News

On July 13, 2018, USCIS issued a policy memorandum, providing guidance to adjudicators regarding the discretion to deny an application, petition, or other benefit request without first issuing a Request for Evidence (RFE) or Notice of Intent to Deny (NOID) if required evidence is not submitted with the initial petition/application package, or if the evidence in the record does not establish eligibility for the benefit sought. This guidance is effective September 11, 2018.This policy memo [...]

 “Not in my front yard!” is the battle cry for residents and battleground for municipalities across New York, as they prepare for the deployment of the next generation of wireless infrastructure 5G technology.  Cellular services providers, with the assistance of federal law and FCC orders, have opted to deploy the latest technology - small cells and DAS systems - in municipal rights-of-way, much to the chagrin, in many cases, of local leaders and residents.  By one [...]

Whiteman Osterman & Hanna partner Robert Schofield was recently appointed to the New York State Bar Association's Executive Committee as Vice President, 3rd District.  Robert is a partner with Whiteman Osterman & Hanna's Labor and Employment, Education, and Litigation, Aribitration and Mediation practice groups.

Legislation amending the New York State Real Property Actions and Proceedings Law (Zombie Property Law) now provides New York municipalities with a new and effective enforcement tool to address blight and to prevent further devaluation of homes in their communities. This law is aimed at addressing the “zombie” property phenomena by requiring banks and lenders to take, among other things, timely pre-foreclosure action to identify, secure and maintain abandoned homes. A lender faces [...]

Despite legal challenges and separate statewide rulings, the Supreme Court has given the third version of the Trump administration’s travel ban the green light.  The administration can now fully enforce its restrictions on travel from eight nations – Chad, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Syria, Venezuela, and Yemen. Restrictions vary between the nations, but most citizens will find themselves unable to emigrate permanently to the U.S., and some may further be barred from [...]