The QUeeNS CoUrier •JANUARY 24, 2013 for breaking news visit www.queenscourier.com SCOTT BARON’S STAR OF QUEENS 2013 Estate Tax Law Changes-Are You At Risk? PHOTO COURTESY OF DAN BROWN Costly Mistakes You Cannot Afford to Make! Come to a Free Workshop on Wills Living Trusts & Medicaid Planning January 29, 2013 February 6, 2013 February 7, 2013 February 12, 2013 6:30 p.m. 1:00 p.m. 3:00 p.m. 6:30 p.m. Adria Hotel 104-70 Queens Blvd., 104-70 Queens Blvd. The Douglaston Club 121-14 Suite 312 Suite 312 600 W. Douglaston Drive Northern Blvd., Forest Hills, NY Forest Hills, NY Douglaston, NY Bayside, NY 11361 11375 11375 11363 Seating is Limited. Refreshments Served. Call now to reserve your seat 718-275-7779 At the workshop, we will discuss several issues, including: -The advantages and disadvantage of Wills and Living Trusts -How to plan before you need Long Term Care star -How to protect your children’s inheritance from future queens Presented ByOFex-spouses, lawsuits and other claims Law Firm of Albert Cohen, P.C. JoHn Cori 104-70 Queens Blvd., Suite 312, Forest Hills, NY 11375 FOUNDER OF FRIENDS OF ROCKAWAY 718-275-7779 Cori started the group “Friends of Rockaway.” The volunteer-based organization www.cohenestateplanning.com In September 2010, community activist JohnCOMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT: focuses on protecting the Rockaway community, preserving and replenishing the “wonderful beach-going experience” for everyone. Cori works constantly with partner Eddie Pastore to get funds for preserving the area. Cori is also a member of the Rockaway Beach Civic Association, and is Advertorial Legally Speaking running for president. He wants to revitalize the group, and get it even more involved in the community. Outside of the Rockaways, Cori has been active with the Big Brothers, Big Sisters of New York for roughly 26 years. To this day he keeps in touch with his “little brother;” the two are among the longest matches By: Scott Baron, that the group has ever had. Attorney at Law BACKGROUND: Cori grew up in Rockaway Beach, loving the sun and sand as most Rockaway residents do. He enjoyed paddle boarding, surfing, body surfing and other water activities, as well as skateboarding. “I still skateboard,” FALLING OFF A STEP laughed Cori. “I’m a big kid.” He also enjoys spending time with his two children, Christopher, 21 and Victoria, 18. FAVORITE MEMORY: “Oh that’s easy, the most recent rally we had,” said Q: In front of my son-in-law’s building, there is a raised walkway. It extends Cori. The Friends of Rockaway frequently holds rallies, takes out ads and hits four feet out from the face of the building. This walkway is like a platform – the pavement to talk to residents about what the peninsula needs, especially after running the length of the building, abutting several storefronts. One end of the Sandy. He believes the Rockaways need more rock jetties to protect the beach walkway slopes up from the sidewalk, and the other end has a five-inch step, down and the area behind it, and the most recent rally, “We’re Ready for our Jetties,” to the sidewalk. I entered Fred’s store from the sloping end. I exited toward the spread knowledge about just how that would be accomplished. step, which I did not know about, and slipped due to the raised walkway. My fall INSPIRATION: Cori’s inspiration for his tireless activism lies within “the love resulted in serious injuries. of the beach and protection for my neighborhood,” he said. “The beach, to me, I say that Fred should have put up a warning sign and some handrails or other is the greatest thing in the world.” safety devices. His lawyers say that the problem was “open and obvious” and that my inattention was the sole proximate cause of the accident: had I been looking, I BIGGEST CHALLENGE: Many of the committees, such as the Parks Committee and the local Community Board, don’t meet as often as Cori feels they should. would have seen the hazard and avoided my injuries. “There’s a lack of support from the Community Board,” he said. “They’re the A: In cases like this, attorneys often will hire an expert engineer – to give an first vehicle by which we should have been able to get this issue any attention.” opinion, for example, that the sidewalk and the walkway were too similar in color, He fears that if all committees are not working together, the community or that there should have been colored stripes on the walkway or at the step, or that becomes a “reactionary body” instead of a “proactive body.” But in the mean- the warning paint was too faded, or that conditions created the illusion of a flat time, Cori will continue his own work to get the Rockaways the recognition that surface, visually obscuring the step. he believes it deserves. Even if this hazard was somewhat open and obvious, that should not be fatal to your claim. Rather, the circumstances would be relevant to your comparative fault, brought to you by if any. From what you tell me, your case ought to be able to get past summary judgment and survive to a recovery. SCOTT BARON & ASSOCICATES, P.C. Attorneys & Counselors at Law The law responds to changed conditions; exceptions and variations abound.Here, the information is general; always seek out competent counsel. 1-866-WAS-HURT (866) 927-4878 Copyright © 2013 Scott Baron & Associates, P.C. All rights reserved.159-49 Cross Bay Boulevard, Howard Beach, New York 11414 718.738.9800 1750 Central Park Avenue, Yonkers, NY 10710 718-738-9800, 914-337-9800, 1-866-927-4878
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