Our firm has handled many cases involving tenants getting injured by defective conditions on and in property they are renting. This time of year, especially in college rich, Buffalo, NY many college students are coming to town and choosing off campus housing. Please have a discussion with your child about living off campus. They are young adults who may have limited funds but they are still entitled to safe housing. Before your student signs any lease, have them walk the property with the landlord. Take photos of any walls, windows, stairs, etc, that are damaged. This is important for two reasons: 1.) Your student should not be held responsible for damage they did not cause; and 2.) Your student deserves a safe living space. A landlord has a duty to make certain repairs; put them on notice to correct the problem. Personal injuries at rental properties can be serious. A loose handrail, broken steps, and torn carpeting are but a few examples of conditions that have caused injuries to our clients.

A Call to Safeguard Workers
The Western New York Council on Occupational Safety and Health, “WNYCOSH”, an independent not-for-profit safety group issued a report January 25, 2016, providing that the Scaffold Law, Labor Law Section 240 is essential to protect construction workers. As a son of a construction worker, I feel strongly that