State and Local

Richard C. Gramlich focuses his practice on Business, Real Estate and Construction Litigation, Insurance Bad Faith, Personal Injury, Wrongful Death, and Product Liability. He routinely represents contractors and owners in construction defect, non-pay/stop-pay claims, delay claims, professional negligence, Registrar of Contractor’s hearings, and general breach of contract. Mr. Gramlich was the lead counsel for the Scottsdale “W” Hotel’s construction defect and delay claim. Mr. Gramlich achieved the largest per home verdicts in Arizona for damage caused by expansive soil.1 He has successfully tried Business Tort, Personal Injury, Product Liability, and Insurance Bad Faith actions resulting in significant recoveries, and has earned the nickname “Bulldog” by many of his clients. Mr. Gramlich graduated from the University of Arizona in Business Administration, Finance and Real Estate, cum laude, in 1989 and from the Arizona State University College of Law, in the top third of his class, in 1992. He has been practicing law for the last 25 years in both State and Federal Court.

Bridget Tartaglia is a graduate of the State University of New York at Stony Brook. Ms. Tartaglia received her Juris Doctor with honors from Touro College Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law Center in 1995. While attending Touro, Ms. Tartaglia was one of the founding members and the Research Editor of the Environmental Law Journal. Ms. Tartaglia was instrumental in publishing the first edition to the Law Journal in 1995. She also received numerous academic honors during her tenure at Touro, including a Community Service Award and the American Jurisprudence Aware of Excellence in Creditor’s Rights. She was active and integral member of the Columbian Lawyers Association where she served as President. She also served as intern for the Honorable Howard Levitt of the Supreme Court, State of New York, County of Nassau. Ms. Tartaglia was also recipient of two academic scholarships from the Columbian Lawyer’s Association while attending Touro. While attending her last year at Touro, Ms. Tartaglia was a law clerk at Jakubowski, Robertson & Goldsmith. After graduating from Touro, Ms. Tartaglia became an associate attorney with said firm and later became a member of said firm. Ms. Tartaglia was admitted to Practice in the State of New York, Second Department in January, 1996. She was admitted to Practice in the State of Connecticut in November, 1995. She was admitted to Practice in the United States District Court, Eastern District of New York in March, 1996. She was most recently admitted to Practice in the Supreme Court of the United States America in March, 2005. Ms. Tartaglia has engaged in the general practice of law with an emphasis in Matrimonial and Family litigation. Since 1996, she has had substantial experience in litigating all issues relative to Matrimonial and Family Law matters. Ms. Tartaglia has litigated almost every possible issue that may arise between divorcing and non married parties. In addition to Matrimonial and Family Law litigation, Ms. Tartaglia also substantial experience in performing residential real property closings, representing both purchasers and sellers as well as experience in general civil litigation. Ms. Tartaglia is an active member of the Suffolk County Bar Association and the Suffolk County Women’s Bar Association. She is also a member of the Matrimonial Bar Association of Suffolk County, the Columbian Lawyers Association of Suffolk County and the New York State Bar Association (including the Family Law Section of said Bar Association). Ms. Tartaglia has received multiple awards relative to her practice in the area of Matrimonial and Family Law. These include her having an AV Preeminent rating in both Legal Ability and Ethical Standards with Martindale-Hubbell since 2013; a 2019 Lawyer of Distinction for her work in Family and Divorce Law; Martindale-Hubbell Top Rated Lawyer in Family Law; 2016 10 Best Females Attorneys in Family Law; Avvo Top Rated Lawyer, 2017 and a 2015 Client Distinction Award. Ms. Tartaglia also has been honored for the past two years by the Suffolk County Bar Association for her donation of her time to pro bono divorce matters in Suffolk County. In addition to receiving multiple awards relative to her work in the Matrimonial and Family Law field, Ms. Tartaglia also was honored by the WVI Dolphin Foundation and received a 2019 Spirit of Youth Sports Awards for her continued commitment and time volunteered to Youth Sports. Ms. Tartaglia is has been a youth basketball coach for Infant Jesus Church CYO program in Port Jefferson, NY for the past 9 years. She has spent countless hours each season coaching up to two different teams. Ms. Tartaglia was a division I college athlete where she played basketball at Brooklyn College. In addition, Ms. Tartaglia has worked on the fundraising committee for Mount Sinai Youth Soccer for the past 5 years where has volunteers time to raise money for a local soccer organization. Since 2013, Mrs. Tartaglia has been a Catechist for St Louis De Monfort Church in Sound Beach, NY where she has and continues to volunteer her time each week to teach two different religion classes each year. She is also a team leader for the Mount Sinai Neighborhood Watch for which she acts a liason for members of her community. In addition to work in her community, she also is a volunteer with the Suffolk County Bar Association pro bono foundation. She is a longtime resident of Mount Sinai where she resides with her husband and two sons.

