6 The QUEE NS Courier • january 22, 2015 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT www.queenscourier.com Mother of Avonte Oquendo invited to President Obama’s State of the Union address JOHN J. CIAFONE, Esq. Attorney & Counselor at Law Your Partner In The Struggle For Justice ON THE LAW with John J. Ciafone Esq. Q. My sister and I have a Barber shop on Broadway in Astoria. It’s been in the family for over 70 years. Recently, we brought the tenant to Court to remove him from the store since his lease expired and he refuses to pay the increases we now demand for the store. At trial, the Judge reviewed our ownership deed which stated that our parents who died over ten years ago; are the only persons who can bring the eviction and we have no standing and so, the Judge dismissed the case. Is this America? A. Unfortunately, your Attorney was negligent in fi ling the case under these facts and circumstances. If the Deed stated that Mom and Dad are the only owners of the property and they have long passed away, it is incumbent upon you to Administer their Estate and transfer the deed of the property to a new person or entity so that you can proceed with the litigating the case against the tenant. Absence such action, you cannot do anything against this tenant since you have no standing or rights to proceed against anyone with respect to this property since you and our sister are not owners of the property under the eyes of the laws. • Personal Injury/ Accidents • Workers’ Compensation • Wills/Estates • Criminal • Medical Malpractice* • Real Estate • Commer./Corp./ Business • Matrimonial/ Divorce • Bankruptcy • Elder Law • Trial Lawyer Serving the needs of our community 24 Hours/7 Days 25-59 Steinway St., Suite 2F, Astoria, NY 11103 718-278-3900 *FREE CONSULTATION AT HOME, HOSPITAL OR WORK BUY DIRECT FROM THE MANUFACTURER FREE Measuring & Installation w/purchase of $100. with this ad. • Draperies • Vertical Blinds • Honeycomb Shades • Custom Window Shades • Mini Blinds Nobody Beats Our Prices! • Roman Shades • Balloon Shades • Swags & Jabots • Shutters • Upholstery • Radiator Covers • Table Pads UP TO 70% OFF LIST PRICE Free Interior Design Consultation $20 OFF with purchase of $200 or more *Not to be combined w/other offers. Expires 1/30/15 $50 OFF with purchase of $500 or more *Not to be combined w/other offers. Expires 1/30/15 $100 OFF with purchase of $1,000 or more *Not to be combined w/other offers. Expires 1/30/15 GOMER’S Window Treatments SINCE 1962 FREE SHOP AT HOME SERVICE SERVING QUEENS AND LONG ISLAND 1.800.522.6156 www.gomersdecorators.com BY THE QUEENS COURIER STAFF editorial@queenscourier.com @QueensCourier When President Obama delivered his State of the Union speech on Jan. 20 before a joint session of Congress, Avonte Oquendo’s mother, Vanessa Fontaine, was watching from the gallery of the House of Representatives as a guest of Sen. Charles Schumer. Fontaine was invited as part of Schumer’s effort to pass his bill, called “Avonte’s Law,” which would fund a program to provide voluntary tracking devices for kids and expand support services for families with autistic children, like Avonte. Avonte was a 14-year-old who bolted from the Center Boulevard School in Long Island City on Oct. 4, 2013. He was last seen on surveillance video inside the school for children with learning disabilities before he ran out the door. After a frantic search that lasted for months, his body was discovered along the water in College Point in January 2014. Schumer first proposed his legislation a month after Avonte went missing. “I’m very pleased to announce that Ms. Vanessa Fontaine, Avonte Oquendo’s mother, will be my guest at President Obama’s State of the Union address, which will draw much-needed national attention to an issue near and dear to our hearts: passage of ‘Avonte’s Law,’” Schumer said in a statement. “Ms. Fontaine’s trip to Washington is just one example of her great strength and courage in the face of the tragic loss of her son Avonte, and I hope that together we can rally further support for this legislation, which is essential to the families of loved ones with Autism Spectrum Disorder, and other special needs,” Schumer said. The voluntary program called for in Schumer’s bill would only be for families who choose to use the tracking devices. Schumer’s decision to introduce legislation will ensure that the Department of Justice has the authority and funding to provide grants to local law enforcement entities and other organizations with an interest in assisting these children. Schumer’s bill would authorize $10 million federal dollars in order to help fund the purchase of voluntary tracking devices for children with Autism Spectrum Disorders, education and training for parents, schools and local law enforcement, as well as other innovative methods that will assist families of children who “wander” with ASD. New York’s senior senator, a Democrat, is hopeful that he can gain bipartisan support for his measure now that Republicans control both houses of Congress. Photo courtesy of Senator Charles Schumer’s Office Sen. Charles Schumer with Vanessa Fontaine, mother of Avonte Oquendo, at a press conference last January introducing “Avonte’s Law.”
QC01222015
To see the actual publication please follow the link above