LSHV Announces Ulster Partners in Justice Reception Honorees

POUGHKEEPSIE, NY, October 29, 2019…Legal Services of the Hudson Valley (“LSHV”) will hold its 3rd Annual Ulster Partners in Justice Reception, honoring Mainetti & Mainetti, P.C. as “Champion of Justice,” The Bruderhof Communities as “Advocate for Justice,” and Hon. Michael P. Hein, former Ulster County Executive and current Commissioner of NYS Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance, as “Advocate for Justice” on Wednesday, November 13, 2019, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. The snow date is Thursday, November 21. An audience of 150 professionals is expected to attend the event which will take place at Stonehedge, 1694 Route 9W, West Park, NY. A networking reception will be followed by brief remarks about the organization’s programs and services by LSHV staff and Board, and the honorees. A short video highlighting LSHV’s successful work on behalf of two clients will be shown.

LSHV’s CEO, Barbara Finkelstein explained why this awareness-raising event deserves support, saying “Since 1967, Legal Services of the Hudson Valley has been assuring fairness in the justice system – regardless of income – to hundreds of thousands of our neighbors who have nowhere else to turn. The work we do each day provides free civil legal services to those who can’t afford an attorney. Our dedicated staff takes on urgent legal cases in numerous practice areas including child advocacy, protection from domestic violence, elder abuse, housing, predatory lending, access to nutrition assistance and benefits, advocacy on behalf of LGBTQ individuals, and support of veterans and military families. We handled over 15,000 cases last year, impacting over 35,000 household members. With enough funding to meet demand, we could serve thousands more and close the ‘Justice Gap’ here in our community.”

About the Honorees:

Mainetti & Mainetti, P.C.

Mainetti & Mainetti, P.C. is a personal injury law firm focused on litigating motorcycle, commercial truck and car accident cases. Other areas of practice include labor law, medical malpractice, dog bite injuries and slip/trip and fall cases.

Alfred Mainetti is a partner at Mainetti & Mainetti, P.C. Alfred is a personal injury trial attorney. He graduated from John Marshall Law School in Chicago, Illinois with a J.D. Al works hard to make sure each client receives the maximum compensation they deserve. He gets to know each client as individuals and regularly communicates with them to update them on their case and to better serve their needs. He has successfully litigated multi-million dollar settlements and verdicts for his clients. Alfred obtained over $5,000,000 for an injured motorcyclist, one of the largest recoveries for an injured motorcyclist in Ulster County history. Al is active in the community and regularly sponsors charitable events and functions across the Hudson Valley.

Michael A. Mainetti is a partner at the law firm of Mainetti & Mainetti, P.C. Michael is a 2005 graduate of Ithaca College and a 2010 graduate of Albany Law School. Following law school, Michael immediately began practicing personal injury law, and additionally started working for the Ulster County Public Defender's Office, representing people who could not afford private counsel. Although working for the Public Defender's Office was a rewarding way to give back to the community in which he was born and raised, Michael stepped down from the position in 2018 in order to follow his passion for personal injury law and to form the law firm of Mainetti & Mainetti, P.C. with his father Alfred and brother Alex.

Michael's focus is on personal injury law and trial advocacy, and he has taken verdicts in Supreme Court in the counties of Ulster, Dutchess, Greene, Orange, Sullivan and Delaware. Michael has also found success arguing in the Appellate Division, 3rd Department. Michael's advocacy has resulted in his clients receiving millions of dollars in verdicts and settlements, and he has been ranked as a Top Attorney in Upstate New York and Hudson Valley and as a Rising Star by Super Lawyers in 2015-2018, was nationally ranked in 2018 in the Top 10 under 40 by the National Academy of Personal Injury Attorneys and as one of America's Top 100 Criminal Defense Attorneys. Michael feels privileged for the opportunity to be working in the area where he was born and raised and is dedicated to helping his community both in and out of the courtroom.

Alexander E. Mainetti is a personal injury trial attorney and partner at the law firm of Mainetti & Mainetti, P.C. Alex along with his brother and father had a new vision for a personal injury law firm and spent countless hours turning their vision into a reality. In 2018, Alex along with his father Alfred and brother Michael formed Mainetti & Mainetti, P.C., a law firm designed exclusively to handle personal injury cases. Within the firm, Alex is focused on personal injury trial advocacy. He has obtained several favorable trial verdicts in Supreme Court and obtained millions of dollars in settlements for his injured clients. He has been ranked as 10 out of 10 on AVVO, Top 40 under 40 by the National Trial Lawyers Association, Top 10 nationally by the National Academy of Personal Injury Attorneys, Top Lawyers of Upstate New York 2016, and nominated as a Rising Star by Super Lawyers for 2016 and 2017. Alex is a 2010 graduate of Queens College and a 2013 graduate of Albany Law School. Outside of the law, Alex is president of Ulster County Community Action (UCCA), a not-for-profit organization focused on helping poverty-stricken families in the community. In 2019, he was also elected as President of the Ulster County Bar Association.

Alfred Mainetti stated that his firm is honored to receive this recognition because “Justice for all can only happen if everyone has the ability to obtain representation by an attorney regardless of financial status. Legal Services of the Hudson Valley provides skilled representation to those whose financial status could prevent them from obtaining access to our civil Courts, thereby providing an essential service to not only their clients but to the legal community as well.”

Mainetti & Mainetti, P.C. was selected to receive this honor in recognition of outstanding professional accomplishment, commendable service to our local communities, and philanthropy.

For more information, visit https://mainetti.law/.

