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Black, Lyle & Habberfield, LLP, Firm News

November 3, 2022 – Black, Lyle & Habberfield, LLP, has been selected in the 2021 Edition of U.S. News & World Report – Best Lawyers “Best Law Firms” rankings. Check it out here.

August 18, 2022 – Black, Lyle & Habberfield, LLP, has been selected in the 29th Edition of U.S. News & World Report – Best Lawyers rankings for 2023.  Jeffrey Black was recognized for three categories (Litigation – Insurance; Medical Malpractice Law – Plaintiffs & Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs); Ethan Lyle was recognized in two categories (Medical Malpractice Law – Plaintiffs & Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs) and Kevin Habberfield was selected as “Lawyer of the Year” in Buffalo for Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs.  Read more here.

July 21, 2022 – All three of our partners have again been named to the 2023 Super Lawyers List for Upstate New York. All attorneys were named to the Super Lawyers List in the field of general personal injury, representing plaintiffs, counting them among the top 5 percent of attorneys in the region. Check it out here.

August 18, 2021 – Black, Lyle & Habberfield, LLP, has been selected in the 28th Edition of U.S. News & World Report – Best Lawyers rankings for 2022.  We’ve also been fortunate enough to be selected in the 2022 Edition of U.S. News & World Report – Best Lawyers “Best Law Firms” rankings.  Check it out here.

August 3, 2021 – It has been a long time since we updated everyone as we try to slog our way through the COVID-19 pandemic.  We are back in the office fully and have been for quite some time.  In addition, our long time Registered Nurse Dawn Schwartz retired.  We will miss her very much.  We have replaced her and added a 3rd registered nurse at the office.  Please welcome Kari Wilcox, R.N. and Angelina Creed, R.N. to the BLH family!  You can find more information on them here.

July 20, 2021 – All three of our partners have again been named to the 2022 Super Lawyers List for Upstate New York. All attorneys were named to the Super Lawyers List in the field of general personal injury, representing plaintiffs, counting them among the top 5 percent of attorneys in the region. Check it out here.

November 10, 2020 – Black, Lyle & Habberfield, LLP, has been selected in the 2021 Edition of U.S. News & World Report – Best Lawyers “Best Law Firms” rankings. Check it out here.

August 20, 2020 – Attorney Kevin M. Habberfield, Esq. was again selected by his peers for inclusion in the 27th Edition of The Best Lawyers in America for 2021.  Recognition by Best Lawyers is based entirely on peer review. Its methodology is designed to capture, as accurately as possible, the consensus opinion of leading lawyers about the professional abilities of their colleagues within the same geographical area and legal practice area.

July 14, 2020 – All three of our partners have again been named to the 2021 Super Lawyers List for Upstate New York. All attorneys were named to the Super Lawyers List in the field of general personal injury, representing plaintiffs, counting them among the top 5 percent of attorneys in the region. Check it out here.

October 2, 2019 – Black, Lyle & Habberfield, LLP, has been selected in the 10th Annual 2020 Edition of U.S. News & World Report – Best Lawyers “Best Law Firms” rankings. Check it out here.

August 28, 2019 – Attorney Kevin M. Habberfield, Esq. was again selected by his peers for inclusion in the 26th Edition of The Best Lawyers in America for 2020.  Recognition by Best Lawyers is based entirely on peer review. Its methodology is designed to capture, as accurately as possible, the consensus opinion of leading lawyers about the professional abilities of their colleagues within the same geographical area and legal practice area.

August 28, 2019 – All three of our partners have again been named to the 2020 Super Lawyers List for Upstate New York. All attorneys were named to the Super Lawyers List in the field of general personal injury, representing plaintiffs, counting them among the top 5 percent of attorneys in the region. Check it out here.

June 15, 2019 – Attorney Kevin M. Habberfield, Esq. has been elected President of the Western Region Affiliate of the New York State Trial Lawyers. For more information on the Western Region Affiliate, please click here.

May 14, 2019 – Attorney Ethan M. Lyle, Esq. has been elected to the Cattaraugus County United Way.  Mr. Lyle will serve a three-year term.  For more information on the Cattaraugus County United Way, please click here.

