Check out the latest edition of our newsletter!
February/March 2023 Advisor
CellinoLaw.com
RECAPPING 2022 AND LOOKING TO THE FUTURE
the past eight years and also joined my firm in 2020. In addition to her law degree, Annmarie also has her MBA and assists me in managing the law firm and overseeing our 100-plus employees. In 2022, my daughter, Brigitte, joined the firm bringing invaluable hands-on experience from her former position as an Assistant District Attorney. The same year, my son, Tim, joined our Manhattan office, having previously represented hundreds of clients while working in personal injury and worker’s compensation. It’s satisfying and humbling that they’ve all decided to work here. You never know what your children will do and you can’t take it personally if they follow a different path, but I feel blessed that four of my children are here with me. It’s also wonderful that they were able to explore different opportunities and build their skill set elsewhere before deciding to join Cellino Law. After all, law school teaches you a lot about theory but nothing about helping people and protecting their interests in the real world. They were full-fledged lawyers ready to hit the ground running when they joined us. At this point in my career, I’ve represented countless clients and had many achievements. I am confident that the firm will last long beyond my years, and our attorneys will continue to provide excellent work and service for our clients. Continuing to build that foundation with newer, younger talent is essential to me. Along those lines, the younger generation on my staff is helping me stay current in our online presence. We’re currently active on Facebook and Instagram (@CellinoLaw) and are working to build a following on our TikTok account (@OfficialCellinoLaw) . I can’t say I’m a complete convert to all these new digital mediums, but I’m doing my best to keep up. So, stay tuned for what we have in store. It might end up surprising us both!
A lot has happened since I last wrote to you, so I’m excited to get you up to speed.
Cellino Law is headed into our second year at our home office in the historic Knox Mansion, originally built in 1915 and spanning 48,000 square feet. We’ve been enjoying our stewardship of the building immensely. In the addition that was added by the Montefiore Club, we’ve managed to put in a pickleball court where everyone on staff can get some exercise and blow off some steam while we still uphold the original character of the mansion itself. We offer free weekend tours of the mansion and grounds to the public; visit CellinoLaw.com/Knox-Mansion to reserve your spot. For me personally, the most exciting part of 2022 was having my children join me at Cellino Law. Four of my six children have decided to follow in my footsteps, just as I followed in my father’s many years ago. Watching them thrive at the firm and getting to know them in a new way has been an incredible journey. My daughter, Jeanna Cellino, joined the firm two years ago, bringing with her eight years of prior experience representing personal injury clients in Buffalo. My daughter, Annmarie, has been practicing law for
Cellino and the lawyers who have worked for him have recovered over $2 billion in settlements for their clients. ––––-Ross Cellino 800-555-5555 1
CellinoLaw.com $2 Billion
Casey Fundaro: Fighting for the Underdogs
Often, the desire to succeed in our professional lives can take precedence over everything else in our private lives including our well- being, family, friends, and hobbies. Moreover, finding a healthy balance between the two can be challenging as they can begin to blend. Here are the four best ways to keep your work and personal life separate while excelling at both. LOVE WHAT YOU DO. Loving your job is easier said than done, right? If you can land an enjoyable career that isn’t overwhelming or overly stressful, you’ll find it’s much easier to leave work at work and home at home. When you’re unhappy with your job, it can affect your overall happiness, and feelings of despair can carry into your personal life. DON’T BE A PERFECTIONIST. Career burnout can drastically impact your personal life, so it’s important to let go and stop trying to control everything. In reality, perfectionism is out of reach. Constantly striving for perfection can be exhausting, draining, and destructive; at home and in the office. TAKE TIME TO UNPLUG. If the first thing you do in the morning is go online and check emails, or if you’re responding to work texts at the family dinner table, you’ve certainly crossed the line on balancing your work and home life. Quality time at home should be focused solely on your family, and hours at the office are for business activities. Once you mix the two, it can be tough to turn back. TAKE BREAKS. Even taking short 30-second breathers throughout your work day can make a drastic difference in improving stress levels, building your concentration, and helping you to feel more engaged — it may even help you to enjoy your job a bit more! By implementing these tips into your routine, you’ll be on your way to achieving a healthier work-life balance, which translates into feeling less stressed, having fewer health issues, being more productive, and having a happier life at both work and home. You Can Have Your Cake and Eat It, Too DEVELOPING A HEALTHY WORK- LIFE BALANCE
Casey Fundaro’s parents heavily influenced his road to personal injury law. “My dad came from Sicily,” he explains, “and I was raised to respect what we have here in our country in terms of the ability to go to court and air grievances — because you can’t do that everywhere.” During law school, he took a position with a law firm that did insurance defense in personal injury cases.
