MANHATTAN FERRY ACCIDENT:
STATEMENT BY STATE BAR PRESIDENT SEYMOUR W. JAMES, JR.

On Wednesday morning, a commuter ferry, traveling from Highlands, N.J., crashed into a pier in lower Manhattan. More than 50 individuals were injured, according to early news accounts.

“It is important for all of us in the legal community to recognize the importance of respecting the privacy of the victims and their families,” said Seymour W. James, Jr., president of the New York State Bar Association.

James warned lawyers against unwarranted solicitation of victims about possible lawsuits.

“I remind my colleagues in the legal community that the New York Rules of Professional Conduct prohibit attorneys from soliciting potential clients in personal injury or wrongful death matters for 30 days following the date of the incident—unless a filing is required within 30 days, in which case solicitation is prohibited for 15 days," he said.

Read the news release here.