By ANNIE DECK-MILLER
Buffalo Law Journal

The 4,000-plus attorneys of the New York State Trial Lawyers Association have a new president - and he's the first Western New Yorker to lead the group.

Richard Binko, who founded his own personal-injury firm in Cheektowaga in 1987, was tapped to follow Nicholas Papain, who called it "an honor and comfort" to see Binko succeed him.

A past president of NYSTLA's Western region affiliate who has also served as first vice president, secretary and in other leadership roles with the statewide organization, Binko officially takes the reins Wednesday but was inducted in a June 25 reception at the Buffalo & Erie County Historical Society.

"I'm very humbled, I'm very excited and I'm very terrified all at once," he says. "As president-elect last year, I realized that this is just an awesome undertaking."

Binko describes NYSTLA's mission as providing "a crucial voice for the voiceless."

"I think when the economic times are more difficult - let's say for auto manufacturers - there's a lot of desire to have relief from various responsibilities," he says.

"You see a lot of bills to relieve negligent people of their responsibilities, whether it was a note to a bank or a contract with a union. Morally, we think it doesn't protect society if you give special immunities to different organizations or you let them make their products less safe. Because in the long run, that just passes those injuries on to unsuspecting people who open up that Coke bottle and it explodes, or step on the brakes of their car and the brakes don't work.... And the only way you're going to make anybody responsible to make better products is to make them responsible for the bad stuff."

The association and its members, he says, try to combat such challenges through "tenacious" advocacy and lobbying.

"We're always undermanned. I mean, (for) the insurance industry, the doctors, the pharmaceutical companies, the municipalities, there's usually about seven or eight (of their lobbyists) to our lobbyist on every issue," says Binko.

Binko cites another Buffalo trial lawyer, Paul Beltz, as a major inspiration. Early in his career, Binko worked for the Paul William Beltz PC personal-injury firm, first as a law clerk and then as a litigator.

"Mr. Beltz was one of the pioneers (of the association)," Binko said. "In the 1970s, he was pretty much the disciple that promoted NYSTLA throughout this end of the state, and it was important to him."

"He will do a great job in this new position," Beltz said of Binko in a prepared statement. "I was fortunate to have him as a colleague during his time here with our firm, have great respect for his professionalism and his many achievements in our industry, and I am honored to call him a friend."

Buffalo's mayor also weighed in on Binko's new role.

"Buffalo is proud to see one of its own become president of this critical statewide organization," Byron Brown said in a prepared statement.

The New York State Trial Lawyers Association was founded in 1953.

Matt Chandler contributed reporting to this story.

Mr. President
A quick profile of the 42nd president of the New York State Trial Lawyers Association

• Name: Richard Binko

• Job: Prinicpal of the Law Offices of Richard S. Binko, a personal-injury firm that employs three lawyers and seven other staff members, one of whom is a nurse

• Education: Canisius College (1979), University at Buffalo Law School (1982)

• Personal: He and his "very supportive" wife of 12 years, Brenda Binko, have three children: David Kimberty and Bradley

• Hobbies: Baseball, photography

• Philosophy: Borrowed from Irish-born statesman Edmund Burke: "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing."