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Best's Directory of Insurance Attorneys
General Defense
Chelus, Herdzik, Speyer & Monte, P.C.
438 Main Street, Tenth Floor
Buffalo, New York 14202
Telephone: 716-852-3600
Fax: 716-852-0038
E-Mail: mailbox@cheluslaw.com
www.cheluslaw.com


Locate in Google Maps
(Cheektowaga, NY Office: 2448 Union Road, 14227)
     (Tel: 716-608-7664)
Established: 1896
Insurance Defense, Trial Practice, Fire, Casualty, Life Insurance, Accident and Health, Malpractice, Insurance Law, Product Liability, Workers' Compensation

Client Information
Insurance Company Clients
Allstate Insurance CompanyAmerisure Companies
Atlantic Mutual CompaniesCatholic Mutual Relief Society of America
Chubb Insurance CompanyThe Cincinnati Companies
Erie Insurance CompanyFarm Family Mutual Insurance Company
GEICO General Insurance CompanyGMAC Insurance
Hanover Insurance GroupHarleysville Insurance Company
Hartford Indemnity CompanyLiberty Mutual Insurance Companies
Liberty Mutual Property & Casualty Insurance CompanyMaxum Indemnity Company
Merchants Insurance GroupMercury Casualty Company
Metropolitan Insurance CompanyNorthbrook Excess & Surplus Insurance Company
OneBeacon InsurancePMA Insurance Group
Safe Auto Insurance CompanySt. Paul Fire and Marine Insurance Company
Selective Insurance Company of AmericaSentry Insurance a Mutual Company
State Auto Insurance CompanyTrident Insurance Company
Windsor Insurance CompanyZurich Insurance Company
Non-Insurance Company Clients
Diocese of BuffaloFirst Niagara Risk Management, Inc.
Gallagher Bassett Services, Inc.New York State Insurance Department, Liquidation Bureau
Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority (NFTA)Risk Administration and Management Company
Rite Aid CorporationTown of Cheektowaga
Toys "R" Us, Inc.

