Orchard Park, NY

Michael Ranzenhofer

As a partner in the Friedman & Ranzenhofer, PC law firm, Buffalo Attorney Michael Ranzenhofer takes his responsibilities to the citizens of the Buffalo and WNY area very seriously. He grew up in Long Island, NY and received a B.A. (Magna Cum Laude) in 1976 from S.U.N.Y. Albany and a Juris Doctor in 1979 from S.U.N.Y. Buffalo. Michael Ranzenhofer was admitted to all New York State Courts (1980), the U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York (1980) and the U.S. Supreme Court (1985). He was a member of the New York Senate serving the 61st District for twelve years, and an Erie County Legislator for twenty years. He focuses on accidents and personal injury litigation.

Robert Friedman

Robert (“Bob”) Friedman loves sharing his knowledge of the law and 45 years experience as a New York attorney by writing books, blogs and newspaper columns; presenting seminars and webinars; serving on nonprofit boards; and mentoring law school students. He attributes his success to client education, community involvement, and a reputation for cost effective, practical solutions to legal problems. Friedman & Ranzenhofer, PC was founded in 1955 by Bob’s dad, Fred Friedman, a Holocaust survivor and U.S. Army veteran. Bob’s son, Justin Friedman (associate) joined the firm in 2018. Bob frequently lectures on how to avoid probate, asset preservation, and estate and nursing home planning. He is the author of numerous legal guides, including the Complete Guide to Medicaid in New York, NY Executor’s Legal Survival Guide, How to Survive Legally as a Landlord, The Upstart Small Business Legal Guide, and How to Form Your Own “S” Corporation and Avoid Double Taxation. He was real estate law columnist for both the Buffalo News and Courier Express. Bob was born in Queens, New York and has been a life- long Western New York resident. When not practicing law, Bob enjoys paddle boarding; and spending time with his family; German Shepherd Dog, Leo; and cat, Vinny. For 44 years, Robert (“Bob”) Friedman has assisted individuals, businesses and organizations to identify actual or potential problems and correct those problems before they become major crises. Bob has the unique experience of having successfully prosecuted over 33,000 dangerous and distracted drivers for 40 years as a Vehicle & Traffic Prosecutor. He was named 2003 WNY Prosecutor of the Year. He stopped a legal challenge to the constitutionality of the New York seatbelt law. As a prosecutor, Bob saw many personal injury car accident cases and distracted driver cases. Using his extensive knowledge of the NY Vehicle & Traffic Law and NY Transportation Law, Bob prosecuted dangerous truck drivers, dangerous bus drivers, dangerous motorcycle drivers and dangerous automobile drivers. These dangerous drivers endangered the lives of their passengers, pedestrians, bicyclists, and other drivers. As a prosecutor, Mr. Friedman learned how people are victimized by dangerous and distracted drivers. In learning how people were victimized, he learned how to best speak to people and the police. He learned that there’s a lot more to the story than what’s covered in the police report or in a traffic incident report. He learned to investigate and to look deeper.

Joy Ellen Miserendino

Joy Ellen Miserendino is a personal injury attorney with over 30 years of trial experience, focusing on cases like automobile accidents, work-related accidents, product liability, and premises liability. She graduated from Boston University School of Law and previously worked as a registered occupational therapist, giving her a unique understanding of her clients' injuries. She has achieved numerous multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements, including one of the top 30 verdicts in New York State in 2016.

Sam Alba

Samuel Alba is Of Counsel with the Friedman & Ranzenhofer, P.C. law firm where he has worked since March of 2015. His practice areas include criminal defense, plaintiff’s personal injury, matrimonial and family law, plaintiffs’ class actions, municipal law and article 78 proceedings, labor and employment, and estate litigation. One of Sam’s representative cases is a wage and hour class action which settled for 3.1 million dollars in 2019. In law school, Sam was the president of the Jewish Law Student Association (2013-2014); and a member of two national trial teams and two Albert R. Mugel National Tax Moot Court teams. In addition, Sam is also the village attorney and a deputy village prosecutor in the Village of Depew. Previously, Sam worked as an attorney editor for Thomson Reuters (Westlaw) drafting New York State Civil Litigation guides for attorneys throughout the State of New York. Sam Alba is currently a board member of the U.B. Law Alumni Association’s G.O.L.D. (Graduates of the Last Decade) Leadership Group where he co-chairs the sponsorship committee and serves as the deputy treasurer. Sam is also a member of the Board of Directors of the Erie County Bar Association as well as a member of the Erie County Bar Association’s Young Lawyers’ Committee, Criminal Law Committee, and the Matrimonial and Family Law Committee. Sam is on board of the W.N.Y. Media Professionals where he sits on the committee working to restore the Broadway Sattler Theater located at the intersection of Jefferson and Broadway on Buffalo’s East Side. Sam is a past president of the Williamsville, P.T.S.A. Council, and was the youngest person to ever hold this position.

Sean E. Cooney

Sean Cooney is a Partner at Dolce Panepinto, specializing in NYS Labor Law claims from workplace and construction accidents. He earned his undergraduate degree from Saint Louis University and law degree from SUNY Buffalo. He joined Dolce Panepinto as a law clerk in 2005, became an associate, and then a partner in 2013. He represents clients across New York State, achieving significant recoveries.

Edward L. Smith, III

Edward L. Smith, III, born and raised in Lewiston, New York, is a Partner at Dolce Panepinto. He graduated from Rochester Institute of Technology with a Bachelor of Science Degree with Honors and from The State University of New York at Buffalo Law School. He joined Dolce Panepinto in 2003 to concentrate his trial practice, handling motor vehicle accidents, construction injuries, premises injuries, products liability, collection matters, and medical malpractice claims. He has nearly twenty years of practice experience.

Anne M. Wheeler

Anne M. Wheeler, born and raised in New York City, is a Partner at Dolce Panepinto. She received a B.A. in Government from Hamilton College in 2005 and graduated cum laude from the University at Buffalo Law School in 2010. She was admitted to practice in New York State Courts in March 2011 and in the United States District Court, Western District of New York in June 2012. She assists with all aspects of personal injury claims.