John Sciortino
- 1959 – 2012
John Sciortino passed away suddenly Monday evening, March 12, 2012. Read John’s Life Story
John Sciortino concentrated his practice in the areas of claimant’s Workers’ Compensation and personal injury. He was a founding partner of Segar & Sciortino, a Rochester area law firm which concentrates in representing the interests of injured workers and their families. John earned his BA cum laude, with honors in political science, from Union College in 1981. He was a member of Pi Sigma Alpha National Political Science Honor Society. He earned his Juris Doctor from Albany Law School in 1986. He was admitted to the New York State Bar in January, 1987, and to the District of Columbia Court of Appeals in July, 1989.
John was an active member of several legal organizations. He was elected President of the New York State Injured Workers’ Bar Association, at the Association’s annual meeting in New York City on January 29, 2010. The IWBA is a bar association comprised of the leading Workers’ Compensation practitioners in New York State. He was a founding member and former State Co-Chair of the New York State Workers’ Compensation Alliance, a state-wide organization devoted to achieving legislative change on behalf of injured workers. He was also a member of the Board of Directors of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire Memorial, a not-for-profit organization devoted to commemorating the early 20th century sweatshop conflagration which provided the impetus for the enactment of New York State’s Workers’ Compensation Law. Each year more than a dozen Triangle Scholarships are awarded to children of permanently disabled workers attending college across New York State. John also served on a New York State Bar Association special subcommittee to liaison with the Workers’ Compensation Board on matters of mutual concern.
John’s civic and community activities were extensive. He was past Chairman of the Board of Governors for Seniorsfirst Communities & Services, a not-for-profit corporation devoted to serving the interests of seniors in Western New York. He was active in his church and has served as Chairman of the St. Joseph’s Parish Pastoral Council. John was also Executive Vice-President of the Alumni Council of Union College. John was a member of Wakan-Hubbard Lodge No. 154 F.&A.M.
In 1992, John was honored with the William E. McKnight Award from the Volunteer Legal Services Project of Monroe County in recognition of his legal work on behalf of the poor. John lectured before a number of community and legal organizations. Described as “one of the foremost advocates for Workers’ Compensation reform”, John was invited in 2006 to participate as a panelist at a NYS Senate Workers’ Compensation Reform Round Table to offer insight into ways to improve the Workers’ Compensation system. In 2007, John served as an advisor to the New York State Department of Insurance Task Force appointed to make recommendations to improve the resolution process for disputed Workers’ Compensation cases.
In 2008, he was awarded a Clara Lemlich Public Service Award for his outspoken efforts on behalf of the rights of injured workers in New York State. The recognition is named in honor of the noted 20th century sweatshop labor activist who inspired a massive strike for the New York City garment workers in 1909 which lead to improved working conditions in the garment industry.
John testified before the NYS Senate Labor Committee in October, 2009 in opposition to the Workers’ Compensation Board’s plan to replace court stenographers with recording machines, and in February, 2010 he testified in opposition to the Workers’ Compensation Board’s plan to curtail injured workers’ access to adjudicatory hearings.
John enjoyed lake and ocean boating, fresh and saltwater fishing, and spending time at his vacation home on Cape Cod. He enjoyed listening to and playing jazz and blues music.
Areas of practice:
Workers’ Compensation Law
Personal Injury
Bar Admissions:
New York, 1987
U.S. Court of Appeals District of Columbia Circuit, 1989
Education:
Albany Law School Union University, Albany, New York, 1986 Juris Doctor
Union College, Schenectady, New York, 1981 Bachelor of Arts
Honors: Cum Laude
Honors: With Honors
Honors: Member, Pi Sigma Alpha National Political Science Honor Society
Honors: Executive Vice-President, Alumni Council of Union College
Major: Political Science
Classes/Seminars Taught:
Lecturer, Numerous continuing legal education courses
Panelist, NYS Senate Workers’ Compensation Reform Round Table, 2006
Honors and Awards:
William E. McKnight Award, Volunteer Legal Services Project of Monroe County, 1992
Clara Lemlich Public Service Award, 2008
Professional Associations and Memberships:
Injured Workers’ Bar Association
President
New York State Workers’ Compensation Alliance
Past Co-Chair
New York State Workers’ Compensation Alliance
Founding Member
Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire Memorial
Member, Board of Directors
American Association for Justice
Member
New York State Trial Lawyers Association
Member
New York State Bar Association
Member
District of Colombia Bar Association
Member
Monroe County Bar Associations
Member
Wakan-Hubbard Lodge No. 154 F. &A.M
Member