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The Kings County ColumbianLawyers Association will single out anumber of outstanding jurists andbarristers when it holds its annualInstallation Dinner Dance on June 13at the El Caribe.

Presenting on behalf of outgoingPresident Robert J. Musso will beJustice Carl Landicino, who will thensee to the installation of newPresident Bart Russo.

Moving up in the chairs will beRose Ann C. Branda, DeanDelianites, Linda Locasio, MarkLongo, Joseph Rosato and Hon.Frank Seddio.

Lucy DiSalvo, court attorney,advises that replies for this popularevening should be in no later thanJune 6. This is one of the law com-munity’s most popular events, shenoted, and those who would attendshould act promptly.

A continental smorgasbord andcocktail party will start promptly at6:30 p.m., DiSalvo advises, with theformal sit-down dinner beginning at8 p.m.

Inn Panel Reviews Whistleblowers Avoiding

Verdict DistractionWhen the Kings County Inns of

Court, led by President EllenSpodek, held its regular CLE-orient-ed session Tuesday night, one of thepanelists occupying center stage atBrooklyn Bar Headquarters had aspecial reason to smile.

Yet, Gus Mallas, who just had hispersonal injury verdict for $18.7million affirmed by the Court ofAppeals, was just another cast mem-ber in an artfully-contrived series ofskits that provided insight into thelegal advantages and disadvantagesfacing would-be whistleblowersthese days.

With moderator Mark Longomaintaining a professional atmos-phere, there were no untoward com-ments about Mallas’s victory, as allof the panel members did their best topresent the many dilemmas thatlawyers face when a client — or eventhe lawyer herself — gain knowledgethat demands public disclosure.

There seemed to be a consensusthat all lawyers — whether servingon the board of a malfeasant corpora-tion, or coming into knowledge thatthe corporation is putting lives at risk

(think General Motors and its phonyrecall of floor mats instead of faultyignitions) — face dilemmas, con-flicts of interest and worse when theybecome whistleblowers.

One role, portrayed with perfec-tion by barrister Mallas, featured himas a whistle-blowing cop in a recentincident, one involving an actualdrama that played out at the NYPD’sConey Island precinct.

Mallas, whose office is in BayRidge, was excellent — accent andall — in the role of the aggrieveddetective who refused to “take a fall”in a homicide investigation that hadbeen botched by another detective.

The entire performing panel, ledeloquently by Longo, was composedalso of Fran Malfa, Steve Solomon,Brian Kiernan, Victoria Wickmanand Steve Goolnick (who wrote the“Coney Island Whistleblower”scenes) and delved into the dangersthat lawyers face when they serve ona number of separate corporateboards and receive per diem stipendsfrom each.

“It’s clear from this [the presenta-tion] that any lawyer who takes a posi-tion on a corporate board runs an extrarisk,” a barrister from the floor said. “Itseems that every time she sees wrong-doing by other board members, thecompanies’ officers, or managerialstaff, she faces a dilemma.”

Moderator Longo acknowledgedthat there would be constant tensionfor lawyers who want to do the rightthing, but run the risk of getting intosituations in which their ongoingobligations to the court come indirect conflict with their corporateresponsibilities.

(Post note: Some members dis-creetly congratulated barristerMallas; one heard to say, “It couldn’thappen to a nicer guy.” We agree.)

Inn Co-Founder JusticeSteinhardt To Head

Women’s Bar AssociationAlso announced at the Inn meet-

ing was the upcoming BrooklynWomen’s Bar Association Dinner, atwhich Justice Marsha Steinhardt — aco-founder of the Kings Inn of CourtChapter — will be installed asBWBA president.

The ceremony will take place at5:30 p.m. on June 10 in the KingsCounty Supreme Court Central JuryRoom, on the main floor of 360Adams St.

A reception will follow and thosewho would like to attend should RSVPby June 5 to jenfiorentino@aol.com.

