The Law Offices of Matthew Albert Esq.

Merry Xmas to Gus and family. https://www.wivb.com//hamburg-family-reunited-with-their-/

BUFFALO NY: Foster/ Adopter needed ASAP!!! 38 Special once passionately sung that a heart needs a second chance... we say that this Chance needs a heart to take him in and give him a loving home. At only 1 and a half year old, Chance has not had the opportunity to thrive. He will now. He lived with some deadbeat owners who used to let him and his sister run the streets. They got into it with a smaller dog (she's ok), and Chance was then seized by the Town of Hornell where the... Judge completely illegally let him languish in the shelter for 8 months. Chance has never had a real home and has been cooped up... it's making his hair fall out. Hornell Humane Society is an excellent shelter and the staff/ volunteers did care for him very well and reached out to us... he's ours!!! Chance is a very smart, trainable, and loving 1.5 year old pitty boy. He is fixed and up to date on all of his shots. He comes with his own trainer, Katie Gallagher from Kate's K-9's who will make sure his transition is smooth. Chance would do best in an only dog home with no young children. Please open your heart and take this Chance... you won't regret it.

Buster says Merry Christmas to all. Except the Steuben County DA's office that tried to kill him. And the racist Erie County DA's office. And all the breed discriminators, racists, fascists, and... aw forget it. Merry Christmas!!!!

As many get set to put this year to rest by spending time, virtually or otherwise, with their loved ones, there are others who are not as fortunate. Some must instead try and take solace with the prospect of justice for the cruel killing of their sons, brothers, and sisters by our government. Yesterday, upon the Attorney Generals' indictment of Eduardo Oropallo relative to the death of Gary Strobridge, his family and my clients received the somewhat hollow gift of hope that h...Continue reading

SAVED: Despite the best efforts of Joseph Pelych, Brooks Baker, and the Steuben County District attorney's office, this big lug, Buster, will be receiving presents this holiday season as opposed to being churned out in an incinerator. What is more, we are VERY honored to make him our first resident of our new state of the art kennels at the Against All Oddz Animal Alliance Inc. animal sanctuary. Last summer, Buster did pull away from his owner and killed a small dog. It is ...awful, and we will never minimize the loss of ANY life. Life is sacrosanct. Which is why the Steuben County's District Attorney's decision to leverage a bogus criminal charge against Buster's owner to try and illegally kill this poor animal is disgraceful. They took advantage of a pro se litigant and secured an illegal death order. Luckily, we were contacted, came in, and made things right. Of course... Baker and Pelych weren't held responsible for their unethical behavior... men like them rarely are. White men of privilege and power hate and fear who they don't know and what they don't understand. In my 15 years in the system, there is one thing that I have seen prosecutors work harder and more unethically towards than the enslavement of black men... and that is the killing of pit bulls. (Yes, I know pit bulls is a misnomer). At any rate. Not this one and not today. Buster is coming to our AAO family and island of misfit toys. After being abused and abandoned his whole life, whether from his original deadbeat owners or the system that tried so hard to kill him...he will now, Against All Oddz Animal Alliance Inc. live a beautiful life. #AGAINSTALLODDZ

Our statement on the AG's decision not to file criminal charges against those who killed India Cummings. In short, they came to the conclusion that as this was a total system failure, no one person can be held accountable. We believe that as this was a total system failure, they ALL should be held accountable. The whole damn system is guilty. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 5, 2020 Matthew Albert, Esq. (716) 445-4119, The Law Offices of Matthew Albert Esq. ... Buffalo, New York We are deeply dismayed by the Attorney General’s decision that nobody would be criminally charged relative to the death of India Cummings at the Erie County Holding Center in 2016. Criminal negligence is defined as failing to perceive a substantial and unjustifiable risk that, in this case, death or serious injury would occur. The failure to perceive such risk must constitute a gross deviation from the standard of care that a reasonable person would observe in this situation for such conduct to constitute criminal negligence. In this instance, numerous medical professionals and holding center staff stood around and watched India Cummings die in plain sight. They did not measure her vitals. They did not make sure she was hydrated. They did not make sure she was properly nourished. Instead, they watched her wallow in her own waste, not eat, not drink and deteriorate to the point of total organ failure. Such is the textbook definition of criminal negligence, if not, depraved indifference, which is a more culpable state of mind and therefore would lead to more severe charges being filed. We are saddened that India will not receive justice within the confines of the criminal justice system and do believe this is a failure of the system for these actors to not be held accountable. While all prosecutors like layups, we are of the belief that other shots should be taken as well. While this case may be more nuanced and layered than a case of a police officer shooting an unarmed man in the back, it is a case that is worth making and should have been taken. We of course will continue on our journey to obtain Ms. Cummings and her family some degree of justice within the civil realm.

