On June 1, 2021, Melissa Brown, a partner in our New Jersey Office, was honored by Temple Beth Sholom (“TBS”) for her volunteer work and service to the community.  Melissa serves as the Chair of the Life Long Learning Committee and a member of the Board of Directors at TBS.   Since March of 2020, Melissa has worked closely with the Director of Congregational Learning to imagine educational programming for the synagogue’s three schools to allow for continuity of education during COVID.  Melissa spearheaded taskforces for the early childhood center, the religious school and the high school working closely with the schools’ faculty and parents to implement remote learning.  During that time, the beloved Director of the Eric B. Jacobs Early Childhood Education Center advised that she would be retiring.  Through Winter and Spring of 2021, Melissa Chaired the Search Committee for the new Director.  We join TBS is congratulating Melissa on her community service.

James M. Skelly and Robert E. Fein of Marks O’Neill’s Westchester, New York office obtained a directed verdict regarding Plaintiff’s wrongful death claim and a defense verdict regarding Plaintiff’s chiropractic malpractice claim at an arbitration proceeding on behalf of a New York-licensed chiropractor.  The decedent’s estate alleged that Plaintiff’s Decedent suffered a debilitating stroke in a chiropractor’s office following a cervical adjustment and that Plaintiff’s Decedent subsequently died from his alleged injuries.

Attorney Skelly presented a persuasive and powerful multi-tiered defense calling board-certified experts in chiropractic, neurosurgery and neuroradiology on behalf of the defense.  Attorney Skelly successfully established that Plaintiff’s Decedent’s left vertebral artery dissection and infarcts predated his chiropractic care, and that Plaintiff failed to connect Plaintiff’s Decedent’s injuries to the alleged chiropractic malpractice.  Attorneys Skelly and Fein obtained a directed verdict on the wrongful death claim establishing the Plaintiff had not made out a prima facie case on causation.  In dismissing the case outright, the arbiter held that the alleged chiropractic malpractice was not a substantial factor in causing the decedent’s personal injuries.

In honor of Women’s History Month, the Diversity & Inclusion Committee of Marks, O’Neill, O’Brien, Doherty & Kelly, P.C. organized a monetary donation collection from the New York and Tarrytown offices for Bottomless Closet, a non-profit organization that empowers New York City women in need to enter the work force, by offering clothing, accessories, resume assistance and interview preparation.

MOODK’s Robert Fein, Esq. and James Skelly, Esq. of the Westchester County office successfully acquitted a Finger Lakes-based chiropractor before the New York State Education Department’s Office of Professional Discipline against charges of Professional Misconduct.  It was alleged therein that the chiropractor was practicing under the influence and was not comporting with COVID-related safety measures.  Mr. Fein and Mr. Skelly skillfully argued that the evidence presented did not support a finding of Professional Misconduct, and that there was no basis in law or fact to take action against the chiropractor’s license.