What could be next in the AG's investigation into the Catholic Church, WGRZ, September 2018
Local attorney Cheryl Meyers-Buth speaks with us about the NY Attorney General's investigation into the Catholic Church.
September 6, 2018
BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Just like that bombshell investigation in Pennsylvania, New York's Attorney General is opening her own investigation into allegations of priest sex abuse in the Catholic Church. . . .
The civil investigation launched Thursday includes a clergy abuse hotline and online complaint form for anyone to submit confidential information. That's on top of the A.G. issuing a subpoena to each diocese in New York. Underwood's office is also working on a joint investigation with district attorneys from across the state to uncover potential criminal wrongdoing.
"What kind of documents could they be looking for, or are they allowed to request?" asked 2 On Your Side’s Kelly Dudzik.
"[T}hey will be looking for are any policies, procedures on handling the complaints, anything that might be relevant to a cover-up by the church, you know, abuse that was concealed intentionally. Reports that were taken and never followed up on. Things like that," says attorney Cheryl Meyers-Buth.
Meyers-Buth says the church will have to turn over both paper and electronic documents going back as far as they've been maintained, and the investigation will take as long as necessary.
"For those for whom the statute of limitations either in a criminal case or for a civil lawsuit is already extinguished, at least they get to tell their story and they provide information as background which could also help corroborate current complaints, for example, if there's one particular clergy member who has been accused, even if the statute of limitations is expired, those other complaints may be helpful," says Meyers-Buth.
'I can't count that high,' Kingsman says of members' cocaine use, Buffalo News, March 2018
Defense lawyers attacked Masse's credibility and pointed to the numerous lies he told a federal grand jury four years ago to suggest he might still be lying.
They also referred to his more than 30 years of drug use and wondered aloud if it had taken a toll on his memory.
"Nine times, after putting your hand on the Bible and swearing to tell the truth, you looked at those grand jurors and lied," defense lawyer Cheryl Meyers Buth told him Friday.
After moonlight stroll turns into tragedy, who's to blame? Buffalo News, March 2018
There is no evidence that either John or Van Aernam had anything more than a few social drinks at the event, said Laurie A. Baker, who represents Van Aernam as Daniels' co-counsel. Cheryl Meyers Buth, who represents John's family, agreed.
"There is no evidence that they were impaired or inebriated," Baker said. "These were two people who stopped on a bridge on a very nice night, and decided to go for a short walk. The real issue here is that the state had abandoned this bridge for decades. There were no lights on the bridge, no warning signs, nothing to stop anyone from going up on that bridge."
The accident and its aftermath have been a "nightmare" for Van Aernam and John's family, which includes a son, two daughters and a young granddaughter, Baker said.
Footage of Cheektowaga man killing father leads to not guilty plea, Buffalo News, January 2018
Family members had begun to be concerned about Sirwilliam's mental health in the days and weeks before the shooting, defense attorney Cheryl Meyers-Buth said after court. He showed no signs of being violent, she said, but he was acting out of character and showing signs of paranoia.
"The sad part is, he had actually gone with his girlfriend to a doctor the Thursday before (the shooting) and then to another doctor with his mother that weekend because he was saying he didn't feel right," Meyers-Buth said.
Both times, she said, Hardy was told there was nothing wrong.
Colden couple admit $1.2 million fraud against VA, Postal Service, Buffalo News, March 2017
Defense lawyer Cheryl Meyers Buth said Cathleen Klaffka, 62, was forced to plead guilty because the law says she had an obligation to turn in her husband. She also wonders why it took so long for their crimes to be discovered.
"This case raises questions about how to fix a VA system where someone who is not disabled is paid over a million dollars in benefits despite undergoing regular physical examinations," she said.
Jury gets case in Danielle Allen trial
Jul 18, 2018
Closing arguments wrapped up Wednesday in the trial of a woman accused of killing her boyfriend in Livingston County
"Don't kill me, please don't kill me. Those were the words that were loud enough for Justin Bergman to hear upstairs," Cheryl Meyers Buth, Allen's attorney stated. Meyers Buth told the jury that [ ] Allen's injuries were consistent with a person who had been choked. "If she was that mad...you'd see multiple stab wounds. She was not out of control, she did not kill him for no reason. She killed him or he fell on the knife because she was trying t protect herself," Meyers Buth stated.
BLJ: New digs, new start for Meyers Buth, Buffalo Business First, October 2017
Cheryl Meyers Buth and Laurie Baker have worked together for a decade. At the end of last year, they decided to branch off together and in September they opened Meyers Buth Law Group PLLC in Orchard Park.
“It just made sense,” said Baker, who lives in the area. So does Meyers Buth.
The Southtowns base is a renovated office in the historic New York Telephone Building at 21 Princeton Place. The location also made sense for their clients, they said.
“Both of us had been downtown for many years,” Baker said. “We wanted to open an office that was going to be comfortable and convenient for our clients, away from the downtown hustle and bustle. We wanted an atmosphere that our clients would feel secure and calm. Basically, just a low-key atmosphere for our clients.”
Law firm establishes office in village, Orchard Park Bee, October 2017
Western New York attorneys Cheryl Meyers Buth and Laurie Baker have recently launched their new law firm, Meyers Buth Law Group PLLC.
The firm’s newly renovated office is in the New York Telephone Building, located at 21 Princeton Place in the Village of Orchard Park.
Meyers Buth Law Group handles criminal defense, civil litigation, personal injury and sports/entertainment law matters.
According to the firm, the founding partners wanted to provide personalized, client-centered legal services to individuals and small business clients, which is often difficult in other law firm settings.
“Starting Meyers Buth Law Group gives us the opportunity to get to know our clients and for us to earn their trust while delivering a broad range of legal services,” Meyers Buth said.
Baker agreed.
“We take a personalized approach with all our clients, treating them as we would our own family members, realizing that many times we are helping people through some of life’s most challenging situations,” Baker said.
With more than 20 years of trial practice, Meyers Buth’s diverse range of state and federal court, criminal defense, and civil litigation experience makes her a top resource for a variety of clients who need legal representation, the company said.
She has earned numerous awards and has been recognized by the New York State Bar Association, the Women’s Bar Association of the State of New York and the federal judges for the Western District of New York.
Baker has experience representing individuals and families in complex cases involving school liability, wrongful death, employment discrimination/sexual harassment, municipal claims, motor vehicle accidents, motorcycle accidents and premises liability, the firm said.
She has recently been recognized by Super Lawyers as a Rising Star in the WNY legal community.
Former UB basketball player pleads guilty; leaves state, Buffalo News, August 17, 2017
“A rising sophomore forward on the UB Bulls men's basketball team, [Quate] McKinzie was indefinitely suspended following his arrest and has since withdrawn from UB and is returning home to North Carolina. “The District Attorney's Office did a thorough investigation and found that the original charges could not be substantiated and Mr. McKinzie took responsibility for making a non-threatening phone call to his ex-girlfriend," said attorney Cheryl Meyers-Buth, who represented McKinzie”
Allen’s defense attorneys file motions seeking to suppress evidence, The Livingston County News, September 12, 2017
“Defense attorneys for Danielle Allen, the woman charged with stabbing and killing her boyfriend Marcus Postell in York last year, filed a pre-trial motion in Livingston County Court Tuesday seeking to throw out evidence against their client.The motion brought forth by attorney[ ] Cheryl Meyers-Buth requested that the evidence obtained from Allen’s apartment by Livingston County investigators the morning after Postell’s death on Nov. 21, 2016 not be used by the prosecution during any trial proceedings.”