The "pit bull," is my client's, Atom Arrollo. Today is a very sad and appropriate day to finalize our long journey for justice with the lack of criminal charges coming against the cops who killed Breanna Taylor. My client was a decorated Iraqi war veteran who fought for his country overseas so that he could come home and live a quiet life with his best friend, a two-year-old pit bull named Cindy. That was, until BPD executed a wrong house search warrant when going after the ...drug dealers whom lived in the front unit. Detective Joe Cook then killed my client's beloved and angelic dog, who was tethered and tied to her station. City propagandist Mike DeGeorge continued to disparage my client and say he was a drug dealer when my client has never so much as smoked a joint. This settlement proves shines a spotlight on a much larger issue. Judges, in partnering with police to feed the prison industrial complex, sign search warrants with less thought than when they are choosing chicken or beef for whatever political fundraiser they are attending. Innocent angels like Cindy and wrongfully accused soldiers, especially men of color like Atom, become mere casualties of an unjust system and a manufactured war on drugs. Cindy's killer, Joe Cook, killed upwards of 50 dogs during his illustrious career. He didn't get arrested... he received a taxpayer funded pension for potentially killing more dogs than any cop in the United States. The whole damn system is guilty. https://buffalonews.com//article_e3689f68-fdc6-11ea-b2d0-0

LAWSUIT filed: Gary Strobridge merely needed competent and reasonable care on August 22, 2019. If he had that, he would have undoubtedly overcome his brief mental health episode and returned to the kind, generous, and handsome artist and musician that was beloved in the Elmira, New York community. Instead, he was beaten by members of the Elmira Police Department and ultimately died. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 16, 2020... Matthew Albert, Esq. (716) 445-4119, The Law Offices of Matthew Albert Esq. Elmira, New York - A federal lawsuit has been filed on behalf of Gary Strobridge, a 47-year-old Elmira resident who passed away while in police custody last summer on August 22, 2019. The complaint alleges that numerous City of Elmira police officers used excessive force and were negligent in their handling of Gary Strobridge while he was in the throes of a mental health crisis. The federal complaint alleges that such force directly contributed to Mr. Strobridge’s demise. Civil rights attorneys Matthew Albert and James VanDette are pursuing the claims against the municipality and its officers. In conjunction, the New York State Attorney General’s Office is in the midst of an investigation to determine whether crimes were committed by the officers involved. On August 22, 2019, concerned neighbors contacted the police due to Mr. Strobridge standing on a rooftop and acting in an irrational manner. Upon police arrival, Mr. Strobridge was ultimately tackled and punched by numerous officers on Horner Street in the presence of several neighbors. Neighbor Georgia Burton observed that the Officer began to punch him, and four other Officers all then jumped in and began beating him. The male Officers were brutally beating Gary. Mr. Strobridge was then transported to St. Joseph’s hospital. A video viewed by Mr. Strobridge’s attorneys demonstrate that Mr. Strobridge was again assaulted and had his head slammed to the ground, while handcuffed, numerous times by Officer Eduardo Orapollo. This was a complete and utter failure in the handling of an individual who simply needed help, says attorney Matthew Albert. The police met illness with ignorance and violence. Mr. Strobridge’s death and subsequent lawsuit come at a time where activists all across the country are questioning police responses to mental health crisis’s, and whether that model should be overhauled by utilizing social workers and mental health professionals to respond instead. Prior to his mental health crisis, Mr. Strobridge is remembered in the community as a kind man and talented musician and artist who would give away his art to appreciative neighbors and friends.

Legal analysis on the police shooting of a man in Buffalo: This call came in as a wellness check for a man walking down a street with a bat. He had committed no crime, nor is it illegal to walk with a bat. As such, while the Police could certainly ask this man questions, they had no right to seize him, which is what they did when they drew their guns on him prior to him allegedly swinging a bat before an Officer shot him. ... Clearly, pulling guns on a man in a mental health episode amplifies and escalates the situation. He rightfully feels that he is under attack, as is evidenced by the first video. The stop and seizure of this man by ten officers was wrong from its inception. The shooting of the man as opposed to using non-lethal tactics also showed a disregard for human life. While it was said pepper spray was deployed... there is NO indication of that from any video. I did not hear a single cough. Further, this is 2020. Why the BPD are not armed with tasers is an absolute disgrace. A taser to the upper body would have undoubtedly allowed the police to tackle/disarm the man, though the situation should not have gotten to that point to begin with.

