8/18/08 WNYPA’s Pro Bono Committee Completes Successful
First Year
Buffalo, N.Y. – Damon & Morey Paralegals, Margaret A.
Lamonds-Moss and Debra L. Smith Kaczmarek have completed a
successful year as co-chairs of the Pro Bono Committee for the Western
New York Paralegal Association, Inc. The committee is responsible for
selecting a program that is in need of paralegal assistance, then
develop and monitor work that is performed by volunteers. Within the
past year, both Ms. Lamonds-Moss and Ms. Smith Kaczmarek have
successfully donated the committee’s time and effort to two different
groups - Vive, Inc. and the Family Justice Center of Erie County, Inc.
Vive Inc., was established in 1984 to aid a growing number of
refugees (especially women and children) seeking asylum. An informal
reception was held at Damon & Morey LLP to bring together members of
Vive, Inc. and individuals interested in learning more about the
organization. Attendees included WNYPA members, non-members, educators
from Hilbert and Bryant & Stratton Colleges. A donation drive was also
coordinated at the WNYPA Holiday Luncheon to collect needed requested
by Vive, Inc. The committee successfully collected $750 worth of
diapers, $25 Tops gift certificate and a $75 cash donation.
Additionally, the Pro Bono Committee made a commitment in January
to get involved with the Family Justice Center of Erie County, Inc.
This organization is a collaborative effort between community agencies
to break the barriers that domestic violence victims face in obtaining
services. Several WNYPA members participated in training sessions to
become Intake Specialists. This position is responsible for
interviewing the victim and completing the intake assessment, release
forms and making the appropriate referrals to the agencies and
services that the client desires.
Ms. Lamonds-Moss is a paralegal in Damon & Morey’s General
Litigation Department, where her primary focus is environmental, toxic
tort, product liability and personal injury defense litigation.
Assisting with all phases of discovery and trial preparation, she is
highly skilled with comprehensive document analysis and the
organization of complex litigation matters. A paralegal since 1983,
her background also includes extensive experience in the area of
family law. Ms. Lamonds-Moss received her Bachelor of Arts degree in
Political Science from the State University of New York at Buffalo and
earned her A.A.S. Degree in Paralegal Technology from Erie Community
College.
Ms. Smith Kaczmarek is a paralegal in Damon & Morey’s General
Litigation Department, whose major areas of concentration are in the
areas of general, personal injury and product liability defense
litigation. Her responsibilities include interviewing clients and
expert witnesses; preparation of legal documents; trial preparation
and assisting in document productions. Ms. Smith Kaczmarek received
her B.S. in Criminal Justice from the State University College at
Buffalo and received her A.A.S. Degree in Legal Assistant from Hilbert
College.
Founded ninety-one years ago, Damon & Morey LLP is a full-service
law firm calling on the knowledge and experience of eighty-five
attorneys. The firm’s major areas of practice include Business and
Corporate Law, Business Litigation and Insolvency, General Litigation,
Healthcare, Labor & Employment, Probate, Trust, & Estate, and Real
Estate & Banking. Employing nearly two hundred people in Western New
York, the firm currently maintains four offices - Buffalo (firm
headquarters), Clarence, Batavia and Rochester. For complete
information, visit the firm’s web site at www.damonmorey.com.
