Partners

JOHN C. OSBORN (1923-2013)

JAMES A. REED, JR. (1930-2008)

Born in Buffalo, New York; admitted to bar, 1965, New York; 1966, District of Columbia, United States District Court-Western District of New York; United States Court of Appeals-Second Circuit. Education: Canisius College (B.S., cum laude, 1961); Georgetown University (LL.B., 1964). Co-author with Antieau and Carroll: "Religion Under the State Constitutions," New York, Central Book Company. Captain, U.S. Army, 1964-1966. Member: Monroe County, New York State (Faculty, "Trial of a Personal Injury Case") and American Bar Associations; Fellow, American College of Trial Lawyers; Listed in The Best Lawyers in America & SuperLawyers.

Mr. Burke's practice involves the representation of individuals and institutions in civil litigation with particular emphasis in the health services (medical malpractice, staff credentialing). tburke@osbornreed.com

JEFFREY M. WILKENS:

Born in Rochester, New York; admitted to bar, 1975, New York. Education: Yale University (B.A., 1968); Cornell University (J.D., 1974). Capt., U.S. Army, 1968-1971. Member: Monroe County (Judiciary, Court and Federal Court Committees), New York State and American Bar Associations; Defense Research Institute; American Society of Law and Medicine; 7th Judicial District Grievance Committee of the Fourth Judicial Department, 1982-1988; Listed in The Best Lawyers in America & SuperLawyers.

Mr. Wilkens concentrates his practice in the representation of defendants in tort litigation particularly malpractice, products liability, construction, and other technically oriented actions. jwilkens@osbornreed.com

JANE B. HOPFINGER:

Born in Akron, Ohio; admitted to bar, 1979, New York, United States District Court for Western District of New York. Education: University of Rochester (B.A., cum laude, 1975); Duke University (J.D., with honors, 1978). Member: Monroe County and New York State Bar Associations; Trustee, Monroe County Bar Association, 1984-85; Present and Past Memberships: Greater Rochester Association of Women Attorneys; Participant Volunteer Legal Services Project. Civic Activities: Director and past Secretary, Rochester Children's Nursery; Chairperson, Duke University Alumni Admissions Advisory Committee.

Ms. Hopfinger concentrates her practice in the areas of real estate, estate planning matters, and residential mortgage lending. jhopfinger@osbornreed.com

JEFFREY L. TURNER:

Born in Rochester, New York; admitted to bar, 1981, New York; 1982 U.S. District Court, Western District of New York. Education: University of Rochester (B.A., 1977); Rutgers School of Law (J.D., 1980). Member: New York State Bar Association (Family and Municipal Law Sections) and Monroe County Bar Association (Family Law Section).

Mr. Turner is engaged in the general practice of law with a particular emphasis in municipal and family law. jturner@osbornreed.com

KATHLEEN B. BENESH:

Born in Attleboro, Massachusetts; admitted to bar, 1989, New York. Education: Peter Bent Brigham School of Nursing (Diploma, 1975); Alfred University (B.S., magna cum laude, 1977); Boston College (M.S., magna cum laude, 1980); University of Buffalo (J.D., 1988). Member: NYS Nurses Association, Monroe County and New York State Bar Associations, Greater Rochester Association of Women Attorneys; Private Pilot's License.

Ms. Benesh practices civil litigation, with particular emphasis in medical malpractice defense. kbenesh@osbornreed.com

CHRISTIAN C. CASINI:

Christian C. Casini

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Mr. Casini is admitted to practice in all courts in the State of New York as well as the U.S. District Court for the Western and Northern Districts of New York and the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. Education: Monroe Community College (A.S., 1990) New York State Sheriff's Association Award, 1990; State University of New York at Buffalo (B.A. summa cum laude 1992); S.U.N.Y. at Buffalo School of Law (J.D. 1995) Judge Matthew J. Jasen Appellate Practice Award, 1995; Western New York Trial Lawyers Association Robert J. Connelly Award for Excellence in Trial Advocacy, 1995. Member: Monroe County and New York State Bar Associations. Guest Speaker, Rochester Legal Nurses Network Annual Meeting, Topic: When Workers' Compensation and Medical Malpractice Collide (July 11, 2007). Mr. Casini has also presented several legal risk management and educational seminars to corporate and hospital institution clients.