Kings Inn June Gala SetFor Red Gravy RestaurantPresident Justice Ellen Spodek

announced that the Inn’s Gala wouldbe held on June 16 at the Red GravyRestaurant at 151 Atlantic Ave. inBrooklyn. There is no charge formembers, but there will be a chargefor guests. She asked that memberspromptly get in touch with InnAdministrator Lucinda DiSalvo atldisalvo@courts.state.ny.us.

The Inn, now in its 40th year, hasthe assistance of other officers,including President-Elect DaveChidekel, Counselor Justice Arthur

Schack, Treasurer Justice MiriamCyrulnik and Secretary JonBesunder. Immediate past presidentis Marc M. Dittenhoefer. ExecutiveDirector is Jeff Feldman.

These Inns, following the practiceof the ancient English Inns of Court —celebrating their 800th year of serviceto the profession — are each governedby a Board of Masters that includesAppellate Division Justice CherylChambers, Judge Joanne Quinones,Justice Carl Landicino, Federal JudgeWilliam Kuntz, Kings Criminal Court

Chief Judge Barry Kamins, AppellateDivision Justice Sylvia Hinds-Radix,Hon. Gloria Cohen Aronin, LawrenceDiGiovanna, Mark Longo, SteveHarkavy, Victoria Lombardi, SteveFinkelstein, Steve Goolnick, JosephRosato and Paul Weitz.

The Kings Inn, a chapter of theU.S. Inns of Court, was founded byJustice Marsha Steinhardt, retiredJustices Gerard Rosenberg andAbraham Gerges and former JusticeEdward Rappaport, who serves aspresident emeritus.

PRO BONO BARRISTER is a

weekly column dedicated to tellingabout the good that lawyers do. Sendyour comments or suggestions to thiswriter care of this newspaper or toCOTEYESQ@aol.com.__________________________

Notice: Readers seeking legal rep-resentation on a Pro Bono Publicobasis should not contact this colum-nist. Rather, they should seek out theBrooklyn Bar Association VolunteerLawyers Project at 718-624-3894.

Monday, June 2, 2014 • Brooklyn Daily Eagle • 5

Jurists, Colleagues Pack Courtroom for Irwin Kosover Tribute

A view of the packed JCP courtroom, with scores of justices who attended to honor Irwin Kosover. At thepodium is Steve Harkavy. Photos by Verena Mentzel Otey

Justice Landicino To Induct BartRusso as New Columbians President

More than 200 members of thebar, jurists and members of theKosover family paid tribute to thelate Irwin Kosover last Thursday in amemorable, precedent-setting pro-gram, during which speakers out-lined the legendary trial lawyer’saccomplishments.

Acting under the auspices ofAdministrative Judge for CivilMatters Justice Lawrence Knipel, acommittee headed by Steve Harkavyand an Eagle columnist told storiesthat exemplified Kosover’s steadyprofessionalism and unique sense ofhumor, embodied by his often-pro-nounced motto, “I’d Never HurtAnother Lawyer.” His motto wasinscribed on a plaque that was givento his two daughters, Carole andAmy, who traveled to Brooklyn inmemory of their dad. Kosover passedaway last Labor Day.

“Pro Bono” publishes here fourphotos taken in the JCP courtroom.Many more will appear in a later edi-tion of the Brooklyn Daily Eagle.Shown are:

Pictured, left to right, are Eagle Publisher Dozier Hasty, Justice MarkPartnow and attorney Neil Foreman.

ABOVE: Hosting the event was Admin-istrative Justice for CivilMatters Lawrence Knipel (standing, center) with a committee led bySteve Harkavy (second from left) and “Pro Bono Basrrister” columnistChuck Otey (far left). Others standing are retired Justice JosephLevine, a friend of Irwin Kosover since they attended middle school,and Mark Longo, who recalled Kosover's courtroom and lawyersroom style. Seated are Irwin Kosover’s daughters, Carole and Amy,who journeyed to Brooklyn for the tribute. AT RIGHT: Roger Siegal'ssmile is indicative of the camaraderie that enveloped Thursday’s cer-emony honoring Irwin Kosover, depicted on the plaque at front.

Appellate Division Justice SylviaHinds-Radix gave a stirring tributeto late attorney Irwin Kosover.