The Bruderhof Communities – John Huleatt, Esq., General Counsel

The Bruderhof is an international movement in the Anabaptist tradition. Its members are Christians who live in intentional communities — 23 of them, on four continents — and share their lives and resources in common. The movement was founded in 1920 in Germany, as a Christian response to the horrors of World War I and to social injustice. Members eventually had to leave Germany because of Nazi persecution.

The basis of the Bruderhof’s faith is a love of The Kingdom of God, expressed in deeds, putting into practice the words of the Gospels, especially the Sermon on the Mount. It is faith based in working to ensure that all humankind receives the help it needs in the here and now, and it encompasses the entirety of our world, including the economic, the social, and all other aspects of life. The Bruderhof is committed to these values: to forgive unconditionally; to renounce all violence; to stay faithful in lifelong marriage; to live free from wealth; to serve as the least and lowest; and to give up all power over others.

John Huleatt, Esq., General Counsel

John Huleatt has served for the past fifteen years as General Counsel for the Bruderhof, an international Christian community movement. John oversees the legal affairs for the Bruderhof in the United States, Europe, South America, and Australia. Bruderhof operations include its communities, schools, healthcare clinics, charitable missions, and the two main business divisions: Community Playthings and Rifton Equipment. John is a member of the Bruderhof and lives at the Woodcrest Community in Rifton, New York together with his wife Nina who runs a dental practice and still pulls off the feat of being an amazing mom to their five children. Beyond the practice of law, John’s first loves include his faith, family, trout fishing, youth education and athletics. As a student, John established an early interest in First Amendment law and today serves on the board of Becket Law, a public interest law firm that defends religious freedom for all faiths. John teaches First Amendment law at the Mount Academy in New York, coaches a state finalist mock trial team and serves as Program Director for Mount Academy soccer winning a boys’ soccer state title in 2018. John also serves on the board of The Boys & Girls Club of Ulster County and chairs the board of Church Communities Foundation which operates Bruderhof affiliated schools and funds early childcare and youth education programming nationally and abroad.

Johann Huleatt, Outreach Director at The Bruderhof Communities, said “It will be an honor to celebrate the 3rd Annual Partners in Justice Reception with Commissioner Mike Hein and Mainetti & Mainetti. The Bruderhof supports the work and mission of Legal Services of the Hudson Valley to protect rights and promote justice. All too often citizens and immigrants cannot afford to hire a private attorney. When that happens here in the Hudson Valley, we are fortunate to be able to recommend the reliable services of LSHV.”

The Bruderhof Communities are being honored for commitment to justice and the works of mercy, as well as outstanding philanthropic support of Ulster County’s communities.

For more information, visit /www.bruderhof.com/en.

Hon. Michael P. Hein

Michael P. Hein was appointed Commissioner of the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance in February 2019, by Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and confirmed by the Senate in June 2019. He leads a state agency charged with oversight of support programs and economic assistance for low-income New Yorkers. These programs help thousands of households meet basic needs including housing, food and energy related costs. The agency also oversees child support services and makes determinations of medical disability for certain programs. In this role, Commissioner Hein is responsible for providing oversight and guidance to county departments of social services.

Prior to joining OTDA, Commissioner Hein served as Ulster County’s first County Executive, taking office in 2009. He developed a strong record of leadership and innovation while building a reputation as a statewide leader in government reform, resulting in his being named one of the top elected officials in America by Governing Magazine.

As County Executive he envisioned and delivered New York’s first Restorative Justice and Community Empowerment Center and many other social-justice based initiatives including the construction of a SUNY satellite campus adjacent to an inner-city high school dramatically improving access to higher education. In addition, as a result of his statewide environmental leadership and model sustainability actions, National Geographic Magazine featured Ulster County’s environmental achievements in its December 2016 edition.

During his time as County Executive, he led efforts that resulted in functionally ending homelessness among Ulster County’s veterans, while coordinating comprehensive support services to greatly improve long-term outcomes for all those in need.

Commissioner Hein came to government service with a background in banking and business. He began his career in public service as Ulster County’s Deputy Treasurer and was elevated to County Administrator prior to his election as County Executive.

Commissioner Hein graduated with a B.A. from Eckerd College with a concentration in management. He lives in Hurley with his wife and son.

Mr. Hein, who said that “As the Ulster County Executive I saw first-hand the life altering results of LSHV’s Advocacy on behalf of so many. Ensuring appropriate representation, especially for those most vulnerable among us is, a critical pillar supporting our entire community and we are eternally grateful for LSHV’s professionalism and humanity,” is being honored for exemplary service and accomplishment as Ulster County Executive, 2008 – 2019, as well as long-time support of LSHV.

This year’s event sponsors are: Gold – Mainetti & Mainetti, P.C.; Silver – Basch & Keegan, LLP; The Bruderhof Communities; Kirk & Teff, LLP; Bronze – Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corporation; Rondout Savings Bank; Business Supporter – Rusk, Wadlin, Heppner & Martuscello, LLP; Ulster Savings Bank; Wallkill Valley Federal Savings and Loan Association.

Honorary Event Committee:

26 community leaders have lent their support to LSHV and this program by serving on the Honorary Event Committee. (The list of members is attached.)

For more information about the event, or to purchase tickets, call LSHV’s Director of Development, Mid-Hudson Valley, Loretta Spence at (845) 471-0058, x. 423, e-mail LSpence@lshv.org, or visit http://weblink.donorperfect.com/2019UPIJ. Sponsorships are still available and will be acknowledged from the podium at the event.

Information on LSHV’s programs is available online at www.lshv.org. To obtain assistance, call 1-877-574-8529 (877-LSHV-LAW).

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