Cellino & Barnes Announces 2010 College Scholarship Winners

The Cellino & Barnes Scholarship Selection Committee has reviewed all of the applications and determined that there were many "highly deserving" applications.

We were extremely impressed with the quality of the student applicants - with their dedication to education, extra-curricular activities and to their community.　

Cellino & Barnes has been successful in personal injury law because we work hard and are dedicated to making a difference. We encourage all students to make the most of your college opportunity, by learning from those around you and trying to make a difference.

The 2010 Scholarship winners are being notified by telephone and their names have been posted on our website.

2010 College Scholarship Winners

Ross Cellino and Steve Barnes thank you for being outstanding high school seniors. Study hard this fall.

Texting While Driving - Part 1: Overview

Texting while driving is a growing concern in communities across the United States and the world. In many New York communities from Buffalo to Rochester and to the Bronx, numerous lives have been tragically lost because of texting while driving. Cellino and Barnes offers this series of blog posts to help grapple with the lingering issues and potential solutions of texting while driving.

One of the leading causes of serious injury and death in America is motor vehicle accidents. How often do we see distracted drivers behind the wheel? People eating, applying makeup, talking on the phone… there always seems to be some distraction that is inhibiting a driver’s attention. In the last couple of years, a new distraction has arisen: Driving While Texting (DWT).

Under current legislation, the act of driving while texting is defined as: composing, sending, or reading text messages, email, or making similar use of the internet on a mobile device while operating a motor vehicle. The practice is viewed by many authorities as dangerous and has been outlawed or restricted in twenty states and the District of Columbia.

While everybody understands that distracted driving is dangerous, some question how DWT is more dangerous than being distracted by a messy cheeseburger or a hot cup of coffee? Studies show that texting while driving increases the likelihood of accidents and distracted driving. For instance, a study conducted at the University of Utah found a six-fold increase in distraction-related accidents while texting. While a more recent study by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute presents the follow facts:

• Using driving studies of observing long-haul trucks and light vehicles driving 6 million combined miles, researchers observed 4,452 safety-critical incidents, which includes crashes, near-crashes, safety-critical events, and lane deviations
• 81% of the safety critical events involved some type of driver distraction
• Text messaging had the greatest relative risk, with drivers being 23 times more likely to experience a safety-critical event when texting.
• The study also found that drivers typically take their eyes off the forward roadway for an average of four out of six seconds when texting.
  

All in all, there is conclusive evidence of the dangers of driving while texting. This post is part 1 of 6, presented by Cellino and Barnes. Our firm is committed to helping the community deal with the growing problem of texting while driving.

Cellino & Barnes Appear on Cover of UB's Philanthropy Magazine

Buffalo personal injury law firm Cellino & Barnes has presented the University at Buffalo School of Law with a $1 million unrestricted donation. In response, UB Law Philanthropy selected firm attorneys Ross Cellino and Steve Barnes for a cover story in the magazine's Fall 2009 issue. According to the article, the $1 million gift from Buffalo lawyers Cellino and Barnes is one of the largest cash gifts the law school has ever received.


Read more.

Jury Awards Paxil Victim $2.5 Million

A jury found that Paxil caused heart problems and other birth defects when used by a pregnant mother. The maker has to pay $2.5 million for not warning about the side effect.

Read more.

Cellino and Barnes Community Scholarship $125,000 Milestone

Buffalo Law Firm Cellino and Barnes has announced that their Community Scholarship program has reached a milestone of awarding over $125,000 in classroom scholarships.

The program awards local elementary school classrooms a “scholarship” that can be used for school supplies, projects, and educational materials. The firm awards 10 scholarships each week to applicants that enter online through the Cellino and Barnes website.

Read more.

Ross Cellino Discusses Impact of Teen Driving Legislation

Attorney, Ross Cellino, who works in both the Rochester and Buffalo offices, weighs the impact of the New York State Senate legislation that will toughen teen driving laws. Not only will it be illegal for drivers of all ages to text message while driving, but the bill further requires that a learner's permit must be held for at least 6 months before a junior license can be obtained. In addition, if there is no adult in the vehicle with a junior driver, the number of non-family members allowed in the vehicle will be reduced to one.

Rochester, NY residents may find the news timely and encouraging. Many have been affected by the recent news involving three Rochester teens killed in car accidents, as well as the five area teens killed last year as a result of texting while driving. Parents often worry about the safety of their young adults, particularly when they are driving with their friends.

Read more

Cellino and Barnes Attorneys Selected for 2009 New York Super Lawyers

Buffalo lawyers of Cellino and Barnes have been honored with selection into the 2009 edition of New York Super Lawyers, as well as a Rochester attorney. The honored lawyers include buffalo lawyers Richard Barnes, Denis Bastible, Stephen Ciocca, and David Goodman, and Rochester attorney, Richard Amico.

Super Lawyers is comprised of outstanding lawyers recognized by their peers for professional achievements. Each lawyer must undergo a statewide nomination process, review of resumes and peer evaluation by practice area. Only 5% of lawyers in Upstate New York are named to the list. Cellino and Barnes' buffalo lawyers are available through http://www.cellinoandbarnes.com/Home/Buffalo.aspx.

"Cellino & Barnes is comprised of many outstanding lawyers," stated Ross Cellino. "We are proud that several of our attorneys have been highly recognized."

Read More

Long Island Accident Claims 3 Lives

Via WCBSTV.com

Aug. 3, 2009. Three people died in a Long Island car crash overnight on Wantagh State Parkway.

A car traveling on relatively quiet stretch of highway veered off the roadway and struck a tree. Three people in the car were pronounced dead at the scene. A fourth passenger was taken to Nassau University Medical Center in critical but stable condition.

State police are still investigating the fatal accident but believe speed was a factor.

Niagara Falls Teen Killed in Car Crash

Via NiagaraFallsView.ca

Aug. 3, 2009. A Niagara Falls teen was killed and three others were injured after the vehicle they were traveling in veered off the road and collided with a concrete water intake.

Police said the car accident happened when the driver of the car lost control of his vehicle, became airborne and hit the water intake, before becoming partially submerged in the Niagara River.

The driver was charged with dangerous driving causing death and criminal negligence causing death.