Linda Whitehead

Linda B. Whitehead, a partner in the White Plains-based law firm McCullough, Goldberger & Staudt, LLP, the co-organizer of the Westchester Municipal Planning Federation’s 34th Annual Land Use Training Institute to be held at the Pace Graduate Center and at Pace Law School in White Plains beginning March 12, will also speak on the topic of ethics for local planning and zoning board members.

The three-evening event is geared to providing education as well as credits for local planning and zoning officials and helps fulfill their annual state mandated requirement for training. In addition to Monday’s opening session at the Pace Graduate Center, additional sessions will be held at the Pace Graduate Center on Thursday March 15 and at Pace Law School on Thursday March 22 beginning at 6 p.m. with registration and networking and ending at 9:30.

Each session is focused on relevant topics for members of planning, zoning, conservation and design review boards. On March 12 and March 15, concurrent breakout sessions will address planning and zoning board operations, SEQR, zoning codes, new planning strategies, and flood mitigation. On March 22, presentations will be made on recent land use law cases, FOIL (Freedom of Information law) practices and ethics.

For the last six years the Annual Land Use Training Institute has been organized by Ms. Whitehead, a Director at Large with the Westchester Municipal Planning Federation, and the organization’s Recording Secretary, Christian Miller, who is the City Planner with the City of Rye.

“This year’s Training Institute offers a wide array of topical programs that will help planning and zoning officials in their review of projects before them,” Ms. Whitehead said. “The programs will include everything from a talk on whether New York State “master builder” Robert Moses was a visionary or a villain by Dr. Floyd Lapp, Executive Director, South Western Regional Planning Agency in Connecticut, to my presentation on the topical issue of ethics and when a planning and zoning official should recuse himself or herself from deliberations on a particular project. The conference is geared to providing information to allow our attendees to make sound, intelligent decisions in their capacity as members of local land use boards.”

The Westchester Municipal Planning Federation is a voluntary association of officials representing the county’s 45 municipal governments, zoning and planning boards and land use consultants including lawyers, engineers, architects and planners.  Authorized under New York’s State General Municipal Law in 1962, and governed by a 15-member Board of Directors, the organization’s purpose is to “create an effective and permanent countywide organization for the exchange of information on matters of planning interest.”

Ms. Whitehead practices in the areas of municipal law, land use and environmental law, as well as commercial and residential real estate transactions. She is a member of the Westchester County Bar Association and the New York State Bar Association. In addition to serving on the Board of Directors of the Westchester Municipal Planning Federation, she is currently the president of the American Cancer Society Westchester Region Board of Advisors and of the Mount Holyoke Alumnae Club of Westchester County.

Charles Goldberger

Charles Goldberger, a partner in the White Plains-based law firm McCullough Goldberger & Staudt, LLP, has been appointed Village Attorney for the Village of Mamaroneck, NY. The Village Board of Trustees unanimously approved the nomination that was effective immediately.  Mayor Norman Rosenblum selected Goldberger for nomination after reviewing the credentials of four other law firms that had expressed interest in the position.

The appointment enhances the already impressive municipal practice of McCullough Goldberger & Staudt. James Staudt, a partner, is currently the Village Attorney for the Village of Larchmont. The firm also serves as Village Attorney to the Villages of Croton-on-Hudson and Bronxville.  Additionally the firm has been Special Counsel to the City of Yonkers in connection with its complete Zoning Code revision, the Village of Ossining in connection with its Comprehensive Plan/Zoning Code, and the Village of Scarsdale regarding its downtown mixed-use zoning.

“Key to making this selection was not only the expertise of Charlie Goldberger but that of the entire firm,” Mayor Rosenblum said. He added that Goldberger had successfully represented the Village in several court matters, including an ongoing case involving a failed development project that is near resolution.  The Mayor also recalled that when he served as a Trustee for the Village of Larchmont about three decades ago, he had been impressed with Staudt’s work as Village Attorney of Larchmont.

“McCullough Goldberger & Staudt gives us the background and advantage of their research in specific areas, such as drafting local laws, court time and trials and so on,” the Mayor said. “The bottom line is I am confident that Charlie Goldberger and the firm itself will be the best lawyer the Village can have.”

Goldberger said that his representation of the Village in two court cases, including the ongoing Sheldrake Estates Condominiums LLC and Sheldrake Lofts, LLC vs. the Village of Mamaroneck, offered the Village an introduction to the municipal and litigation work the law firm provides.

“This municipality expands the scope of our municipal work and that is one of the main reasons why we sought the appointment,” Goldberger said. “It adds one more large Village to our municipal practice. On a personal note, I am really looking forward to the challenge.”

The Village Attorney’s responsibilities include: attending and providing counsel to the Board of Trustees at its twice-monthly sessions, dealing with contractual claims, as well as representing the Village in court cases.

