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Attorney Profiles

J. Joseph Wilder - Managing Partner

Born Silver Creek, New York, July 16, 1957; admitted to bar, 1984, New York; 1986 U.S. District Court, Western District of New York; 1990, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan and U.S. District Court, Northern District of New York; 1992, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York; 1994, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York and U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit; 2002 Eastern District of Wisconsin; and 2006, U.S. Supreme Court.

Education:

  • Purdue University (B.S., summa cum laude, 1978)
  • State University of New York at Buffalo (J.D., with distinction, 1983)

Member:

  • The Defense Research Institute
  • Erie County BarAssociation (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.

Professional Biography:

An attorney since 1984, Mr. Wilder practiced law at Phillips, Lytle, Hitchcock, Blaine and Huber (1983-1990) and at Falk & Siemer (1990-2000), where he was the Managing Partner from 1995-1997. 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).

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 plaintiff's and defendant's 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 and Electric 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.

Laura A. Linneball Laura A. Linneball - Founding Partner

Born Buffalo, New York, August 19, 1966; admitted to bar, 1992, New York.

Education:

  • Summer Program - Harvard University, 1983
  • B.A. in Mathematics, cum laude - State University of New York at Buffalo, 1988
  • Phi Eta Sigma; Delta Theta Phi, Treasurer 1989-1990
  • J.D., cum laude and Dean's Honors - Indiana University School of Law, 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.

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

Professional Biography:

An attorney since 1992, Ms. Linneball practiced law at Paladino, Cavan & Quinlivan (1992-1996), at Falk & Siemer (1996-2000), where she became a partner in 2000, and at Wilder & Linneball, LLP (2000-present), where she is a founding 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.

Joan M. Fildes - Associate

Born, Buffalo, New York, September 18, 1972, admitted to bar 1999, New York.

 

Education:

  • SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, (B.S., summa cum laude 1994)
  • University at Buffalo School of Law (J.D., 1998)

Member:

  • Bar Association of Erie County
  • New York State Bar Association
  • Insurance Club of Buffalo
  • Buffalo Claims Association
  • Women's Bar Association of New York, Western NY Chapter

Practice Areas:  Insurance Defense, Commercial Litigation and Personal Injury Law

Professional Biography:

Ms. Fildes joined Wilder & Linneball, LLP in October, 2007.  An attorney since 1999, Ms. Fildes was a Partner with Kavinoky Cook, LLP before joining Wilder & Linneball.

Over the course of her career, Ms. Fildes has represented a large cross-section of corporate and professional clients in a variety of litigation matters.  She has successfully tried numerous civil cases to completion.

Ms. Fildes community involvement includes United Way of Buffalo and Erie County Tools for Living Committee (2006 to present) and Volunteer Lawyers Project (2005 to 2007)

Daniel B. Moar - Associate

Born, Port Jefferson, New York, January 23, 1982, admitted to bar 2008, New York.

 

Education:

  • Canisius College, (B.A., summa cum laude 2004)
  • Georgetown University Law Center (J.D., 2007)

Member:

  • Bar Association of Erie County
  • New York State Bar Association

Practice Areas:  Civil Litigation

Professional Biography:

Mr. Moar joined Wilder & Linneball, LLP in January, 2008. Before joining Wilder & Linneball, Mr. Moar was a Confidential Law Clerk to the Honorable John T. Elfvin and the Honorable William M. Skretny. Mr. Moar previously served as a Clerk for the Trial Judiciary and Government Appellant Division of the United States Army Judge Advocate General Corps.

In addition, Mr Moar currently serves as an attorney-mentor to the Canisius College law fraternity and mock trial team.

As a law student at Georgetown University, Mr Moar received a Public Service Award and Dean’s List Honors, served as an editor of the American Criminal Law Review, and served as Student Counsel for the Appellate Litigation Clinic. Mr. Moar argued before the United States Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit as part of his responsibilities for the clinic and was praised by the Court for his “able advocacy.” See Greenhill v. Spellings, 482 F.3d 569 (D.C. Cir. 2007).

The Spring 2008 edition of the Duquesne Business Law Journal features an article by Mr. Moar titled “Arbitrating Hate: Why Binding Arbitration of Discrimination Claims is Appropriate for Union Members.”

 

Christopher S. Nickson Christopher S. Nickson - Special Counsel

Born Tucson, Arizona, August 7, 1972, admitted to bar 1999, New York; U.S. District Court, Western District of New York (1999), Northern District of New York (2002), Eastern District of New York (2004), United States Court of Appeals, Second Circuit (2005).

 

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 (J.D., cum laude, 1998)

Member:

  • Bar Association of Erie County
  • New York State Bar Association
  • American Bar Association
  • NDNY Federal Court Bar Association.

Practice Areas:  Civil Litigation; Personal Injury and Property Damage Defense; First Amendment; Labor Relations and Employment Law.

Professional Biography:

An attorney since 1999, Mr. Nickson was previously associated with Phillips, Lytle, Hitchcock, Blaine and Huber, LLP, Buffalo, New York (1998-2002) in the firm's Trial Department and Labor and Employment Practice Group. He joined Wilder & Linneball, LLP in June of 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. He was a Chapter Contributor to How Arbitration Works, Elkouri & Elkouri (6th Ed. 2003).

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).

Christopher S. Nickson Joohong Park - Associate

Born, Evanston, IL, May 12, 1979, admitted to bar 2005, New York; U.S. District Court, Western District of New York (2005).

Education:

  • Cornell University (B.A., 2001, Dean's List)
  • Cornell Law School (J.D., 2004)

Member:

  • Bar Association of Erie County
  • New York State Bar Association

Practice Areas:   Civil Litigation, Insurance Defense Litigation and (FELA) Railroad Litigation

Professional Biography:

An attorney since 2005, Mr. Park was an associate at Anspach Meeks Ellenberger, LLP.   He joined Wilder and Linneball, LLP in April, 2007.

 

  

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