Wilder & Linneball: Buffalo Lawyers, Civil Litigation, Environmental, Products Liability, Utilities Law

Education:	Purdue University (B.S., summa cum laude, 1978) State University of New York at Buffalo Law School (J.D., with distinction, 1983)
Member:	The Defense Research Institute Erie County Bar Association (Member, Committees on: Professional Ethics, 1986-1991; Environmental Law, 1986 to date) New York State Bar Association (Member, Sections on: Environmental Law, 1986 to date; Insurance, Compensation and Negligence, 1984 to date) American Bar Association (Member, Litigation Section; Environmental Law Committee, 1983 to date) NDNY Federal Court Bar Association
Practice Areas: Civil Litigation; Environmental; Products Liability; Utilities Law; Constitutional and First Amendment Law.

An attorney since 1984, Mr. Wilder practiced law at Phillips, Lytle, Hitchcock, Blaine and Huber, LLP (1983-1990) and at Falk & Siemer, LLP (1990-2000), where he was the Managing Partner from 1995-1997. Mr. Wilder was the Managing Partner of Wilder & Linneball, LLP from 2000-2007. He is a past President of the Lawyers Club of Buffalo and was one of sixteen attorneys selected in 1997 by Business First for its list of "Who Runs Western New York Business." Mr. Wilder is an Adjunct Instructor in Administrative Law at Hilbert College (1993-97 and 2004-present). He was selected in 2005 by the National Republican Congressional Committee to the Business Advisory Council and received an award as "Businessman of the Year". He was elected by his peers in 2007 for "Who's Who In The Law" for Business Law and for Civil Rights Litigation, as published by The Buffalo Law Journal and Business First.

During his career, Mr. Wilder has appeared as counsel in litigations in Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Texas, West Virginia and Wisconsin. He has also counseled clients with litigations in California, Canada, Colorado, Connecticut, England, Minnesota, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and Wisconsin. Through his own experience or his professional networking with other attorneys, Mr. Wilder has been able to counsel clients in a variety of substantive legal issues.

Mr. Wilder's primary litigation experience has been in the representation of utilities and product manufacturers, including wrongful death & personal injury claims, property damage matters, environmental issues, constitutional law matters and product liability cases. Since 1984, he has also counseled clients in matters of employment issues (executive compensation, discharges, discrimination claims, workers' compensation and unemployment compensation) and business law matters. He is currently National Products Liability Counsel for AMF Bakery Systems and has served as national and regional counsel for various product manufacturers. Experienced in complex litigation, Mr. Wilder was one of the principal attorneys in over 500 personal injury actions arising from the Love Canal landfill in Niagara Falls, New York. He has been involved in environmental abatement and auditing matters and has served as plaintiffs' and defendants' counsel for various CERCLA "cost recovery" actions. Mr. Wilder's experience in the permitting area includes zoning, air emissions and New York State's first microwave treatment and destruction unit for regulated medical waste. Counsel has routinely been provided to health care clients regarding all aspects of regulated medical waste. During his career, Mr. Wilder has represented such major chemical manufacturers as The Dow Chemical Company, Occidental Chemical Company and the Union Carbide Corporation, in addition to many closely held businesses and insurance companies.

He has been a speaker and/or chairperson for seminars presented by the American Bar Association ("ABA") and the New York State Bar Association ("NYSBA"), including the ABA's Litigation Section (Environmental Law Committee). He has been a common speaker to trade and industry groups, including the New York State Gas & Electric Utilities Claims Managers Association, the Greater Buffalo Environmental Conference and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (for certification courses). He has frequently published legal writings. Mr. Wilder was an author of "Developments in 'Toxic Tort' Law", published quarterly by the NYSBA and has been an author of "Pleadings and Motions Directed at Their Faults," revised and republished every two years by the NYSBA from 1995 through 2003. In 2006, Mr. Wilder received a Certificate of Appreciation from the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America.

Education:	Harvard University - Summer Program, 1983 State University of New York at Buffalo - B.A. in Mathematics, cum laude, 1988 Phi Eta Sigma; Delta Theta Phi, Treasurer 1989-1990 Indiana University School of Law - J.D., cum laude and Dean's Honors, 1991
Member:	Erie County Bar Association (Member, Committees on: Negligence) New York State Bar Association (Member, Sections on: Insurance, Compensation and Negligence) American Bar Association (Member, Sections on: Health Law, Labor and Employment Law, Litigation and Tort, and Insurance Practice) NDNY Federal Court Bar Association Women's Bar Association of the State of New York (Co-chair Health Law Committee)
Languages:	French
Practice Areas: Civil Litigation; Commercial Litigation; Constitutional and First Amendment Law.
Areas of Emphasis: Health Care Law, Complex Commercial Litigation, Utilities and Product Liability.

