| Cellino and Barnes p.c. | |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Buffalo, New York |
| No. of offices | 6 offices |
| No. of employees | Approximately 150 employees (2010) |
| Major practice areas | Personal Injury Law |
| Key people | Stephen Barnes, Ross Cellino Jr. |
| Date founded | 1959 |
| Website | |
| www.cellinoandbarnes.com | |
Cellino and Barnes is an American law firm, located in Buffalo, New York with offices in Rochester, Manhattan, Long Island, Garden City, and Melville . The law firm practices personal injury law, and has been in business for over 50 years.
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The firm practices personal injury cases, covering areas such as automobile accidents, construction accidents, medical malpractice, and dangerous drugs. In 2005 Cellino's license to practice law was suspended for 6 months, and Barnes was censured due to professional misconduct [1]
The firm was founded by Ross Cellino Sr. in 1959 under the name Cellino and Likoudis, with then partner Michael Likoudis.[2] Like many law firms, Cellino and Barnes has evolved through a variation of names.
In October 2008, the firm moved its headquarters to the Main Place Tower in Buffalo, New York.[3]
Suit filed against private company on behalf of The Buffalo Department of Street Sanitation employees for an accident that involved a truck running a red light. The plaintiffs suffered multiple injuries, including spinal fusion surgeries. The 8th Judicial District of the New York Supreme Court in Erie County awarded a total settlement of $3.25 million dollars to the plaintiffs.[4]
The Appellate Division, 4th Department, of New York State Supreme Court released a decision at 3 p.m. Friday outlining the results of a disciplinary investigation involving the two personal injury lawyers.
Cellino's license to practice law has been suspended for six months and Barnes has been censured, which does not affect his ability to practice law.
The 8th Judicial District Attorney Grievance Committee, operating under the authority of the Appellate Division, charged the two attorneys with "advancing financial assistance to clients in a matter not related to the expenses of litigation and with other misconduct."
The court concluded that Barnes violated six of the Disciplinary Rules of the Code of Professional Responsibility and Cellino violated eight of the rules, which govern the conduct of New York lawyers.
The investigations stemmed from several cases the two lawyers handled dating back to 1994. Most of the violations cited pertained to loans and financial agreements Cellino and Barnes made with clients. The decision does not reference the cases that gave rise to the investigation or the names of clients in those matters.
Read more: Appellate court suspends Cellino for six months, censures Barnes | Business First
Steven Barnes is a former officer in the Marine Corps and a war veteran.[5] Barnes is co-owner of the firm. Additionally, he has been selected to the Best Lawyers in America survey.[6]
Ross Cellino Jr. is the co-owner of the firm. He states on the official website that “preparation alone does not supplant trial skill.” [7]
Cellino and Barnes has given nearly $600,000 in awards for college students and supplemental materials to classes in western New York.[8]
In June 2009 the firm donated $1 million dollars to the University at Buffalo Law School. This donation matched the largest single-donation in the school's history.[9]