January 9, 2019Black, Lyle & Habberfield, LLP, is pleased to announce that we have hired Portville native and retired Cattaraugus County Sheriff Sergeant Pat Dunn as our new investigator.  Pat brings decades of experience in investigations to our firm, and we are very happy to have him as part of the team.  For more information on Pat, please click here.

August 30, 2018 – Attorney Kevin M. Habberfield, Esq. was selected by his peers for inclusion in the 25th Edition of The Best Lawyers in America for 2019.  Recognition by Best Lawyers is based entirely on peer review. Its methodology is designed to capture, as accurately as possible, the consensus opinion of leading lawyers about the professional abilities of their colleagues within the same geographical area and legal practice area.

August 27, 2018 – All three of our partners have been named to the 2019 Super Lawyers List for Upstate New York. Attorneys Jeffrey Black and Ethan Lyle were both named to the Super Lawyers List in the field of general personal injury, representing plaintiffs, counting them among the top 5 percent of attorneys in the region. Attorney Kevin Habberfield was named to Super Lawyers Rising Star List in the field of general personal injury, representing plaintiffs, placing him in the top 2.5 percent of Upstate New York State attorneys under the age of 40 or practicing less than 10 years. Check it out here.

August 25, 2017 – All three of our partners have been named to the 2018 Super Lawyers List for Upstate New York. Attorneys Jeffrey Black and Ethan Lyle were both named to the Super Lawyers List in the field of general personal injury, representing plaintiffs, counting them among the top 5 percent of attorneys in the region. Attorney Kevin Habberfield was named to Super Lawyers Rising Star List in the field of general personal injury, representing plaintiffs, placing him in the top 2.5 percent of Upstate New York State attorneys under the age of 40 or practicing less than 10 years. Check it out here.

February 16, 2017 – Attorney Ethan Lyle has won a $1,000,060.00 verdict (- 20% comparative) in McKean County after a 4-day jury trial with Judge Christopher Hauser. Client was a 51-year-old man who suffered a broken ankle and cervical injury in a motor vehicle crash. We believe this is the second-largest verdict in the history of McKean County, Pennsylvania.

November 16, 2016Black, Lyle & Habberfield, LLP, is pleased to announce the addition of Kimberly A. Harris, RN to our staff.  Kim was born and raised in Salamanca, New York.  In 1986, she graduated from the Ellicottville Boards of Cooperative Educational Services and earned her Licensed Practical Nursing (LPN) degree.  She then attended Jamestown Community College and obtained an Associate Degree in Applied Science in Nursing (RN).  She has additional nursing education through the University of Phoenix, working toward her Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN).  To read more about Kim and the staff here at BLH, please click here.

October 6, 2016 Black, Lyle & Habberfield, LLP, is proud to report that all three attorneys in the firm have been selected by “Super Lawyers.” To see their Super Lawyers page, please go to their firm profile page under “Our Firm” and click on the Super Lawyers badge, click here and search or look at the digital magazine here.

May 17, 2016 – Jeffrey A. Black was re-elected to the Allegany-Limestone Board of Education for a second full five-year term.

April 14, 2016 – Jeffrey A. Black was elected to the Board of Directors for Directions in Independent Living, a non-profit agency in Olean, New York, which provides services to persons with disabilities in Allegany and Cattaraugus counties.

January 4, 2016Black, Lyle & Habberfield, LLP, is pleased to announce that we have hired Portville native and retired New York State Trooper John Ensell as our new investigator.  John brings decades of experience in investigations to our firm, and we are very happy to have him as part of the team.  For more information on John, please click here.

December 1, 2015 – The longtime personal injury law firm of Dwyer, Black & Lyle, LLP, is pleased to announce we are expanding.  We have added a second full time registered nurse and a new investigator to our firm. In addition, our office has relocated to 129 North Union Street in Olean, New York and will occupy the entire second floor of the Five Star Bank building.  Recognizing Kevin Habberfield, Esq., becoming a named partner, our firm has also changed its name to Black, Lyle & Habberfield, LLP.  Our firm will continue to exclusively handle personal injury cases in both New York and Pennsylvania and we look forward to continuing to serve the needs of our current and future clients at our new location.

