May 13th Zoom session.
As many of you might know, he is a
professor of American and Constitutional
History and has lectured
at North Shore Towers many times
over the past few years. His topic
this evening was "Understanding
The Supreme Court." The court was
established as part of the United
States Constitution in 1789 as one
of the three branches of our federal
government and over the years has
taken on greater significance than
originally intended.
The first Chief Justice, John
Jay, was appointed by President
Washington in 1795, but it wasn't
until six years later that the Court
established its first strong position
in our federal government. That was
when Chief Justice John Marshall,
who was appointed by President
Adams, made his ruling in the
landmark Marbury vs Madison
case. This was the case that gave the
court the power of judicial review
enabling it to declare legislation
unconstitutional. Marshall went on
to serve 35 years as Chief Justice and
is considered by legal scholars today
to be our greatest.
Professor Coll went on to tell us of
many stories pertaining to the Chief
Justices, one being when President
Eisenhower was asked if he had any
regrets during his presidency. Ike
said that he regretted appointing
Justices Warren and Berger to the
bench. Supreme Court Justices
have lifetime tenure but can be
impeached, that happening only
once when in 1805 when Justice
Samuel Chase was impeached but
not convicted by the Senate. Sounds
familiar, doesn't it?
Only one person has been president
and also served on the Court.
That was William Howard Taft.
Although it was his lifelong desire
to serve on the Court, Taft turned
down vacancies when offered the
opportunity by President Theodore
Roosevelt. It took another 13 years
to fulfill his wish when in 1921
President Warren Harding appointed
him Chief Justice. It was ironic
that the seat that Taft took was a
Justice that he had appointed during
his presidency.
At the conclusion of the lecture,
Club President Toby Horowitz
went around the screen taking
questions for Professor Coll. As
usual there were many and some
very well thought out. There must
have been some lawyers “in the
room." Al Sprung commented on
the fact that the country, while still
predominantly Protestant, there are
none currently serving on the court.
We do have diversity with
Catholic, Jewish, Black, women
and Hispanic members.
The court currently consists of
nine justices, but up until 1837
there were only six. There is now
some talk of expanding the Court,
but that seems unlikely at this
time. Another question asked was,
“Could a Supreme Court ruling be
overturned?” The answer was yes.
One way is by a
Constitutional amendment as was
done by the Thirteenth Amendment
which abolished slavery, thereby
negating the Dred Scott decision.
The other way is for the court to
overturn its own ruling which it
Ann Margaret
Carrozza
MARK YOUR CALENDARS
June 10: Richard Knox on
Rogers & Hammerstein
July 15: Robin Milch,
Executive Director of the
Weitzman Institute
The time for both events is
7:30 pm. Contact Jerry Siegel at
347-235-4315 or email jerrysiegel1185@
gmail.com or Toby
Horowitz at 718-279-0082 or
email tmhmgt@yahoo.com.
June 2021 ¢ NORTH SHORE TOWERS COURIER 29
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