26 The QUEE NS Courier • SEPTEMBER 1, 2016 for breaking news visit www.qns.com Legally Speaking By: Scott Baron, Attorney at Law THE RIGHT OF WAY Q: I had been traveling northbound on a two-way street, while the other driver had been traveling eastbound on a two-way avenue. A stop sign controlled vehicles traveling on my street. Nothing governed vehicles traveling on his avenue. I had stopped at the stop sign and looked both ways multiple times before proceeding into the intersection. Then the front of the other car struck the center of my car. A: If the other driver failed to make proper use of his senses and see what is there to be seen – or otherwise did not use reasonable care to avoid the accident – he may be found to have contributed to its happening, even though he was traveling with the right-of-way. Suppose that the other driver’s passenger recalls that, prior to entering the intersection, the other driver observed your car stopped at the stop sign. Nevertheless, within the number of seconds available, he took no evasive action. Or suppose that bystanders have testified that the other driver was traveling at an excessive rate of speed; or saw him engaged with his cell phone; or saw that his head was down, and afterwards a cell phone was found on his lap. By all means talk to an attorney. Even though it may seem, at first blush, that this tragedy occurred simply because you failed to yield the right-ofway, Advertorial the attorney may sense that the evidence will show that yours is a far The law responds to changed conditions; exceptions and variations abound. Here, the information is general; always seek out competent counsel. This article shall not be construed as legal advice. Copyright © 2014 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 • 914-337-9800 1-866-927-4878 better case. Photo by Stephen Vrattos North Shore Towers mourns the passing of Board President Mort Gitter By Stephen Vrattos editorial@qns.com/@QNS North Shore Towers Board President Mort Gitter passed away suddenly on the evening of Aug. 26. A resident with wife Suzanne since 1988, Gitter was a devoted husband, father of two and grandfather of four. Save for a two-year hiatus from 2004–2006, Gitter was an active member of the North Shore Towers board of directors for nearly 20 uninterrupted years, serving in nearly every capacity at various times, including treasurer, finance committee chair, chief financial officer and president. When he joined the board in 1995, he cited a desire “to be active in protecting the investment he had made in the corporation,” while also having a voice in its activities. During his time on the board, the co-op has grown tremendously, overcoming the attacks of 9/11 and weathering the financial meltdown of 2008. It has undergone marked improvements, such as the installation of generators—making NST energy self-sufficient; upgrade of the lighting in the arcade and other common areas; and renovations to the building lobbies, restaurant and cinema, making NST one of the most desirable places to live in New York City. Gitter wasn’t alone in these accomplishments, but he was certainly an important part of them. With a broad background in business and finance, Gitter had a long and successful career as a lawyer, a partner at a firm that specialized in high-profile business bankruptcies and finance. For many years after his retirement, Gitter spent three or four days a week practicing law pro-bono with organizations, such as the Legal Aid Society, City Bar Justice Center and Queens Bar Association, predominantly handling consumer cases relating to credit problems, individual bankruptcy filings and predatory lending in residential mortgage foreclosures. He also devoted some of his time as a paid and volunteer arbitrator in various courts and resolved disputes for the stock exchange enforcement agency. Gitter and his wife Suzanne spent several weeks each winter in Israel with the Jewish National Fund, at their own expense, working as volunteer mentors to public school students and also working in the main hospital in Tel Aviv. “We think it is imperative that Israel survives,” Gitter said in a 2008 interview with The Queens Courier, adding, “We do our part by volunteering our time and services which are badly needed and appreciated. We think that what we do is every bit as important as making annual donations to worthy charities.”
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