Personnel Information
Members
MICHAEL F. CHELUS — 1943 — State University of New York at Buffalo, B.S., 1965; J.D., 1968 — Admitted to Bar, 1968, New York; 1975, U.S. District Court, Western District of New York; 1982, U.S. Supreme Court; 1991, U.S. District Court, Northern District of New York — Member American (Business Law; Law Practice Management and Tort and Insurance Practice Sections), New York State (Torts; Insurance and Compensation Law Sections) and Erie County (Negligence Committee, Chairman, 1984-1987; Special Committees on Code of Evidence, 1985; Legal Specialization, 1986; Bench Bar Committee, Eighth Judicial District) Bar Associations; American Arbitration Association, Panel of Arbitrators; American Board of Trial Advocates (Charter Member, Western New York Chapter); Defense Trial Lawyers Association of Western New York; Buffalo Claims Association; Cheektowaga Chamber of Commerce; Buffalo-Niagara Partnership; Western New York Trial Lawyers Association; Defense Research Institute — Author: "Disaster Awaits: Workers' Compensation Liens vs. No-Fault First Party Benefits", New York State Bar Journal, Vol. 62 (December, 1990); Author: "Liquor Liability of Fire Companies and Municipalities", Fire District Affairs Bulletin, Vol. 20, No. 19, No. 10 (March, 1993); Chapter 27, "Fire Insurance and Property Insurance", Insurance Law Practice, 2001; Chapter 26, "Exceeding the No-Fault Threshold: Serious Injury", Insurance Law Practice, Second Edition, 2006; Chapter 29, "Fire Insurance and Property Insurance", Insurance Law Practice, Second Edition, 2006 — Counsel, Orchard Park Fire District (1971 to Present); Counsel, Colden Fire District (2003 - Present) - E-Mail: mchelus@cheluslaw.com
ARTHUR A. HERDZIK — 1950 — State University of New York at Buffalo, B.A. (magna cum laude), 1972; J.D., 1975 — Buffalo Law Review (Senior Editor, 1975) — Admitted to Bar, 1976, New York; 1978, U.S. District Court, Western District of New York; U.S. Federal Court — Member American, New York State and Erie County (Chairman, Negligence Committee, 1990 to 1993) Bar Associations; Defense Trial Lawyers Association of Western New York; Western New York Trial Lawyers Association; Defense Research Institute — Trial technique demonstration: "Masters in Trial," CLE program presented by the American Board of Trial Advocates and the Monroe County Bar Association, December 2004 at the Rochester Institute of Technology Inn and Conference Center, Henrietta, NY; Overall state-wide planning chair, course book contributor and lecturer: "The Basics of Trial Practice: After the Verdict - Remaining Issues, Decisions and Procedures," New York State Bar Association, 2000; Overall state-wide planning chair, course book contributor and lecturer: "The Basics of Discovery in New York - Statutes, Case Law and Practical Pointers," New York State Bar Association, 2000; Course book contributor and lecturer "Motor Vehicle Accidents," New York State Bar Association, 1998; Overall planning co-chair, course book contributor and lecturer: "Automobile Insurance Law and Practice," New York State Bar Association, 1996; Course book contributor and lecturer - Personal Injury Seminar, Erie County Bar Association, 1993; Course book contributor and lecturer: "Peoples Law School," Erie County Bar Association; Course book contributor and lecturer: "Law Day," Buffalo Claims Association; Guest Appearance "The Law and You" radio program, WEBR Buffalo Public Radio; Course book contributor and lecturer: "Ethics and Civility in Litigation: Introductory Lessons for 21st Century Litigators", New York State Bar Association, 2006 & 2007 — Counsel, Village of Lancaster, 1992-present; Village of Lancaster, New York, Prosecutor, 1983-1992; Village of Lancaster, New York Acting Village Justice, 1981-1983; Town of Lancaster, New York Board of Assessment Review, 1998-present - E-Mail: aherdzik@cheluslaw.com
THOMAS J. SPEYER — 1960 — State University of New York at Buffalo, B.A., 1982; Detroit College of Law, J.D., 1985 — Admitted to Bar, 1986, New York; 1987, U.S. Bankruptcy Court; 1991, U.S. District Court, Western District of New York — Member New York State and Erie County Bar Associations; Western New York Trial Lawyers Association; Defense Research Institute — Author: "Federal Preemption of Vehicle and Traffic Law ยง388...and the Questions Remaining", Erie County Bar Journal, November 2005 - E-Mail: tspeyer@cheluslaw.com
REBECCA E. MONTE — 1960 — Rochester Institute of Technology, B.A., 1982; Washington and Lee University, J.D., 1985 — Admitted to Bar, 1985, Virginia; 1986, New York; 1991, U.S. District Court, Western District of New York; U.S. Federal Court — Member American, New York State. Virginia and Erie County Bar Associations — Fourth Judicial Department, Law Guardian Panel; Examing Counsel, Ticor Tital Insurance Company; Monroe Title Insurance Company Examining Counsel - E-Mail: rmonte@cheluslaw.com
ANTHONY B. TARGIA — 1970 — Canisius College, B.A. (cum laude), 1992; University of Dayton School of Law, J.D., 1997 — Admitted to Bar, 1998, New York; U.S. District Court, Western District of New York; U.S. Bankruptcy Court — Member American, New York State and Erie County Bar Associations; New York State Defenders Association; Western New York Trial Lawyers Association — Cheektowaga Chamber of Commerce (Board Member) — Languages: Italian - E-Mail: atargia@cheluslaw.com
THOMAS P. KAWALEC — 1970 — State University of New York at Buffalo, B.A., 1995; J.D., 1998 — Admitted to Bar, 1998, New York; 1998, U.S. District Court, Western District of New York; 2001, U.S. Bankruptcy Court; 2005, U.S. Supreme Court; 2006, U.S. Supreme Court; 2007, U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit — Member American, New York State and Erie County Bar Associations; New York State Defender's Association; Defense Trial Lawyers Association; St. Thomas Moore Guild; Western New York Trial Lawyers Association — Cheektowaga Chamber of Commerce — Languages: Polish - E-Mail: tkawalec@cheluslaw.com