In Jenny Hubach’s 26 years of legal experience, she has represented thousands of criminal defendants in cases from Capital Murder through trucker traffic tickets. After receiving her Juris Doctor Degree from McGeorge School of Law, she became a member of the Nevada State Bar in 1989. In Jenny’s early career, she was a Deputy District Attorney in Washoe County, Nevada representing the state in criminal cases. She left the DA’s Office and began representing clients in personal injury cases before going into private practice and representing criminal defendants until present. Jenny’s professional accomplishments consist of extensive criminal trial experience, professional recognition, and leadership positions in professional organizations both on the State and National level to include: *Lead attorney in 1000’s of criminal cases in Northern and Southern Nevada. *Has been attorney in approximately 75 jury trials to include 5 Death Penalty murder cases and numerous other murder cases. *18 years as Judge Pro Tem in Reno Justice Court and Reno Municipal Court. (Presided as Judge in hundreds of civil and criminal cases such as small claims, landlord/tenant, general civil, DUI, Domestic Battery, and theft crimes.) *Current Chairperson of The Nevada Continuing Legal Education (CLE) Board. *Current member of the National Mandatory Continuing Legal Education Regulators. (Chairperson of the Las Vegas meeting which was ranked as the most successful national meeting ever, 02/2014). *Reno News and Review, Attorney of the Year, 2006, 2014. *BV Rated by Martindale-Hubble in Legal Ability and Ethical Standards. *Top 100 Criminal Defense Attorneys, 2014. *Former member of the Nevada State Bar Board of Governors. *Former Chairperson of the Nevada State Bar Advertising Review Committee. *Former Chairperson for the Second Judicial District Court Committee to Establish Local Criminal Procedure Rules. *Former member of the Nevada State Bar CLE Committee. *Former Adjunct Professor in Criminal Law, University of Nevada and Truckee Meadows Community College.

Daniel J. Cooper is a California attorney and has been the sole shareholder of Daniel J. Cooper, a professional corporation, since 1980. Mr. Cooper’s practice emphasizes estate planning, trust administration, probate, Trust & Will controversies, and the representation of clients before the U.S. Tax Court, State Board of Equalization, Internal Revenue Service, and the California Franchise Tax Board in connection with federal, state and administrative tax disputes. He is an active member of the Orange County Bar Association and the State Bar of California and is currently Chairman of the Trust & Estate Section of the Orange County Bar Association. He is authorized by the Trust & Estate Section of the State Bar of California to make presentations on the subject of Elder Financial Abuse. Mr. Cooper is active in community affairs and has been a Parks & Recreation Commissioner for the City of Laguna Hills for more than 10 years. He is also active in with the Boys Scouts of America and is currently committee chairman of Troop 729 in Laguna Hills, California. All three of his sons are Eagle Scouts. Prior to entering the legal profession, Mr. Cooper was an income tax auditor for the Franchise Tax Board and a manager in the tax department of Arthur Young & Co., Certified Public Accountants. Mr. Cooper has lectured extensively on real estate taxes, state and local taxes, and federal income taxes at the graduate school level at the University of Southern California, the University of California at Irvine and Golden Gate University. Additionally, Mr. Cooper has participated as an instructor in the continuing professional education program for the California Certified Public Accountants Education Foundation and has lectured for various professional groups. Mr. Cooper is admitted to practice law in the State of California, before the United States District Court (Southern & Central Districts), United States Tax Court and the United States Supreme Court. As an undergraduate, Mr. Cooper attended California State University at Los Angeles and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration/Accounting. He received his Juris Doctorate from Western State University College of Law in Fullerton, California. During the Vietnam War, Mr. Cooper served as a military policeman in the United States Army and was stationed in Hawaii and Thailand. He was honorably discharged and attended college on the GI Bill.