McCullough, Goldberger & Staudt, LLP was established in 1984 by the merger of Taylor, McCullough & Geoghegan with Fredericks, Goldberger & Liberman, two firms with long, successful histories in Westchester County. The firm’s strong municipal, zoning, real estate and banking background combined with its litigation experience have resulted in a diversified firm with the depth and range to fully service client matters—from inception, through negotiations and to conclusion, including litigation when necessary.

Linda B. Whitehead, a partner in the White Plains-based law firm McCullough, Goldberger & Staudt, LLP, is the new president of the American Cancer Society Westchester Region’s Advisory Board.

Ms. Whitehead, a resident of Irvington, was previously vice president of the Westchester region Board of Advisors and has served on the regional Board for the past five years.

Linda Whitehead

“I am honored to serve as president of an organization that does so much for so many,” she said. “I decided to get involved with the American Cancer Society because cancer is a disease that touches so many. No matter your age, you know someone, whether it is a family member or friend, who has suffered or died from cancer.”

She pointed out that the American Cancer Society provides the necessary support for cancer research, as well as cancer prevention, educational initiatives and services for patients and their families on the local and national levels.

Ms. Whitehead practices in the areas of municipal law, land use and environmental law, as well as commercial and residential real estate transactions. She is a member of the Westchester County Bar Association and the New York State Bar Association. She serves on the Board of Directors of the Westchester Municipal Planning Federation and is currently the president of the Mount Holyoke Alumnae Club of Westchester County.

McCullough, Goldberger & Staudt, LLP was established in 1984 by the merger of Taylor, McCullough & Geoghegan with Fredericks, Goldberger & Liberman, two firms with long, successful histories in Westchester County. The firm’s strong zoning, real estate, municipal and banking background combined with its litigation experience have resulted in a diversified firm with the depth and range to fully service client matters—from inception, through negotiations and to conclusion, including litigation when necessary

Seth Mandelbaum

Seth M. Mandelbaum, a partner in McCullough, Goldberger & Staudt , LLP, was recently named to the Board of Trustees for Friends of Westchester County Parks. Mandelbaum will commence his three-year term January 1, 2011.

Friends of Westchester County Parks is a well-known non-profit that has established a tradition of helping to bridge the budget gap for important programs, equipment and support for the Westchester County Parks System. Just this week, Friends of Westchester County Parks teamed up with Con Edison to restore funding to the popular Bicycle Sundays program after it was cut from the 2012 Westchester County budget.

Mandelbaum, a resident of White Plains, NY, is a member of the New York State and Westchester County Bar Associations, and concentrates his practice in zoning, land use and environmental law. In addition, in 2008, Mr. Mandelbaum became one of only a handful of attorneys in New York to be certified by the U.S. Green Building Council as a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Accredited Professional (LEED® AP).

“I am enthusiastic to join the Friends board,” said Mandelbaum. “Parks are essential to the well-being of our communities, and I’m looking forward to doing what I can to help maintain and improve the excellent parks system for which Westchester County has become so well-known.”

Mandelbaum was admitted to the New York State Bar in 1997; the Connecticut State Bar in 1998; and the United States District Courts for the Southern, Eastern and Northern Districts of New York, and the District of Connecticut.

He received his J.D., Cum Laude, and an Environmental Law Certificate from Pace University School of Law in 1996, where he was an Articles Editor for the Pace Environmental Law Review; and a B.A., with Honors, from the University of Florida in 1992, where he majored in Environmental Policy.

“My experience in land use and environmental law has given me a full appreciation for the value of our parks,” said Mandelbaum. “They are often taken for granted, but we have a responsibility to see that they are preserved and protected.”

The Westchester County Parks Department manages more than 50 parks and recreation properties, spanning more than 18,000 acres. In 2003, the department was accredited by the National Recreation and Parks Association, and was the first county agency in New York and one of only 47 agencies in the country to earn that distinction.

Friends of Westchester County Parks has renewed its pledge to support, maintain and enhance Westchester’s Parks, promote their value to the economic, social and aesthetic vitality of our community, and stimulate public participation, interest and support in their preservation.

Frank S. McCullough, Jr., Senior Partner in the law firm of McCullough, Goldberger & Staudt, LLP has been honored for his extensive work on behalf of The Osborn in the City of Rye, receiving the John W. Sterling Legacy Award in recognition of his nearly two decades of service to the retirement community.

A resident of Rye, McCullough received the award that is named for John Sterling, the founder of the law firm Sherman and Sterling, who first identified the 56-acre site at the crest of Theall’s Hill in the City of Rye where The Osborn campus was created.

The award was presented at The Osborn Remembrance Ball on November 11^th at the Sterling Lounge and Auditorium. Proceeds from the event will be used to support the development of a new Memory Care Center at The Osborn to meet the region’s rapidly growing need for specialized dementia care.