So, driving home late Sunday night, one of these guys runs in front of me on a dark road. I then see two more sets of eyes staring at me on the side of the road...Guess who has more kittens?! I was able to grab two, not the third. (We have been going back trying to find their buddy). I checked with neighbors... they had been helping feed them but otherwise, they were not owned. In fact, they both have somewhat severe respiratory issues and are going to the vet today. They ...are VERY friendly and once they have been vetted will be very adoptable. Kim Folger wants to call them Jamie and Benn... as she is a Stars fan. I'm thinking Josh and Allen... what do you guys think?! #AGAINSTALLODDZ is NOT just a dog rescue or even a dog and cat rescue... it is a perspective. From each according to ability to each according to need. Speaking of need... we have dogs in board and train, expensive vet bills...we do have a Go Fund Me going if anyone can help. https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-our-against-all-oddz-miracl?

These are some of our current miracles who, Against ALL Oddz, are going to have amazing lives. We do not let finances or difficulties impact our decision making into who we take into our rescue. In fact, we take the hardest cases that often demand the most resources for the simple reason... no one else will and they deserve it. Moe, on the left, was at a vets office with her prior owner and she was 10 minutes from being killed, at the age of 2. We didn't let that happen, and... she is now in a board and train with all star trainer Josh Moran at BFK9, getting ready to live her best life. It'll be pricey but she's worth it. Lucy, in the middle, was almost feral and missing a foot due to trauma. She's with us, and we will love her and treat her.... it'll be pricey but she's worth it. Brady was wrongfully locked up for 21 months in cruel inhumane conditions by a cruel Judge in the cruel town of Ogden, New York. By the grace of who knows what, we got him out and he is living his best life. It was the most taxing effort, both emotionally and financially, that we have faced. But he's worth it. These efforts have exhausted us financially as we are also building our sanctuary. We have not had a day off from our jobs or AAO for... God knows when, as we make ends meet for these angels and more. Please help us help the ones no one else will... we need the help now more than ever. https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-our-against-all-oddz-miracl

Many have reached out about this matter. We have offered our services but to become involved, we would need someone with legal standing... some kind of possessory interest in the dog, to formally retain our services. In this case, that would be a representative of the rescuing agency who brought this dog over to the U.S. That is the case whether or not we were to offer our services on a pro bono basis. We could file an emergency injunction on such agency's behalf to protect against adverse action taken by the Government, if necessary. At this juncture, it is my understanding that advocates are in touch with the authorities and trying to resolve this without formal representation. Obviously, we wish them the best and are on standby in case anyone needs us. https://nypost.com//paralyzed-dog-in-quarantine-at-j/amp/

BRADY UPDATE: Good news: Everybody LOVES Brady. His foster loves him and is has talked about adopting him. (Not to tattle, Tami Dunkle). Her neighbor loves him and has talked about adopting him. We love him and have talked about adopting him. More good news: Medically speaking, he is not in nearly as bad shape as we feared. He is a walrus from being confined in a 3 by 8 for 21 months by the monsters in the Town of Ogden, and weight loss is pivotal for his long term health. ...He may have suffered some hearing loss because the brainpower at the Town of Ogden thought it would be a good idea to keep him at a kennel.. for 21 months... affixed to a Town Highway department. Also speaking of said monsters... when we appealed the ridiculous judgement against his former owner for his unlawful confinement, the town attorney threatened to try and kill him again, under the Town Code. They did back down from that cruel and unlawful proposition when law and decency were cited. Brady is safe and very happy... and his vet bills won't be nearly as expensive as we feared. So all that is good. Bad news is... we can still really use some donations. We are thousands and thousands in the red for paying NYS and an appellate printing company to process Brady's appeal. We just put another one of our dogs, Moe, into a two week board and train. Somehow, we have a kitten missing a foot that we need to get emergency treatment and follow up appointments. (Thanks Christine Townsend). And we are building beautiful and spacious kennels for our sanctuary. So, @AgainstAllOddz, we can realllllly use some donations.