July 31, 2015 – Attorney Kevin M. Habberfield of Dwyer, Black & Lyle, LLP again served as the Chairman of the SPCA Serving Allegany County’s 7th Annual Robert Hutter Memorial “Scramble 4 the Animals” Golf Tournament held at the Wellsville Country Club on Sunday, July 31, 2015.  The annual event was renamed this year after the passing of a long-time SPCA supporter and fellow Attorney Robert Hutter of Wellsville, New York.  This year’s event raised over $5,000.00 to support the SPCA.

April 12, 2015 – Attorney Kevin M. Habberfield of Dwyer, Black & Lyle, LLP is named to the Super Lawyers 2016 New York – Upstate Rising Stars list.

April 12, 2015 – Attorney Jeffrey A. Black of Dwyer, Black & Lyle, LLP, is named to Super Lawyers 2016 Upstate New York.

February 11, 2015 – Dwyer, Black & Lyle, LLP is pleased to announce that we have hired our second Registered Nurse.  Cindy Resch, R.N. of Cuba joins the firm not only as a registered nurse, but she has also earned a Bachelor’s degree in Legal Studies at Hilbert College in Hamburg, New York.  We are honored to work with her.  For more information on Cindy, please click here.

November 31, 2014 – Attorney Kevin M. Habberfield of Dwyer, Black & Lyle, LLP, has been elected to the Board of Directors of the Bartlett Country Club. www.bartlettcountryclub.com

November 7, 2014 – Attorney’s Ethan M. Lyle and Kevin M. Habberfield of Dwyer, Black & Lyle, LLP once again both participated as presiding judges at the 2014 St. Bonaventure Mock Trial “Friar Face-Off.”

July 27, 2014 – Attorney Kevin M. Habberfield of Dwyer, Black & Lyle, LLP again served as the Chairman of the 6th Annual Robert Hutter Memorial Scramble 4 the Animals golf tournament raising almost $9,500.00 for the private animal shelter.  The SPCA Serving Allegany County also announced the donation of land and fundraising process for building a state of the art shelter in Belmont, NY.

June 26, 2014 – Dwyer, Black & Lyle, LLP named the “Most Spirited” business at the Southern Tier Corporate Challenge in Olean, New York. The entire firm participated in this great event.

April 12, 2014 – Attorney Kevin M. Habberfield of Dwyer, Black & Lyle, LLP is named to the Super Lawyers 2015 New York – Upstate Rising Stars list.

February 4, 2014 – an Erie County jury awarded Dwyer, Black & Lyle, LLP clients’ Donald and Katherine Schultz over $8.5 million dollars for personal injuries Mr. Schultz suffered due to medical malpractice.  The case was tried by Jeffrey A. Black, Esq.

September 24, 2013 – Dwyer, Black & Lyle, LLP is pleased to announce the addition of Dawn M. Schwartz, RN to our team.  Dawn has many years of clinical experience in nursing and records review.  We are very happy to have her aboard.

August 18, 2013 – Attorney Kevin M. Habberfield of Dwyer, Black & Lyle, LLP again served as the Chairman of the 5th Annual Robert Hutter Memorial Scramble 4 the Animals golf tournament raising almost $5,000.00 for the private animal shelter.  The SPCA Serving Allegany County also announced the donation of land and fundraising process for building a state of the art shelter in Belmont, NY.

April 25, 2013 – Attorney Kevin M. Habberfield of Dwyer, Black & Lyle, LLP, is elected President of the Cattaraugus County United Way.

April 12, 2013 – Attorney Kevin M. Habberfield of Dwyer, Black & Lyle, LLP is named to the Super Lawyers 2013 New York – Upstate Rising Stars list.

December 6, 2012 – Attorney Kevin M. Habberfield of Dwyer, Black & Lyle, LLP, was a guest lecturer at the State University of Buffalo Law School teaching law students on the subjects of motions for summary judgment and litigation tactics.