Mr. Casini is a trial lawyer who practices civil litigation, primarily insurance defense with the following concentrations: medical and dental malpractice defense, construction accidents, personal injury, insurance litigation, asbestos litigation, labor law, products and strict liability, civil rights and the defense and representation of municipalities, school districts and public and private sector employers. ccasini@osbornreed.com

AIMÉE L. LAFEVER KOCH:

Born in Olean, New York; admitted to bar 1996. Education: St. Bonaventure University, Allegany, New York (BA History, Psychology Minor, magna cum laude 1992); SUNY at Buffalo, School of Law (JD, 1995). Member: Greater Rochester Association of Women Attorneys; GRAWA Judicial Committee Member; President of Federal Employees Parents Association; Monroe County Bar Association; New York State Bar Association; American Bar Association.

Ms. La Fever Koch's practice is medical malpractice defense, personal injury, insurance litigation, labor law, products liability, defense of municipalities and school districts and trusts and estates. alafeverkoch@osbornreed.com

JEFFREY P. DiPALMA:

Born: Boston, Massachusetts; admitted to bar, 1995, Massachusetts; 1996, New York. Education: University of Rochester (B.A., cum laude, 1991); Albany Law School of Union University (J.D., cum laude, 1995); Member: New York State and Monroe County Bar Associations. Prior to joining Osborn, Reed & Burke, LLP, Mr. DiPalma spent eleven years as a prosecutor for Seneca, Monroe and Erie Counties as an Assistant District Attorney, prosecuting all types of crimes, including violent felonies and homicides, having tried more than 90 jury trials in his tenure.

Mr. DiPalma's practice is civil litigation, primarily in the areas of insurance defense and products liability. jdipalma@osbornreed.com

JENNIFER M. SCHWARTZOTT:

Born: Buffalo, New York. Admitted to bar, New York (2010), United States District Court for the District of Columbia (2009), United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit (2008), District of Columbia (2004), United States District Court for the District of Maryland (2002), Maryland (2001). Education: Ithaca College (B.A., magna cum laude, 1998); University of Maryland School of Law (J.D., with honors, 2001). Member: New York State Bar Association, Monroe County Bar Association, Greater Rochester Association for Women Attorneys, Maryland State Bar Association, District of Columbia Bar. Recognized in Maryland Super Lawyers as a “Rising Star” in 2009 and 2010.

Publications include: “A Break for Manufactures in Maryland Emissions Law,” Law360 (July 2009); "The Trend Continues: Mold Legislation Continues to Fade in 2006," Mealey's Litigation Report: Mold (September 2006); "Inching Towards Prudence: Mold Legislation Evolves (a little!) in 2005," Mealey's Litigation Report: Mold (August 2005); "An Interest in Mold Finally Blossoms in the Medical Community," Mealey's Litigation Report: Mold (April 2005); "Physicians Endorse Institute of Medicine Study," BOMA.org – The Voice of Commercial Real Estate (March 2005); "Sound the Alarm: The Wildfire of Mold Legislation Continues to Spread," Mealey's Litigation Report: Mold (September 2004); "Don't Test: Just Clean It Up!" Mealey's Litigation Report (March 2004); "Take Two Aspirin and Call Me in the Morning: The Medical Profession's Prescription for the Admissibility of Expert Testimony," Mealey's Litigation Report: Mold (November 2003); "Manufacturers Beware: The Epidemic of Mold Litigation Hitting the United States is Coming After You Next!" Mealey's Litigation Report: Mold (December 2002); "The Toxic Mold Safety and Protection Act: Congress' First Crack at Federal Mold Legislation," Mealey's Litigation Report: Mold (October 2002); "Toxic? Schmoxic! It's Just Good Old Mold," Defense Research Institute, For The Defense (August 2002); "Eleven States and Counting: Mold Legislation Continues to Spread Throughout the Country," Mealey's Litigation Report: Mold (July 2002); "Taking the 'Toxin' Out of the Toxic Mold Health Scare," Mealey's Litigation Report: Mold (March 2002). Speaking engagements include: “Future of ‘Green Claims,’” Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers, Washington, DC (October 2009); "Green Buildings: What Does It Mean to be Certified,"Greater Baltimore Technology Committee Meeting, Baltimore, Maryland (April 2009); "Mold: Old (News) or Gold (Mine)?," Commercial Real Estate Women ("CREW") Baltimore, Maryland (January 2004); “Construction Defect & Mold Litigation,” Atlantic Builders Group (2004); "Preventing Mold Claims: Prudent Investments Reap Savings," Maryland Multi-Housing Council, Baltimore, Maryland (May 2002).

