AMISTAD Long Island Black Bar Association

Monday, February 03, 2025

MEMBERSHIP

2025 Membership includes an online directory of our members.

A standard listing will include member's name and the optional information as provided.

The optional information includes: professional contact information, headshot, & up to 3 practice areas.



There are modified sections for student members and members of the Judiciary.

To forward information for your listing - please submit here.

UPCOMING EVENTS

AMISTAD's CALENDAR

Use the interactive calendar on AMISTAD's Website to add these dates to your calendar.

VISIT AMISTAD's CALENDAR

Black History Month with AMISTAD

This year, we celebrate the National Theme

"Blacks and Labor"

Black History Month:

Suffolk County Courts

Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025 - 1:00PM

Movie Screening

"Pullman and the Railroad Rebellion"

Central Jury Room, Central Islip

Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025 - 1:00PM

The Saga of Curt Flood

Lecture & Discussion

Thursday, February 28, 2025 - 1:00PM

GRAND CELEBRATION

Lunch to Follow

Presentation of the

Hon. Marquette L. Floyd

Award of Excellence

ADRIENNE WILLIAMS, Esq.

Hon. Toni A. Bean Award

Captain Lydell Thompson

Lunch to Follow

Black History Month:

Nassau County Courts

Thursday, February 27, 2025

Nassau County Supreme Court

Additional Details TBA

AMISTAD PRESIDENTIAL AWARD:

Onika Shepherd-Bernabe

1199 United HealthCare Workers East

Political Director

Lunch Meet Up!

THE AMISTAD LUNCH MEET UP

will return in March

3rd Wednesday

Suffolk County Location Details - TBP

MEMBER SPOTLIGHT

MEET KEVIN MAYO, ESQ.

assigned white collar crimes and filling in for short-staffed State’s Attorney’s Offices state-

wide. Kevin maintained his own solo general private law practice in Eastern Suffolk County, NY from 1988 until 2000. 

In summer, 2000, Kevin accepted a very lucrative position with the New York MTA’s

Long Island Railroad where he remained until his retirement in 2021. After his retirement

from the MTA, Kevin re-activated his general private practice focusing upon criminal defense, real estate, landlord / tenant and other select civil matters which he maintains currently. Kevin is admitted to the NY and Connecticut State bars, the EDNY and SDNY Federal bars and the Federal bar for the District of Connecticut.

In addition to his membership in Amistad, Kevin is and has always been very active

with his music. Having written, arranged, produced and performed music in various

secular and non-secular groups, he is currently Church Musician / Minister of Music for the

First Baptist Church of Riverhead, (Pastor Charles A. Coverdale) where he currently

renders his talents as pianist and organist every Sunday morning. Kevin is also an avid

real estate manager investor and general contractor / builder of several residential homes

in Eastern Suffolk County. Kevin is married to his loving wife Jumarie (currently pursuing

a career as a Certified Nurse Assistant) and proud father to his two daughters, Kimberly

(who holds a BS degree in Public Health Mgmnt) and Marie (who recently received her BS

degree in Nursing and her state issued licence as a Registered Nurse in Cebu,

Philippines).

AMISTAD

"Lighting the Path"

AMISTAD offers complimentary membership to Law Students. It is part of the mission of AMISTAD to continually light the path for those that follow.

For our students, please see this incredible opportunity:



https://www.eeoc.gov/careers/judicial-internship-program-us-equal-employment-opportunity-commission-new-york-district

LEGAL NEWS & UPDATES

CPLR 2106 - Unnotarized Affirmations

The CPLR was amended, effective over 1 year ago, changing a longtime rule. As of January 1, 2024, New York CPLR Rule 2106 is amended to permit that an affirmed statement can be used in a New York action instead of an affidavit. This expands the use of CPLR 2106 affirmations to anyone—not only health care professionals and attorneys who are not a party to the action.

The amendment aims to relieve persons who may be faced with difficulties in locating a notary or obtaining New York equivalent notarizations in foreign jurisdictions, an issue often arising in major commercial litigation.

The amendment of CPLR 2106, entitled “Affirmation of truth of Statement” provides as follows:

The statement of any person wherever made, subscribed and affirmed by that person to be true under the penalties of perjury, may be used in an action in New York in lieu of and with the same force and effect as an affidavit. Such affirmation shall be in substantially the following form:

I affirm this ___ day of ______, ____, under the penalties of perjury under the laws of New York, which may include a fine or imprisonment, that the foregoing is true, and I understand that this document may be filed in an action or proceeding in a court of law.

(Signature)

The use of an affirmation in place of an affidavits for all purposes in a civil action is modelled upon the federal statute (see 28 U.S.C. 1746), which allows the use of unsworn declarations under penalty of perjury—a practice that has been in place since 1976.

This change in civil litigation will alleviate the burden of preparing documents such as witness statements that must be submitted in court.

Despite removing the need for a notary public, CPLR 2106 will require for the signer to affirm the statement under the penalties of perjury.[1]

**We want to hear from you! If you have experience with or thoughts regarding this change, please let us know.**

1. Information provided by White and Williams LLP

GET INVOLVED WITH AMISTAD

If you are interested in helping to design, moderate, or be a panelist for a CLE Program in 2025, please email amistadblackbar@gmail.com.

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

AMISTAD's Job Board is posted every Friday as a member benefit to paid members

www.amistadblackbar.org

If you have opportunities and would like to post in our weekly job board, please send them to amistadblackbar@gmail.com.

EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

UPCOMING CLEs

AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION

Feb 24, 2025 @ 1:00PM

Free for Members; $130 for Non-Members

1.0 NY Credit - Professional Practice

Register Here

WEEKLY WISDOM

"If one really wishes to know how justice is administered in a country, one does not question the policemen, the lawyers, the judges, or the protected members of the middle class. One goes to the unprotected - those, precisely, who need the law's protection most - and listen to their testimony."

-James Baldwin-

If you have any accomplishments or articles you would like for us to publish, please forward to AMISTADBLACKBAR@GMAIL.COM