The attorneys and staff at White Plains-based law firm Fullerton Beck congratulate the four newly appointed judges to the Appellate Division, First Department that Governor Andrew Cuomo announced earlier today, July 14, 2020. The judges – Saliann Scarpulla, Manuel Jacobo Mendez Olivero, Martin Shulman and Tanya R. Kennedy – fill gaps that have been left vacant for some time.

Justice Scarpulla has been sitting in the Supreme Court, Manhattan Commercial Division since February 2014. Last year, she was appointed to handle all international commercial arbitration matters pending in the New York State Supreme Court. Her first post within the courts was as principal court attorney to Justice Eileen Bransten. She then was elected to the New York City Civil Court in 2001, appointed to the state’s Supreme Court in 2009, and elected to the Supreme Court in 2012.

Justice Mendez was elected to the Supreme Court in 2012 and until his appointment, was coordinating judge of the New York City Asbestos Litigation.

Justice Shulman, the most seasoned of the four, has been sitting as an elected Supreme Court Justice since 2005. He was the presiding justice in the Appellate Term.

Justice Kennedy was elected in November 2015 to sit on Manhattan Supreme Court, before which she sat as an elected Civil Court Judge presiding over Criminal Court and Family Court matters. Previously, she clerked for Justice Barry Cozier, and was an assistant corporation counsel in the Bronx Family Court.

For more information, please contact Fullerton Beck LLP partner, Ed Guardaro, head of the firm’s Appellate and Complex Litigation practices. Ed has broad experience in appellate practice, insurance coverage, tort defense work (including Labor law, medical and legal professional liability, product liability), land use, condemnation, commercial tenancy disputes, municipal law, municipal code drafting, municipal zoning and planning practices and insurance policy drafting. He formerly served as law assistant to the Court at the Appellate Division, First Department. Ed would be happy to discuss any appellate issues, including his insight on arguing before various Judges and their prior stances on specific issues. Ed can be reached via email or phone (914) 305-8634.