Burk Injury Lawyers was originally named “The Patriot Law Firm”. Although “The Patriot Law Firm” may sound political in nature, this is not the case. The name actually originated to respect the sacrifices of my Grandfathers and family members. We have many Patriots in my family. I am so proud of each and every one of them! My biological paternal grandfather, Vernon Dale Huddleston, gave his life for our country in World War II on July 4, 1942. His story is listed at the bottom of this page. He was the original Patriot. My adoptive paternal grandfather, Daniel Madison Burk, served honorably in the United States Navy in World War II and the Korean War. One of his ships was sunk, and somehow he managed to survive the wreckage My maternal grandfather, James Raymond Perrin, served in the United States Army and served in Europe during World War II. I was born in England during a time in which my father served abroad as a Civilian in the United States Air Force. After a few years overseas. My father then accepted a job at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio. I was raised in a nearby suburb of Beavercreek. As a youngster, I participated in club soccer, track, basketball, and wrestling. My first job was working at a local McDonalds when I was 15 years old. I worked various jobs including grocery stores, delivering pizzas, and construction. After graduating from Beavercreek High School, I went on to earn two degrees from “THE” Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio. After graduation, my passion for the Law took me to San Diego, California to attend law school. While attending Thomas Jefferson School of Law, I was elected Student-Body President. Despite going to a rather small law school, I was also elected as the National Vice-Chair for the American Bar Association – Law Student Division. This was a tremendous honor as this position was elected by the student body presidents of each law school all across the country. Finally, in my last year in law school, I was also appointed by the Dean to the prestigious Faculty-Selection Committees and the Diversity Committees. Preparing for my career as a litigator, I was selected for the law school’s Mock Trial (1st team) I competed in several regional and national mock trial competitions. I also gained valuable courtroom experience by interning for the San Diego Alternate Public Defender’s Office for my last two years in law school. I donate my time and efforts to local veterans and the Paralyzed Veterans of Nevada here in Las Vegas. Since 2004, I have tried numerous cases involving car crashes, slip and falls, construction defect housing, criminal matters, civil litigation, and medical professional licensing. I am currently a member of the State Bar of Nevada, State Bar of Arizona, State Bar of California, the Nevada Justice Association (formerly the Nevada Trial Lawyers Association), and the Arizona Trial Lawyers Association. I am admitted to practice law in Nevada, Arizona, and California. I passed all three state bar exams on the first try. I am also admitted to practice in Federal Courts in Nevada, Arizona, and California

Attorney Putnam C. Smith represents Main Street business owners and executives, professionals of all types and local, regional and national real estate investors, developers and operators, concentrating on business and commercial real estate transactions and tax and estate planning. Common transactions include start-ups, acquisitions and sales of closely held business, tax-free mergers and reorganizations, asset purchases, leveraged buyouts and joint ventures and partnerships in a wide range of industries. He has practiced corporate law in Atlanta and the surrounding metropolitan area since 1988, initially with Nall & Miller, LLP and later with Robert W. Fisher, P.C., a tax boutique that was instrumental in the creation of Nextel and a number of international ventures in the telecommunications industry before disbanding in 1994. Before attending law school, he incorporated Jimmy Carter’s 1976 presidential campaign and worked as a legal assistant with other leading Atlanta law firms, including King & Spalding, LLP and Kilpatrick Stockton, LLP, gaining invaluable experience with public corporations and investment banks. During his tenure with Lipscomb, Johnson, Sleister, Dailey & Smith, LLP, Mr. Smith has handled private equity investments in shopping centers and industrial and commercial property in several southeastern states, land assemblages requiring services ranging from quiet title actions to road closures and a $116 million buyout to resolve a shareholder’s dispute involving a closely held technology business.

For nearly 30 years clients have trusted Timothy Gunning to resolve the biggest legal problems in their lives. Mr. Gunning has represented people and businesses from all walks of life against all manner of adversaries, including the federal, state and local governments, regulators, bureaucracies, big businesses, small businesses, insurance companies, lawyers and law firms, and the rich and powerful. Although his typical case is a criminal defense, personal injury or professional malpractice matter, Mr. Gunning is frequently asked to engage in other high-profile, complex and contentious matters, and has brought his talents to bear with great effect in a wide variety of cases, including professional license matters, corporate and administrative investigations, business litigation, fiduciary litigation, and a variety of tort litigation such as automobile and trucking accidents, sexual abuse and assault, elder abuse, fraud, invasion of privacy, defamation, intentional infliction of emotional distress, wrongful employment discharge, assault and battery, false imprisonment, malicious prosecution, and wrongful death. Mr. Gunning is also frequently engaged by clients mired in difficult disputes with their business partners, family members or neighbors, where the stakes and emotions are high. Mr. Gunning is well known for his ability to assess a given situation, identify strengths and weaknesses and devise and implement highly effective solutions to litigation and investigation matters. While always preparing for a successful trial outcome, and highly regarded for his courtroom skills and many successes there, Mr. Gunning is also very adept at brokering satisfying resolutions to seemingly intractable disputes and controversies. When not working, Mr. Gunning enjoys spending time with his family, traveling, fishing, enjoying the Ravens, the Orioles and all things Boston College.

