Susan E. Otto

Ms. Otto has practiced with Melvin & Melvin since 1986. She has prosecuted commercial and embezzlement cases on behalf of banking clients and has defended banks against claims of negligence, conversion, fraud, misrepresentation and exploitive overreaching. In addition, Ms. Otto has prosecuted and defended products liability, strict employer-liability, ERISA and employment discrimination claims. She has represented entrepreneurs in unfair competition and breach of trust claims, and both landlords and tenants in property disputes.

She litigates in federal, state, and appellate courts, and is a member of the Tort and Insurance Practice section of the American Bar Association.

Education

• Syracuse University (J.D., 1986)
• University of Michigan at Ann Arbor (B.A, 1983)

Admitted

• 1987, New York
• 1987, United States District Court, Northern District of New York

Professional Organizations and Honors

• American Bar Association
  • Business Law Section
  • Litigation Section
  • Tort and Insurance Practice Section
• New York State Bar Association
  • Trial Lawyers Section
  • Commercial and Federal Litigation Section
• Onondaga County Bar Association
• NDNY Federal Court Bar Association

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Community Organizations

• Board of Trustees, Onondaga Free Library
• Daycare Board of Directors, Former Member, CHOICES Child Care, Inc.

Publications and Seminars

• Winning Your Case at the Deposition: Effective Tools for the Successful Litigator – Deposing the Witness
• Conditional Limitations Versus Conditions Subsequent, and the Doctrine of Voluntary Surrender
• Commercial and Residential Evictions – Sterling Education Services, LLC

Prior Experience

• Arbitrator, Syracuse City Court
• Guest Lecturer, New York State Bar Association
  • Real Property Law Section
  • Torts, Insurance and Compensation Law Section
• Staff Editor, Syracuse Journal of International Law and Commerce (1984-85)