December 2, 2012 – Attorneys Ethan M. Lyle and Kevin M. Habberfield of Dwyer, Black & Lyle, LLP both volunteered to judge the 2012 Friar Face-Off Mock Trial tournament at St. Bonaventure University.

November 30, 2012 – Attorney Kevin M. Habberfield of Dwyer, Black & Lyle, LLP, was elected Vice-President of the Cattaraugus County Bar Association for 2013.

September 21, 2012 – A Cattaraugus County jury awarded Dwyer, Black & Lyle, LLP clients’ Robert and Sharon Monette over $1.3 million for personal injuries Mr. Monette suffered on February 5, 2009.  The case was tried by Jeffrey A. Black, Esq.

June 1, 2012 – Attorney Kevin M. Habberfield of Dwyer, Black & Lyle, LLP, has been appointed to the New York State Bar Association House of Delegates as a representative of several counties in the 8th Judicial District.

April 26, 2012 – Attorney Kevin M. Habberfield of Dwyer, Black & Lyle, LLP, was elected Vice-President of the Board of Directors of the Cattaraugus County United Way.

April 25, 2012 – Attorney Ethan M. Lyle of Dwyer, Black & Lyle, LLP, has been appointed to serve a three-year term as a member of the Eighth Judicial District’s Attorney Grievance Committee by the Honorable Henry J. Scudder, Presiding Justice of the Appellate Division Fourth Department.  The 21 member committee hears and reviews allegations of misconduct or ethical violations lodged against attorneys practicing within the Eighth Judicial District, which includes Niagara, Orleans, Erie, Chautauqua, Cattaraugus, Allegany, Genessee and Wyoming counties.

December 2, 2011 – Attorney Kevin M. Habberfield of Dwyer, Black & Lyle, LLP, was elected Secretary/Treasurer of the Cattaraugus County Bar Association for 2012.

October 4, 2011 – Attorney Kevin M. Habberfield of Dwyer, Black & Lyle, LLP was a guest lecturer at the State University of Buffalo Law School teaching law students on the subjects of General Municipal and Education law, as well as the Civil Practice Law and Rules and its interplay with motions for summary judgment.

August 1, 2011 – Attorney Kevin M. Habberfield of Dwyer, Black & Lyle, LLP again served as the Chairman of the SPCA Serving Allegany County’s 3rd Annual Robert Hutter Memorial “Scramble 4 the Animals” Golf Tournament held at the Wellsville Country Club on Sunday, July 31, 2011.  The annual event was renamed this year after the passing of long-time SPCA supporter and fellow Attorney Robert Hutter of Wellsville, New York.  This year’s event raised over $4,000.00 to support the SPCA.

June 6, 2011 – Attorney Ethan M. Lyle of the Olean law firm of Dwyer, Black & Lyle, LLP, has been elected Vice-President of the Board of Directors for the Literacy Volunteers of Cattaraugus County – (LVCC).  LVCC is a non-profit organization that provides free literacy services through the use of trained and supported volunteers.  Current services being offered by LVCC include adult one-on-one tutoring, English as a Second Language tutoring and conversation groups as well as computer tutoring.

May 18, 2011 – Allegany resident Jeffrey A. Black, Esq. has been elected to serve a six-year term on the Allegany-Limestone School Board.  Attorney Black was previously seated on the Board due to a vacancy and was serving a nine-month term.  Attorney Black is the managing partner of the Olean law firm of Dwyer, Black & Lyle, LLP, and he and his wife, Mary Jo, have three children enrolled in the Allegany-Limestone School District.

May 2, 2011 – Jeffrey A. Black, Esq., and Ethan M. Lyle, Esq. of the law firm of Dwyer, Black & Lyle, LLP, is pleased to announce that Attorney Kevin M. Habberfield has been named a Partner with the firm effective immediately.  Attorney Habberfield, who resides in Scio, New York, was previously an Associate with the firm.  Dwyer, Black & Lyle will keep their current name and continue to limit their practice to plaintiff’s personal injury litigation in both New York and Pennsylvania.