An attorney since 1992, Ms. Linneball practiced law at Paladino, Cavan & Quinlivan (1992-1996), at Falk & Siemer, LLP (1996-2000), where she became a partner in 2000, and at Wilder & Linneball, LLP (2000-present), where she is currently Managing Partner. During her career, Ms. Linneball has appeared as counsel in complex civil litigation and commercial real estate transactions. Through this experience, she has been able to counsel clients in a variety of substantive legal issues.

Ms. Linneball's primary litigation experience has been in the representation of health insurance companies, utilities and product manufacturers. These cases involved ERISA claims, coverage disputes, claims for denial of benefits, and claims regarding medical property damage and product liability. She has also counseled clients in matters of employment, landlord-tenant, commercial real estate and business law. During her career, Ms. Linneball has represented major health insurance companies such as BlueCross BlueShield of Western New York and Community Blue, in addition to many closely held businesses.

She also has experience in challenging the conduct of State and local governments in State and Federal Court. These cases involve contesting the denial of permits and licenses as well as violations of constitutionally guaranteed rights.

Ms. Linneball's cases at the Appellate Level have been noteworthy. Some of the published cases include Geraci v. National Fuel Gas Distribution Corporation, 255 A.D.2d 945, 680 N.Y.S.2d 776 (4th Dept. 1998) (upholding defendant's right to broad disclosure of plaintiff's medical records in personal injury suit); Woods v. Alexander, 270 A.D.2d 850, 705 N.Y.S.2d 768 (4th Dept. 1999) (holding plaintiff has a right to discover documents regarding prior criminal activity in negligent security action). She has been a co-author of "Pleadings and Motions Directed at Their Faults," revised and republished every two years by the New York State Bar Association from 1997 through 2001. She spoke in November of 2001 and May 2007 on this topic at a New York State Bar Association seminar based on the publication.

Education:	College of the Holy Cross, (B.A., 2004) State University of New York at Buffalo Law School (J.D., cum laude 2008)
Member:	Bar Association of Erie County New York State Bar Association (Member, Sections on: Business Law and Entertainment, Arts and Sports Law Section)
Practice Areas: Civil Litigation.

Mr. Lannon joined Wilder & Linneball, LLP as a Law Clerk in May, 2007, and became an associate of the Firm upon admission to the bar in February, 2009.

As a law student at the State University of New York at Buffalo Law School, Mr. Lannon served as an Editor for the journal Law & Policy and was a member of the Jessup International Moot Court Board.

Education:	New York State School of Industrial and Labor Relations, Cornell University (B.S., 1994) State University of New York at Buffalo School of Management (M.B.A., with distinction, 1998) State University of New York at Buffalo School of Law (J.D., cum laude, 1998)
Member:	Bar Association of Erie County New York State Bar Association (Member, Sections on: Labor and Employment Law) American Bar Association (Member, Sections on: Litigation and Labor and Employment Law)
Practice Areas: Civil Litigation; Personal Injury and Property Damage Defense; First Amendment; Labor Relations and Employment Law.

An attorney since 1999, Mr. Nickson was previously associated with Phillips, Lytle, Hitchcock, Blaine and Huber, LLP (1998-2002) in the firm's Trial Department and Labor and Employment Practice Group. He joined Wilder & Linneball, LLP in June 2002.

Among Mr. Nickson's civic activities, he is a former member of the ProZoo Board of the Buffalo Zoological Gardens (2000-2006), and a former member of the Board of Directors of Shakespeare-in-Delaware Park, Inc. (2000-2005). He has also been an adjunct faculty member of the State University of New York at Buffalo School of Management in its Professional MBA program since 2003, where he teaches business law and ethics. Since January 2009, Mr. Nickson has also been a member of the adjunct faculty at Trocaire College, teaching business law. He was a Chapter Contributor to How Arbitration Works, Elkouri & Elkouri (6th Ed. 2003 and a Contributing Editor to the 2008 supplement).

Mr. Nickson's published decisions include: Judith M. v. Sisters of Charity Hospital, 93 N.Y.2d 932, 715 N.E.2d 95, 693 N.Y.S.2d 67 (1999); DeJoy v. Niagara Mohawk Power Corp., 13 A.D.3d 1108, 786 N.Y.S.2d 873 (4th Dep't 2004); Whitmore v. Niagara Mohawk Power Corp., 13 A.D.3d 1109, 786 N.Y.S.2d 762 (4th Dep't 2004).

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