Melissa D Wischerath

Melissa D Wischerath

4.7
Rating: 9.7

Licensed for 14 years

Personal injury Lawyer at Buffalo, NY
Practice Areas: Personal Injury, Civil Rights, Defective and Dangerous Products ... +5 more

42 Delaware Ave, Suite 120, Buffalo, NY

About Melissa

Biography

Fees and Rates

Cost

Free Consultation

$0 first 30 minutes


Payment Methods

  • Cash
  • Check
  • Credit Card

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Licenses

Licensed in Oregon for 13 years

State: Oregon

Acquired: 2013

Active

No misconduct found

Licensed in New York for 14 years

State: New York

Acquired: 2012

Currently Registered

No misconduct found

Location

Lipsitz Green Schime Cambria

42 Delaware Ave, Suite 120, Buffalo, NY, 14202

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Melissa D Wischerath's Reviews

Avvo Review Score

4.7 /5.0

3 Client Reviews

Filter Avvo Reviews (3) Refine reviews to match your needs. Use the filters to quickly surface reviews that align with your case or priorities.
Star rating
5 stars 2 4 stars 1
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Practice Areas

Showing 1 - 2 of 2 reviews | Practice Area Knowledge

Posted by anonymous | April 04, 2016 | Hired Attorney | Education

Student v. Eugene 4J School District

Melissa has been my lawyer since 2014, when she took our IDEA case against the Eugene 4J School District. Despite having limited experience in Special Education law, Melissa spent months learning every facet of a very complex and specialized area of law. She won our daughter, who for two years had ...been denied any educational benefit because of her disabilities, the largest compensatory education award in the past decade at the administrative level. Now our daughter, while still finishing her high school requirements, is also taking university classes -- and doing excellent -- something we never imagined when the school district essentially tossed her away. When we appealed an offset of some of the awarded hours, Melissa was tremendously professional and exceptionally competent in her dealings in Oregon federal district court. As a lawyer myself, I honestly couldn't ask for a better advocate for my child. Just this week, she prevailed in our federal court case, obtaining ALL the relief we requested for our daughter. I highly recommend Melissa, particularly for complex special education litigation.

Posted by Mary | May 19, 2015 | Civil Rights

PCRC vs City of Glendale

Melissa, did a nice job in representing PCRC, et al as plaintiffs in the recent Federal Case however the case got a little off track. The main issue was really about a land use issue and the lack of due process and discrimination against the President of PCRC and not necessarily the tenants living a...t the motel in question. All PCRC wants and wanted, was to have the City give him a means to work with them and do the right thing for the city and his tenants and to this day the City of Glendale still refuses to work with PCRC but they continue to issue a business license every year to the corporation. I think it was a confusing case and the Defending attorney was grasping at straws to actually come up with disparaging things against the PCRC President which got Melissa off the main issues of the case. She has good knowledge about discrimination issues and civil rights. She did a good job in discrimination part of the case but the due process portion got lost in the shuffle. Melissa is reliable and has great integrity and I would recommend her to others.

See All Client Reviews

Melissa D Wischerath's Lawyer Endorsements

Endorse Melissa
Kim Sherman headshot
Kim Sherman

Education lawyer | Nov 01

Relationship: Worked for lawyer

"I endorse this lawyer. I worked with Ms. WIscherath on several special education due process actions, and served as an expert witness for two such cases. Ms. Wischerath is extremely organized, excellent with clients and staff, and very effective in the hearing situation. I also worked with Ms. Wischerath on an environmental issue, and appreciated that opportunity."

Stephanie Jayne Dolan headshot
Stephanie Dolan

Environmental and natural resources lawyer | Aug 15

Relationship: Worked together on matter

"I strongly endorse this lawyer. She is hard-working, creative, intelligent and puts her clients first."

Cooper Brinson headshot
Cooper Brinson

Civil rights lawyer | Feb 26

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer."