Casey says, “I had many great mentors, very well-respected attorneys, who trained me to do things the right way every time.” Ultimately, a promise to his mother inspired him to help injury victims. “My mother was a very kind person,” he says. “When I became a lawyer, Mom made me promise to fight for the underdog, and I’ve tried to keep that promise over the years." Over his 35-year career, “helping people and making a difference in their lives” is what Casey has enjoyed most about his work. “I have the opportunity to earn a client's trust in one of the worst times of their lives,” he says. “A client’s life is in your hands. It is a huge responsibility and privilege that I never, ever will take for granted.” Casey is originally from Buffalo, New York, but practiced for many years in Florida after moving back to Florida early in his career to care for his sick mother. He returned to New York in 2009 and joined Cellino Law in 2022. Casey has handled thousands of personal injury cases and has obtained million-dollar results for clients. But while he has worked on countless automobile, premises, and municipal liability cases, he focuses on the handling of Labor Law and construction accident cases. Married with a 13-year-old daughter, Casey calls himself “family- conscious” and spends his free time with them. But for many years, music was his passion. He has played in numerous bands since his teens, recorded with a member of the Goo Goo Dolls, and released several recordings, one of which, "Time Well Spent," is still on Spotify and other streaming services. Again, his family had an influence — his uncle was a founding member of the band Three Dog Night. “Everything I ever did in music was inspired by my Uncle Danny — a huge influence on my life,” he says. Today, Casey's focus is on his family, his clients, and his work at Cellino Law. “I consider our firm to be the best personal injury firm in the United States. I'm proud to work with every single lawyer at this firm,” he says. “Ultimately, it all starts at the top culture-wise, and that’s Ross Cellino,” Casey continues. “He knows how to deal with people and put them in a position to succeed. Ross' personality, experience, skill, and generosity drive this firm's success, and I am grateful to be a part of that success. There isn’t a better place to work than Cellino Law.”
2 Legal disclaimer. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Attorney advertising.
HOW DO YOU RECOVER DAMAGES Following a Scaffolding Accident? Like everyone else, construction workers go in to work expecting to have a normal and injury-free day. However, unlike most office jobs, construction workers are faced with potentially hazardous conditions during their workday. One of these hazards includes scaffolding, a structure of metal poles and wooden planks that can be found on almost any construction worksite. Serious accidents can occur if these pieces of equipment are not made, assembled, or maintained correctly. When these injuries occur, they can result in injuries with long-term damages and devastating medical bills. If you’ve been injured while at work, you may choose to pursue an insurance claim to recover some of your losses. So, what do you need to do to recover your losses from your fall? First, you should always report any workplace injuries to your employer as soon as possible. Requesting that your employer file an incident report helps to create a record of how and when the accident happened. Since New York state law can impose an absolute liability standard on any and all scaffolding falls, property owners and general contractors are fully responsible for any gravity-related incident.
of an accident, and a claim must be filed within two years from the date your accident occurred. You may wish to pursue legal action if you were seriously injured, or a loved one was fatally injured by an accident. Workers’ compensation is designed to compensate for immediate financial damages, while personal injury claims compensate you for pain and suffering and additional damages such as future lost wages and medical expenses. Partnering with a competent personal injury lawyer with experience working under New York’s construction laws can be critical to your claim. If you have any questions regarding New York state scaffolding accidents or how our team can help, give us a call for a free and confidential consultation. Our legal professionals are here to answer any of your claim questions at 800-555-5555.
Second, file a workers’ compensation claim as soon as possible after the accident occurs. New York state requires that an employer must be notified of injuries within 30 days
Brain Break
AQUARIUS BICYCLE DREAM
EQUALITY FESTIVAL GROUNDHOG KING LINCOLN MUFFIN PANCAKE RABBIT ROSES
Solution on page 4
800-555-5555 3
PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
420 Lexington Ave, Suite 830 Manhattan, NY 10170
INSIDE THIS ISSUE 1 What We’ve Been Up To 2 How to Achieve a Healthy Work- Life Balance
Meet Attorney Casey Fundaro
3 New York Scaffold Law Brain Break! 4 Brushing Up on Cruise Etiquette
After a slump in 2020 and 2021, cruises are back in a big way. If you’re planning your first onboard adventure — or it’s been a while since you last set sail — now is the time to brush up on your cruise ship etiquette. Every passenger should read their cruise line’s policies to ensure they know all the specifics before climbing aboard. In the meantime, we’ve listed some of the most essential do’s and don’ts for the savvy traveler. KNOW WHAT TO WEAR. Some cruise lines aim for a fancy atmosphere, while others prefer a casual approach. Ideally, review the dress policy before you book your trip. Bring at least one formal outfit in your luggage for dinner, which will typically tend to have an upscale vibe. The rest of your cruise attire should be casual but tasteful, leaving you looking put together. Most importantly, don’t overpack — the stateroom is smaller than you think. DON’T BE A CHAIR HOG. Everyone wants a prime spot on the sundeck, but you’ve got to rise early in the morning to get one. That’s fine if you can manage it, but “saving” a seat by putting a towel on it and then wandering away Know Your Cruise Etiquette Before Setting Sail ALL ABOARD!
for breakfast or a mani-pedi is the best way to get on your fellow travelers’ bad side. Your cruise may also have a policy against it. Going to the bathroom is one thing; you’re only human. Otherwise, if you want the seat, stay in it. BE ON TIME. Treat your cruise ship like an airplane — if you’re not on time, it’s probably leaving without you. And if you are lucky enough to have the ocean liner wait, your fellow passengers won’t look at you kindly. Set your watch to ship time (not local time) and prepare to be back an hour before the deadline. That way, if you happen to be late, you’ll still be on time. You may miss out on an extra drink or souvenir shop, but nothing will ruin your cruise faster than being left behind at the dock.
4 800-555-5555
Buffalo ● Garden City ● Manhattan ● Melville ● Rochester
Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4Made with FlippingBook Ebook Creator