Archive for 'News' Category
Nov 15, 2007

Our firm was retained to represent a Defendant who was charged and arrested on five separate occasions with either assaulting and/or harassing the Complainant, who was a fellow-member of Alcohol Anonymous. Our client denied the charges. There was an on-going feud between the parties and the District Attorney was adamant in its prosecution. When the […]

Sep 18, 2007

By Ed Fountaine All charges against two former New York Racing Association officials indicted in the so-called “fat jockeys” scandal were dismissed yesterday by Saratoga County judge Jerry Scarano, but the case is far from over. Mario Sclafani, 50, the clerk of scales, and his assistant, retired Hall of Fame jockey Braulio Baeza, 67, are […]

Sep 18, 2007

The Associated Press BALLSTON SPA, N.Y. – A judge dismissed charges yesterday against two former New York Racing Association officials accused of falsely reporting the weights of several jockeys at NYRA’s three thoroughbred tracks in 2004. Saratoga County Court Judge Jerry Scarano ruled the case against Mario Sclafani and Braulio Baeza was based on faulty […]

Sep 18, 2007

New York TimesBy Bill Finley The charges against two former New York Racing Association employees, the retired jockey Braulio Baeza and Mario Sclafani, were dismissed yesterday by a Saratoga County judge. Sclafani and Baeza, who had each worked in the jockeys’ quarters at the NYRA tracks, had been accused of allowing several jockeys to ride […]

Sep 13, 2007

Through The BinocsBy Ed Fountaine So-called “Fat Jockeys” trial, which opened Sept. 4 in Saratoga County Court, could be nearing resolution. In investigation initiated by NYRA in 2004, clerk of scales Mario Sclafani and his assistant, retired Hall of Fame jockey Braulio Baeza, were accused of allowing several top riders, including Jose Santos and Cornelio […]

Sep 6, 2007

Two defendants are accused of allowing riders to exceed assigned weights at NYRA tracks Times Union Albany, New YorkBy Dennis Yusko, Staff writer BALLSTON SPA — Mario Sclafani and Braulio Baeza are either corrupt former New York Racing Association employees or individuals ensnared in a careless and political investigation. A Saratoga County Court jury must […]

Sep 5, 2007

Times Union Albany, New YorkBy Dennis Yusko, Staff writer BALLSTON SPA — The trial of two New York Racing Association officials accused of conspiring to allow overweight jockeys at Saratoga Race Course and other state tracks began today in Saratoga County Court. NYRA clerks of scales Mario Sclafani of Yorktown Heights , Westchester County, and […]

Jun 22, 2007

On June 22, 2007 a Queens jury acquitted our client, a 19-year old college student charged with driving while intoxicated and resisting arrest, which allegedly occurred on April 27, 2006. Out client was a passenger in a SUV when the driver was pulled over and arrested for DWI. According to the Defendant’s testimony at trial, […]

Mar 7, 2007

On March 7, 2007, a judge of the criminal court, Queens County, in a non-jury trial, acquitted a New York attorney of all criminal charges relating to his arrest for driving while intoxicated. The Prosecution presented two Police Officers who testified that at approximately 11:30 a.m. on Woodhaven Boulevard, they approached a scene of an […]

Mar 4, 2007

Lawyer for Queens man accused of attacking cop says he believed he was fending off thugs. By: Matthew Nestel The Queens man charged with attempted murder for trying to stab a rookie police officer with a steak knife was in the midst of a “psychotic incident” and believe he was fending off attackers, his lawyer […]

Mar 3, 2007

BY MATTHEW NESTELSpecial to Newsday The Queens man charged with attempted murder for trying to stab a rookie police officer with a steak knife was in the midst of a “psychotic incident” and believed he was fending off attackers, his lawyer said Saturday. Joseph Leonardi, 50, remained under psychiatric observation in Queens Hospital Center in […]

Feb 28, 2007

A $3 million settlement was reached prior to trial in February 2007 for a person killed in a construction accident. The worker was the victim of a fatal construction accident. He was an undocumented alien working in the country for two months prior to his construction accident death caused by a defective scaffold. His family […]

Jan 22, 2007

On January 22, 2007 a Criminal Court Judge granted the Trial Motion of Todd D. Greenberg to dismiss Drunk Driving charges against the Defendant granting a Trial Order of Dismissal. Mr. Greenberg argued that under the New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law a person must be “actually impaired” to the extent that his “physical […]

Oct 18, 2006

On October 18, 2006, the Defendant, our client, was acquitted by a Queens Jury of Driving while Intoxicated. The Defendant refused the Breathalyzer Test and the Police Officer said he observed the Defendant swerving over a yellow divider and, when stopped, smelled alcohol on his breath and had blood-shot eyes. The evidence revealed that the […]