ADOPTED!!! Our big Bear wasn't the easiest to tame. Having grown up with an owner riddled by drug addiction and mental health issues, Bear was left to wander the streets. He learned to chase after little dogs and basically conduct himself like a wild animal. He had so much potential... but needed a little extra help to be the amazing and beautiful boy we knew he could be. After 4 weeks at K9 Vision Inc at the DLC... he has become a totally different dog while still retaining his playful and loving spirit. He is extremely lucky to have found a home with two teachers who are more than happy to keep up with his training to ensure he continues to thrive. Against All Oddz Animal Alliance Inc., this big Black Bear is HOME.

Here is Brady's back story. https://www.change.org/p/ogden-town-justice-michael-schiano This is today. So many mixed emotions. Brady is here. He is happy. He is safe. But they hurt this poor dog so badly. He is Morbidly obese. His hips and joints are a mess. He can’t seem to hear well. Yet he is happy. I’m not. I’m happy he is here, but I am both furious and sad that a Town would do this to the dog. Every official from the Town of Ogden that played a part in this fiasco, most of all the judge, should resign. They are as unfit to serve the public as this poor dog is after 20 months in confinement. We will do everything in our power and invest any and all resources to make it right for this beautiful boy. Woe to those who think that evil is good... and good is evil.

I'm Matt Albert. I'm running as a write in candidate for DA on a completely grassroots and unfunded campaign. I'm going against an incumbent DA who is cross endorsed on both Democratic and Republican lines. This is a long shot of long shots. In running for DA, I am inviting the skeletons of my past... skeletons I have fought very hard to leave in the past... back into the spotlight. I run an animal sanctuary for abused animals, as well as an intense and busy law practice whil...e working around the clock as it is. So why am I running exactly? Because it's the right thing to do for the movement. Because John Flynn has not prosecuted ONE cop in Erie County for a crime against a person of color in four years. Because things need to be said. Because things need to change. Because Erie County government is a stagnant and oppressive regime where politics always prevails over the good of the citizenry. And if not me, who? We all need to be the change we want to see in this world, in this community. I have spent the last 6 six years carving out a niche as an animal welfare, criminal defense, and civil rights attorney... using my platform as an attorney to address social injustices. For instance... police in Buffalo used to shoot dogs for sport, mostly belonging to people of color in the inner cities. It was a way to exercise power and control over the citizenry... they couldn't shoot the people in the houses all that much... so they would shoot their best friends instead. DA's laughed, police brass and even the SPCA looked the other way. I filed about 10-15 lawsuits against the City... fighting these cases day in and day out...they have stopped shooting. I'm not perfect, but I strive to be better and to do my part in this movement to bring fairness and justice to a system that is anything but. I'd be honored if you would join me.

Last update on Vanessa for now, and to clear up some misconceptions. 1. To be clear, we are in no way blaming the complainant for getting bit. The bite was highly unfortunate, and any person who is bit by a dog deserves sympathy and empathy. We do not victim blame. However, what is also unfortunate, to put it kindly, is for people who call themselves dog lovers to be relentlessly pursuing a dog's demise as opposed to being open to alternative and remedial measures. 2. Many ...people are reaching out to me, asking how they can help. While all support for Vanessa and her family is greatly appreciated, it is not my place as the attorney to tell people how to advocate... that would be more aligned with a rescue or animal advocacy group. 3. There have been some new developments as we are working relentlessly on this matter, and we will be pursuing legal relief shortly.

Our Princess' eyes are truly the window to her soul. She appears to have been beaten, bit, and was abandoned to die. And yet... her spirit is intact. 11 years old, and #AGAINSTALLODDZ, her best years lay ahead.

RESCUED: Some happy news.. those who follow us know we can all desperately use it. And there is no one more deserving of some happy news than this 11 year old elderly princess. Princess has had, frankly, a sh** life. She lived her whole life with a family that, despite her name, treated her as "just a dog." It is unknown if she was abused, but she is pretty fearful of new people. Last month, that family abandoned her. A homeless lady who cared for her took her in and gave h...er the love and affection she needed. This lady, however, was offered a bed at a program that she needed to take to turn her life around. Princess would again have nowhere to go... while Prince Charming I am not, I couldn't let this princess live a life without actually being treated like the Cinderella she is. (Somewhere, I lost the metaphor). Anyway, Princess has now come up from NYC to us in Buffalo, and is now living with her prince in the form of our foster, the retired homicide cop in the photo. She will not leave his side... it's only day one, but could this be her forevermore?? #AGAINSTALLODDZ, has she found her Prince?? Stay tuned for the next episode of Days of Our Rescue.