Bryan R. Boender headshot
Bryan Boender

Civil rights lawyer | May 28

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse Ms. Wischerath. Melissa stands out as a dedicated and fearless advocate."

Marianne G Dugan headshot
Marianne Dugan

Litigation lawyer | Mar 26

Relationship: Worked together on matter

"I endorse this lawyer. Ms. Wischerath is an extremely dedicated, hard-working, smart lawyer. She takes on every case with enthusiasm and care."

View All Endorsements
Stephanie Jayne Dolan headshot
Stephanie Dolan

Environmental and natural resources lawyer

Cooper Brinson headshot
Cooper Brinson

Civil rights lawyer

Lauren C Regan headshot
Lauren Regan

Civil rights lawyer

Bryan R. Boender headshot
Bryan Boender

Criminal defense lawyer

Marianne G Dugan headshot
Marianne Dugan

Environmental and natural resources lawyer

Experience

Rating:  9.7 (Superb)

Honors

2021

Ones to Watch, Best Lawyers in America

2020

Rising Star, SuperLawyers

2019

Rising Star, SuperLawyers

2018

Lawyer of Distinction, Lawyers of Distinction

2018

Rising Star, SuperLawyers

2017

Lawyer of Distinction, Lawyers of Distinction

2017

Distinguished Lawyer, Expert Network

2016

James M. Burns Federal Practice Award, Federal Bar Association, Oregon chapter

2015

2015 Pro Bono Honor Roll, Oregon State Bar, New Lawyers Division

2014

2014 Pro Bono Honor Roll, Oregon State Bar

2013

2013 Pro Bono Honor Roll, Oregon State Bar, New Lawyers Division

Work Experience

2012 - 2013

Volunteer Attorney, Volunteer Lawyer's Project

2009 - 2010

Law Clerk, Lipsitz Green Scime Cambria

2005 - 2008

Legal Assistant, Urban Homesteading Assistance Board

Associations

2016 - Present

The U.S. District Court of Oregon Historical Society

Member

2014 - Present

Northwest Land Conservation Trust

Advisory Board

2013 - Present

Campaign for Greater Buffalo

Board Member

2012 - Present

American Bar Association

Member

2011 - Present

Buffalo Young Preservationists

Member

2008 - Present

National Lawyers Guild

Member

Sample of Legal Cases

S.G.W. V. EUGENE SCH. DIST.

Recovered an award of attorney fees on behalf of a prevailing party.

S.G.W., T.B., and M.B.W. v. Eugene School District

Won on appeal and defeated all cross appeals

White v. Josephine County

Successfully defended against an award of attorney fees.

DP 15-113 In the Matter of Eugene 4J School District

Student received award of 60 hours of compensatory transitional SDI, 35 hours of compensatory organizational and study skills SDI, and 80 hours of social and behavioral skills & injunctive relief.

T.B., M.W., AND S.G.W., v. EUGENE SCHOOL DISTRICT

Prevailed on federal appeal in favor of student that reversed the ALJ's finding for 4J school district.

In the Matter of Eugene 4J School District

Obtained findings for Student that the District denied student FAPE and an award of 1,830 hours of compensatory education

Long v. Gill et al

Won by unanimous jury verdict in citizen's favor

See More Legal Cases

Education

2011

State University of New York at Buffalo School of Law

JD - Juris Doctor

2004

Fordham University

BA - Bachelor of Arts

Speaking Engagements

2016

34th Annual Public Interest Environmental Law Conference How to Start and Run a Public Interest Law Practice

2015

33rd Annual Public Interest Environmental Law Conference Reclaiming the Promise of Home Rule to Protect the Environment

2014

Wayne Morse Center for Law and Politics

“Earned Sick Leave, Preemption and the Powers of Local Government”

2014

CLE Access to Justice

CLE on the Federal District Court Pro Bono Panel

2014

32nd Annual Public Interest Environmental Law Conference Food Systems and Environmental Law

Publications

Languages

English

Activity

Avvo Rating

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