LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring Howard S. Finkelstein upon the occasion
of receiving the John S. McBride Lifetime Achievement Award from the
Orange County Bar Association on May 18, 2010

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to recognize those
individuals of preeminent character whose lives exemplify the highest
ideals of humanity and whose lifework and civic endeavor serve to
enhance the quality of life in their communities and the great State of
New York; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to honor
Howard S. Finkelstein upon the occasion of receiving the John S. McBride
Lifetime Achievement Award from the Orange County Bar Association at its
99th Annual Awards and Business Dinner Meeting to be held on Tuesday,
May 18, 2010, at The Fountains at Wallkill Golf Club, Middletown, New
York; and
WHEREAS, A man of singular distinction, Howard S. Finkelstein has
continually demonstrated extreme competence, extraordinary intelligence,
and diligent leadership in his unwavering service to his community and
profession; and
WHEREAS, Howard S. Finkelstein was born and raised in Brooklyn, New
York; he attended Brooklyn College where he received his Bachelor of
Arts degree in studies related to racial diversity; and
WHEREAS, A Korean War Veteran, Howard S. Finkelstein received an LLB,
JD, from Brooklyn Law School in 1959; and
WHEREAS, In 1961, Howard settled in Newburgh, New York, where he
founded Howard S. Finkelstein Law Offices; his practice consisted prima-
rily of criminal defense and plaintiff's personal injury; he quickly
gained a reputation as a tenacious trial attorney; and
WHEREAS, Through the 1960s and 1970s, Howard S. Finkelstein handled 27
homicide cases as well as hundreds of lesser criminal cases before many
prominent judges; as time went on, he began hiring talented associates
to handle the success of his growing practice; and
WHEREAS, When Howard S. Finkelstein directed his attention towards
personal injury, he obtained the first verdict in excess of $1 million
dollars in Orange County in 1975; since then, Finkelstein & Partners has
handled thousands of personal injury cases in Orange County; and
WHEREAS, Howard S. Finkelstein's first office in Orange County was on
Liberty Street in the City of Newburgh; this office enabled him to
quickly travel by ferry to Beacon for morning Court appearances and
return back to Newburgh for afternoon appearances in the City of
Newburgh; in 1977 the firm moved to Route 9W and donated the building it
had been occupying to the NAACP; in 2008 the firm's main office moved to
its present location on Union Avenue in the Town of Newburgh; and
WHEREAS, As part of his law practice, Howard S. Finkelstein provided
extensive pro-bono work for many minority individuals and organizations;
following September 11, 2001, the firm represented pro-bono several
victims' families; and
WHEREAS, Dedicated to the enhancement of his profession, Howard S.
Finkelstein has served as President of the Greater Newburgh Bar Associ-
ation, President of the Orange County Bar Association, Governor of New
York State Association of Plaintiffs Trial Lawyers, Board of Directors
of the New York State Trial Lawyers Association, on the Advisory Board
Bank of New York, Arbitrator for the American Arbitration Association
and Moot Court Judge at Pace Law School; and
WHEREAS, In addition to his professional affiliations, Howard S.
Finkelstein has been a committed philanthropist in the areas of educa-

tion and disadvantaged families; a full scholarship is donated to a
needy student each year at Brooklyn Law School; the Culinary Institute
of America in Hyde Park also receives a scholarship annually; further-
more, he founded the Diane Finkelstein Fund for Families in Crisis and
was the exclusive sponsor of the TIMES HERALD RECORD'S Orange County
Classic Wheelchair Race; and
WHEREAS, Rare indeed is the impressive dedication shown by an individ-
ual for the benefit of others which Howard S. Finkelstein has displayed
throughout his life; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that those who
enhance the quality of life in their community and have shown a long and
sustained commitment to the maintenance of high standards in their
profession, certainly have earned the recognition and applause of all
the citizens of this great Empire State; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor Howard S. Finkelstein upon the occasion of receiving the John S.
McBride Lifetime Achievement Award from the Orange County Bar Associ-
ation on May 18, 2010; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Howard S. Finkelstein.