Intimidating, exhilarating, challenging, these are all terms attorneys have used to describe the experience of oral argument before the New York Court of Appeals, but perhaps the most mentioned takeaway is the notion that one is very privileged to have the opportunity to appear before the highest court in New York.   

Adams Leclair attorney Mary Jo S. Korona appeared before the Court of Appeals on January 3, 2023 to argue that Ontario County’s real estate tax foreclosure of a family business property violated the taxpayer’s due process rights. The tax sale resulted in Ontario county collecting a sum of money at the sale that greatly exceeded the taxes owed when the taxpayer was required to buy her own property back. Korona argued that the county failed to provide adequate notice to the taxpayer, and that the county was not constitutionally permitted to retain the large windfall that resulted.  This appearance was her first opportunity to present before the Court.

Ms. Korona is a Senior Counsel of Adams Leclair. Her practice has focused on commercial, employment and municipal litigation. Over the years, she has served the bar as a regular lecturer on attorney ethics.  She was recognized as one of the Leaders of Law in 2016 and has been included in The Best Lawyers in America® for Commercial Litigation since her peer selection in 2008.

To view Mary Jo Korona’s full appearance before the New York Court of Appeals on January 3, 2023 in CA 20-00680 Hetelekides v County of Ontario: Court of Appeals – Oral Arguments Archive (nycourts.gov)