Deanne Tripi, a partner in the Buffalo law firm of Palmer Murphy & Tripi, was appointed by Presiding Justice Henry Scudder of the Appellate Division, Fourth Department, as chairperson of the Attorney Grievance Committee for the Eighth Judicial District. The committee investigates complaints involving alleged misconduct by attorneys. The committee consists of 21 members including three non-lawyers. Additionally, three new members were appointed to serve three-year-terms. They are: Benjamin Bonarigo, Genesee County; David Nelson, Wyoming County; and John Nuchereno, Erie County.

Raising awareness of brake-related asbestos risks

Lipsitz & Ponterio LLC has unveiled a Web site to educate the public on the risks of asbestos exposure through the repair and maintenance of truck, passenger car, tractor and industrial machine brakes. The Web site, www.mesotheliomabrakes.com also contains a comprehensive list of brake manufacturers and a video featuring mechanics describing their exposure to brake pads and linings containing asbestos. According to the firm, asbestos was used in brake linings, clutches and gaskets until the 1990s.

Eighth Judicial District Administrative Judge Paula Feroleto traveled to Salamanca on Monday to participate in the dedication of the new Salamanca City Court. She was joined by Judge Ronald Ploetz and Judge William Gabler, along with District Executive Andrew Eisenberg and Chief Clerk Stella Johnston to dedicate the new courtroom and offices.

Magavern partner Schofield to speak at Can-Am luncheon

Magavern Magavern & Grimm LLP partner Thomas Schofield will be a featured speaker today at the annual Canadian American Goodwill Day Luncheon held in St. Catharines, Ont. Schofield is vice president of the Niagara Bicentenial of the War of 1812 Legacy council corporation. He will be speaking about how he and fellow board members are involved in building awareness of the 200th anniversary commemoration, scheduled to run through 2014. The Can-Am Day is an annual event that alternates between Ontario and Niagara Falls, N.Y.

Longtime 8th JD employee honored with Starkweather award

Karen Swartwood, secretary to Judge Jerome Gorski, associate justice of the Appellate Division Fourth Department, was selected as the recipient of the Joyce E. Starkweather Employee Recognition Award. The award is given to employees of the Eighth Judicial District who go above and beyond the requirements of their job. Swartwood has been with the court system since 1989 and works to assist other associate justices as well as attorneys with questions about the appellate process. She was also recognized for working after hours and weekends to ensure that the work of the court is done. Judge Gorski called Swartwood "a shining example of what every UCS employee should be." He called the veteran court employee honest, hard-working, and respectful. "Karen does her work with cheerfulness and never balks at taking on whatever responsiblities or tasks I ask of her," Gorski said.

Kenmore firm among shrinking pool of law firm mergers

In what it says is a sign of the continuing economic slowdown, legal consulting firm Altman Weil reports that there were only eight new law firm combinations through the first quarter of 2010. All eight involved the acquisition of firms with fewer than 50 lawyers, with five of the mergers involving firms with fewer than 10 lawyers. Among the first-quarter mergers was the Kenmore law firm of Norton Radin Hoover & Freedman that was acquired by Ferrara Fiorenza Larrison Barrett & Reitz, P.C. of East Syracuse. The two firms specialized in education law and under the merger will serve 150 school districts statewide.

Former mayor of Pittsburgh to visit Buffalo on May 21

Jaeckle Fleischmann & Mugel LLP will host a discussion with Tom Murphy, former mayor of Pittsburgh, on May 21 from 8:30 to 10 a.m. at the Burchfield Penney Art Center, 1300 Elmwood Ave., Buffalo. The public is invited and there is no charge to attend. To register, visit www.jaeckle.com

- Compiled by Matt Chandler