Associates
KEVIN E. LOFTUS, JR. — 1976 — Canisius College, B.A., 1998; State University of New York at Buffalo Law School, J.D., 2002 — Admitted to Bar, 2003, New York; 2003, U.S. District Court, Western District of New York — Member New York State and Erie County (Negligence Committee, Young Lawyers Committee) Bar Associations; Defense Trial Lawyers of Western New York; Buffalo Claims Association; Western New York Trial Lawyers Association — Co-Authored: "Not for the Faint of Heart: Additional Personal Injury Protection (APIP) Benefits", New York State Bar Association Journal, Volume 78, 2006; "Conducting an Effective Cross-Examination in New York", Lorman Education Services, June, 2007 - E-Mail: kloftus@cheluslaw.com
MICHAEL J. CHMIEL — 1972 — State University of New York at Buffalo, B.A., 1995; J.D. (cum laude), 1999 — Admitted to Bar, 2000, New York; 2002, U.S. District Court, Western District of New York; 2003, U.S. Bankruptcy Court; 2005, U.S. Supreme Court — Member New York State and Erie County (Criminal Law Committee) Bar Associations; Western New York Trial Lawyers Association; Defense Trial Lawyers Association; UB Law Alumni Association - E-Mail: mchmiel@cheluslaw.com
SCOTT R. ORNDOFF — 1975 — State University of New York at Buffalo, B.A. (with honors), 1997; University of Miami, J.D. (cum laude), 2002 — Admitted to Bar, 2003, New York; 2006, U.S. District Court, Western District of New York — Member New York State and Erie County Bar Associations; Western New York Trial Lawyers Association - E-Mail: sorndoff@cheluslaw.com
MICHAEL M. CHELUS — 1978 — The Pennsylvania State University, B.S., 2000; State University of New York at Buffalo, J.D., 2003 — Admitted to Bar, 2004, New York; U.S. District Court, Western District of New York; U.S. Bankruptcy Court; U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit — Member American, New York State and Erie County Bar Associations; Defense Trial Lawyers Association; Penn State Alumni Association (Alumni Recruitment Volunteer); Western New York Trial Lawyers Association — Author: Chapter 26, "Exceeding the No-Fault Threshold: Serious Injury", Insurance Law Practice, Second Edition, 2006 — Orchard Park High School Academy of Finance Advisory Board; Adjunct Professor, Bryant & Stratton College — Languages: Italian - E-Mail: mmchelus@cheluslaw.com
CHRISTOPHER R. POOLE — 1980 — Syracuse University, B.S. (Dean's List), 2001; State University of New York at Buffalo Law School, J.D., 2005 — Admitted to Bar, 2006, New York — Member New York State and Erie County Bar Associations - E-Mail: cpoole@cheluslaw.com
KRISTEN BALBICK DEGNAN — 1978 — Allegheny College, B.A.P.S. (magna cum laude), 2001; Albany Law School of Union University, J.D., 2004 — Admitted to Bar, 2005, New York — Member Erie County Bar Association - E-Mail: kdegnan@cheluslaw.com
KATY M. HEDGES — 1980 — The University of Western Ontario, B.H.S.C., 2002; State University of New York at Buffalo Law School, J.D., 2005 — Admitted to Bar, 2006, New York; 2008, U.S. District Court, Western District of New York; 2009, U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Western District of New York — Member New York State and Erie County Bar Associations - E-Mail: khedges@cheluslaw.com
TARA S. EVANS — State University of New York at Buffalo, B.A. (summa cum laude), 1993; John Jay College of Criminal Justice, Ph.D., 1996; State University of New York at Buffalo Law School, J.D., 2008 — Admitted to Bar, 2008, New York; U.S. District Court, Western District of New York — Member American, New York State, Erie County and New York County Bar Associations; New York State Defenders Association; University of Buffalo Law Alumni Association — Co-Author: "The Effect of Peer Pressure and Modeling upon Attributions of Responsibility for Rape", Resources in Educational/Educational Resources Information Center, June 1993; "Does Social Influence Mitigate or Exacerbate Responsibility for Rape?", Journal of Social Behavior and Personality, 1993 - E-Mail: tevans@cheluslaw.com
MARK J. SAINI — 1981 — The University of Western Ontario, B.A. (Dean's Honor Roll), 2004; State University of New York at Buffalo Law School, J.D. (magna cum laude), 2008 — Admitted to Bar, 2009, New York; U.S. District Court, Western District of New York; U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Western District of New York — Member New York State and Erie County Bar Associations; New York State Defenders Association - E-Mail: msaini@cheluslaw.com
KIMBERLY S. CONIDI — University at Buffalo, B.A. (magna cum laude), 1999; University at Buffalo Law School, J.D., 2005 — Admitted to Bar, 2005, New York; 2008, U.S. District Court, Western District of New York; U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit — Member New York State and Erie County Bar Associations — Languages: Italian - E-Mail: kconidi@cheluslaw.com
KIMBERLY A. JETTY — University at Buffalo, B.A. (magna cum laude), 2002; University at Buffalo Law School, J.D., 2005; University at Buffalo, M.P.H., 2006 — Admitted to Bar, 2006, New York - E-Mail: kjetty@cheluslaw.com
Of Counsel
VICTOR A. ROSSETTI — 1928 — University at Buffalo, LL.B., 1950 — Admitted to Bar, 1950, New York; 1952, U.S. District Court, Northern and Western Districts of New York; 1958, U.S. Supreme Court — Member American (Products Liability Law and Litigation Committees), New York State (Executive Committee; Insurance, Negligence and Compensation Law Section) and Erie County (Former Director, Former Chairman, Grievance Committee) Bar Associations; Western New York Trial Lawyers Association (Past Treasurer, Past Director); American Arbitration Association, Panel of Arbitrators; Defense Research Institute — Lecturer, State University of New York at Buffalo


 

 

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