Legal Alerts
Insurance Coverage Chair Dan D. Kohane joins NAM (National Arbitration and Mediation) as a Hearing Officer
Actual Intelligence Required: AI Hallucinations, Professional Responsibility, and the Practice of Law: Key Takeaways
Hurwitz Fine Buffalo and Long Island Litigation Attorneys Michael Williams and Patrice Melville recently presented a webinar exploring the opportunities—and risks—of using artificial intelligence in the legal profession.
27 Hurwitz Fine Attorneys Named to the 2026 Upstate New York Super Lawyers and Rising Stars Lists
Hurwitz Fine P.C. is proud to announce that 27 of our attorneys have been named to the 2026 Upstate New York Super Lawyers and Rising Stars lists, a recognition reserved for outstanding lawyers who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement.
New York’s Electronic Wills Act: A New Option on the Horizon for Estate Planning
Estate planning in New York is entering a new era. Beginning December 12, 2027, New York will recognize properly executed electronic wills, giving clients and families a modern option for documenting their wishes while preserving important safeguards against fraud, mistake, and uncertainty.
Jody Briandi Ranks #38 on Buffalo Business First’s 2026 Power 200 Women
Gabrielle Markle Featured in Business First Following WBASNY Presidency
Hurwitz Fine attorney Gabrielle Markle was featured in Buffalo Business First on August 5, 2026, following her installation as President of the Women's Bar Association of Western New York.
New York Law Journal Features Dan D. Kohane on Emerging Tort Reform Issues
Hurwitz Fine Attorneys Featured in New York Law Journal: "Besides Ambiguity, What’s in the New Motor Vehicle 'Tort Reform' Law?"
The New York State Legislature and Governor Kathy Hochul have enacted tort reform legislation affecting motor vehicle claims and lawsuits commenced on or after April 26, 2026. The new law changes comparative negligence rules, alters the definition of “serious injury” for No-Fault purposes, imposes a damages cap for those convicted of certain unlawful conduct, and modifies the sequence for determining serious injury and fault.
SIU/Fraud Related Coverage Defenses: What Claims Professionals Must Know: Key Takeaways
In the Face of Governmental Pressure, the Business Case for Inclusion Lives On
New York Enacts Significant Changes to Motor Vehicle Liability Law
Strategies for Responding to Evolving Jury Economics, Counter-Anchoring, and Life Care Plans: Key Takeaways
Hurwitz Fine Attorneys V. Christopher Potenza, Elizabeth Midgley, and Stephen Sorrels recently presented a timely webinar examining the forces driving nuclear verdicts and practical strategies for defending high-exposure cases.
The AVOID Act: New York imposes strict new deadlines for third-party actions, effective April 18, 2026
The AVOID Act significantly alters third-party practice under CPLR § 1007, When Third-Party Practice Allowed. Commonly referred to as the AVOID Act (Avoiding Vexatious Overuse of Impleading to Delay), Senate Bill 8071-A was signed on December 19, 2025, and became effective on April 18, 2026. While these changes are of special concern in cases involving construction accidents, where multiple contractors, subcontractors, and insurers are often implicated, its impact will be felt across the litigation spectrum.
New York Law Restricts Employer Use of Credit Reports in Hiring, Firing, and Promotions
Understanding Attorney-Client Privilege in Claims Handling: Top Ten Takeaways Your Colleagues Will Be Talking About
Hurwitz Fine Insurance Coverage Attorneys Victoria S. Heist and Lexi R. Horton recently presented the webinar, "Understanding Attorney-Client Privilege in Claims Handling." This session explored the evolving scope of attorney-client privilege across the United States and what it means in practice, particularly in the context of claims handling, dual-purpose communications, bad-faith litigation, and the discoverability of claims files.