For nine years prior to joining Osborn, Reed & Burke, LLP, Ms. Schwartzott was an associate at Miles & Stockbridge P.C. in Baltimore, Maryland. Ms. Schwartzott practices civil litigation, with a particular emphasis in toxic tort, medical malpractice, and premises liability defense. jschwartzott@osbornreed.com

Of Counsel

DAVID W. LIPPITT:

David W. Lippitt has been practicing law for nearly 25 years and is admitted to practice in all New York State courts, the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, and the Western and Northern Districts of the United States District Courts in New York State. He represents public and private sector employers in labor and employment law matters. He also represents numerous school districts in all aspects of their operations. In addition, he represents two municipal health plan consortiums. He is a cum laude graduate of Albany Law School and a graduate of the State University College at Geneseo.

Mr. Lippitt is a member of the New York State and Monroe County Bar Associations, the New York State Public Employer Labor Relations Association, and the New York State Association of School Attorneys. He is currently the Vice-Chair of the Monroe County Bar Association’s School Attorneys Committee, and is a frequent presenter at CLE seminars. He is also an active volunteer in the Seneca Waterways Council of the Boy Scouts of America, currently serving as its Council Commissioner. dlippitt@osbornreed.com

Associate Attorneys

L. DAMIEN COSTANZA:

Born Rochester, New York; admitted to bar 1987, New York; Education: St. Bonaventure University, (BA, 1983, magna cum laude), New York Law School, 1986, (J.D. 1986) Kapelman Award for Excellence in Appellate Advocacy, 1986; Froessel Award for Excellence in Oral Advocacy, 1986; SUNY at Brockport (M.S. Ed, 1998). Member: Monroe County Bar Association.

Mr. Costanza's practice is in general civil litigation, with an emphasis on insurance defense litigation, personal injury, labor law, products liability and technology law. dcostanza@osbornreed.com

BRIAN R. HENZEL:

Mr. Henzel has been admitted to practice in all courts in the State of New York as well as the U.S. District Court for the Western and Northern Districts of New York. Education: University of Michigan (B.A. 1996); Albany Law School of Union University (J.D. magna cum laude 1999), Editor, Albany Law Review (1997-1999), Justinian Society Member; President, Albany Law Men’s Rugby Club (1998-1999).

Mr. Henzel is a litigation associate with extensive experience managing toxic tort/product liability litigation. He was Vice President of Garrison Litigation Management Group, Ltd. from 2004 to 2011 where he developed national and regionalized pre-trial and trial strategies for asbestos personal injury cases in many challenging jurisdictions, including Wheeling, West Virginia, Baltimore, Maryland and Madison County, Illinois. In connection therewith he supervised and managed trial teams of outside counsel and expert witnesses on behalf of clients which were faced with defending hundreds and thousands of cases across the country. He practices civil litigation with an emphasis on personal injury and insurance defense, breach of contract and commercial brokerage commission claims. He also handles residential and commercial real estate transactions.