Also honored at the event were Frank Corvino, President and CEO of Greenwich Hospital, and the late Peter G. Bergmann, a Partner in the law firm of Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP of New York City.

An attorney for more than 43 years, McCullough has played a critical role in the evolution of The Osborn that traces its roots to 1891. First envisioned by its founder, Miriam Osborn, as a supportive home for women, The Osborn opened in 1908. It was later transformed into a campus providing services for all seniors.

In November 1992, as lead zoning counsel, McCullough filed plans with the City of Rye for a major expansion of the campus as part of The Osborn’s Pathway 2000 initiative that included the development of Sterling Park at The Osborn, an independent living community. Final approval for the ambitious capital project was obtained approximately six months later. Prior to the expansion, approximately 100 seniors resided at The Osborn. As a result of the expansion, today some 430 seniors call The Osborn their home. Bergmann also worked on facets of the Osborn’s expansion and marketing plans, McCullough noted.

Since then, McCullough’s association with The Osborn has continued on an ongoing basis in land use and real estate-related matters.

“I am truly honored to have been selected for the Sterling Award along with Frank Corvino and the late Peter Bergmann, true leaders in their respective fields,” McCullough said. “It has been a privilege to help The Osborn grow into the state-of-the art institution it is today that provides a continuum of care from independent living to the highest levels of assisted living. It is a wonderful community asset that allows people to remain in the Rye community as they age and their needs change.”

McCullough said he was particularly pleased that with its expansion, The Osborn has successfully maintained the architectural character of the original neo-Georgian style residence.

The Osborn campus includes: the spacious Sterling Park that features independent living apartments and garden homes, the newly renovated original Osborn building and The Osborn Pavilion, a state-of-the-art skilled nursing center, and the planned Memory Care Center.

With his firm, McCullough practices primarily land use and real estate law and has been particularly active in the area of golf course development. He is admitted to the New York State Bar and is admitted to practice in U.S. District Court, Northern District of New York, U.S. Supreme Court and U.S. District Court, Southern and Eastern Districts of New York.

Prior to joining the White Plains-based law firm in 1971, he was law secretary to Supreme Court Justice Elbert T. Gallagher. A graduate of Albany Law School of Union University, he holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from St. Lawrence University.

He is a past member of the Mamaroneck-Harrison-Larchmont Bar Association, and has served as Treasurer (1974-1975), Vice President (1978-1979) and President (1980-1981) of that organization. He is also a member of the New York State Bar Association and a member of the Westchester County Bar Association, and served as a Director of the Westchester County Bar Association from 1979 to 1985 and as Vice President from 1985 to 1987. He is also a past member of the Joint Grievance Committee of the Ninth Judicial District and has been a member of the Committee on Character and Fitness, Ninth Judicial District. McCullough has also been a member of the Board of Visitors of the School of Law of Pace University.

McCullough served as a trustee of the New York Power Authority from 1997 to 2008 and as its Chairman from 2006 to 2008. He is also a past President of the Economic Power Allocation Board of the State of New York and served as a member of the Board of Trustees of the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority and a member of the Conservation Coordination Task Force of New York State.

MGS attorney Terry Grainger obtained a verdict on behalf of A&P in its decade old fight with 380 Yorktown Food Corp. over rental payments for a store in Yorktown Heights, NY. In a decision dated July 15,2011 Supreme Court Judge William J. Giacomo found in favor of A&P on virtually all of its claims. A&P expects to enter a judgment in excess of 2 Million Dollars in the near future.

On May 16, 2011, New York State Supreme Court Justice Joan B. Lefkowitz granted summary judgment in favor of MGS client Fidelity National Insurance Co. in the matter entitled Campbell, McMillan, Bosco, Penzel, Danzig & Maker Target Benefit Pension Plan v. Fidelity National Insurance Co., et al. The plaintiff had alleged claims under 18 U.S.C §1962 (the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (“RICO”) Act, in addition to claims for, among other things, fraud, negligence, breach of fiduciary duty and breach of contract. Finding each of the plaintiffs claims deficient, Justice Lefkowitz dismissed the complaint in its entirety.

Jim Staudt recently represented United Hebrew Geriatric Center in obtaining site plan approval for the gut renovation of a former nursing home building in New Rochelle. The building will be renovated in order to create a new senior housing facility to be known as Willow Gardens, consisting of two floors of special needs assisted living units (including care for dementia patients), and two floors of affordable independent living units (for a total of 73 units), all to be funded/financed under various State and/or federal grant and financing programs.

This is part of a significant amount of land use work the firm does in the field of senior housing.

MGS Partner Charles A. Goldberger was recently appointed to the Westchester County Parks, Recreation and Conservation Board by County Executive Rob Astorino.