Herb Elesh is a Immigration Lawyer Practicing in all of Chicagoland. He is active and in good standing within the Illinois State Bar Association. Questionnaire: Lawyer.com Member Questionnaire Please describe a case(s) in the last year or two where you made a big difference. On a Provisional Waiver case I-601 we were able to have USCIS Chicago District Office approve the extreme hardship to a U.S. citizen spouse which led to an approval for the greencard for a husband who entered on a false passport. His name was misrepresented on his passport and USCIS demanded a waiver of the misrepresentation. Based on the wifes medical records and detailed affidavits from myself and my paralegal and affifavits from the Petitioner and beneficiary he was approved for the I-601 and greencard. How did you build a successful practice? mostly word of mouth from satisfied families and clients; What should clients look for in a lawyer? honest, experienced and professional. should be updating himself/herself on laws/regulations/ changes to courts and USCIS and embassies How important is local knowledge to the success of your cases? not as important as new laws and regulations at embassies and USCIS and NVC What information can you provide in a free phone consultation? potential forms of relief such as work permits or green cards or U visa for crime victims or waivers What information do you need in a free phone consultation? potential forms of relief such as work permits or green cards or U visa for crime victims or waivers What differentiates you from other lawyers in your community? value-driven law office with almost 20 years of experience but fees as more affordable given the same level of experience and professionalism of the more expensive downtown law offices What is the most rewarding aspect of your job? having approvals which reunite families here in the US and enable them to build their lives here without fear of deportation. What are your other interests in addition to law? social justice for immigrants in USA including voting and participating in our democracy and helping those new citizens learn English and vote Are you involved in your community? offering pro bono help in the community for U.S. citizen applicants

Sara M. Salger received her undergraduate degree from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, graduating cum laude, and Saint Louis University School of Law for her J.D. where she received an International Law Certificate and litigation focus. She spent two semesters abroad during law school attending Università Cà Foscari di Venezia in Venice, Italy and University College Cork in Cork, Ireland. Ms. Salger's legal career has been focused on advocating for individuals wronged by the actions of others, with a particularized focus on representing victims of mesothelioma and lung cancer, as a result of exposure to asbestos. She has also handled complex benzene litigation and general personal injury claims. Working at The Gori Law Firm since the firm's inception, and a Partner since May 2016, she is licensed to practice law in Illinois and Missouri, is a member of the American Bar Association, Illinois State Bar Association, Madison County Bar Association, Illinois Trial Lawyers Association, Missouri State Bar Association, Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis, American Association for Justice, National Asbestos Mesothelioma Trial Lawyers (Member), National Women Trial Lawyers, and is on the Illinois Trial Lawyers Executive Committee and Board. Actively involved in her community, Ms. Salger serves on various philanthropic boards in the area and volunteers her time speaking to local high school and college law classes and groups.

Practice Areas: Medical Malpractice, Nursing Home Abuse, Automobile Negligence, Wrongful Death, Premises Liability, and Sexual Assault Jennifer Lipinski is an attorney with a civil trial practice dedicated to the pursuit of justice for Florida’s injured with a focus on personal injury, sexual abuse, crime victims, automobile accidents, product liability, medical malpractice, nursing home abuse, and wrongful death, among other areas. Ms. Lipinski has been a member of the trial team for several million-dollar verdicts and settlements. Ms. Lipinski helped secure the largest settlement of record at the time - $1,800,000 - against a government entity following the wrongful death of a mentally disabled teen. She frequently tries cases to jury verdict and is not afraid to take on corporations or defendants who harm her clients. Ms. Lipinski currently serves as a Board of Governor representing the state of Florida for the American Association for Justice (AAJ), an organization comprised of nearly 20,000 lawyers around the country. Ms. Lipinski is also Chair of the New Lawyer Division, which serves the needs of 5,000 newer lawyers around the United States. Ms. Lipinski is a graduate of the prestigious Leadership Academy and currently serves as subcommittee chair for the Membership Outreach for the Membership Oversight Committee and Membership Committee for the Women’s Caucus. Ms. Lipinski also serves as a Board of Governor for the Florida Justice Association. Giving back to the community is one of Ms. Lipinski’s passions. As such, she volunteers for the South Florida Spartans as a Board of Director and is Co-Chair of the Sidebar Series Planning Committee for the Young Lawyer's Section of the Palm Beach County Bar Association. . Ms. Lipinski obtained her law degree from Michigan State University, cum laude and was recognized as a member of the Dean’s List. She earned a certificate from the Geoffrey Fieger Trial Practice Institute, a nationally renowned two-year litigation program, and served as a teaching assistant for two professors. While in law school, Ms. Lipinski was involved with moot court, earning 1st place in the Appellate All-School Competition and competed at Harvard and UCLA in national law competitions. She also served as an Associate Editor for the Journal of Medicine and Law. She obtained her Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of Central Florida (UCF) in 2008 with a concentration in American Politics & Policy and a minor in Legal Studies. She was elected to serve as a Senator for the College of Health and Public Affairs and to serve as President Pro Tempore. Ms. Lipinski was also a LEAD Scholar, a member of the Alpha Xi Delta sorority, Phi Alpha Delta pre-law fraternity, Pi Sigma Alpha honor society, and the National Society of Collegiate Scholars. Ms. Lipinski was admitted to practice in Florida in 2012. She is a member of the Florida Bar, the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida, the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit.