Curran named News Outstanding Citizen

New York State Supreme Court Justice John M. Curran '84

New York State Supreme Court Justice John M. Curran '84 was among six Western New Yorkers named by The Buffalo News as Outstanding Citizens for 2008. He is a past president of the UB Law Alumni Association.

The honor, announced in the newspaper's June 14 issue, recognized Curran's oversight of a legal case that led to an agreement between Kaleida Health and Erie County Medical Center to merge.

"The judge's role was especially crucial, considering he had stepped into an acrimonious situation with groups that were at war with each other and that seemed headed for disaster," the newspaper wrote. "But Curran encouraged mediation and, even after talks broke down, he pushed again and again for a resolution he and others believed was in the best interests of the community. Like a diplomat, he shuttled from group to group during eight hours of negotiations that involved almost 60 people, including all of the hospitals' key officials, County Executive Chris Collins, University at Buffalo President John Simpson, the leaders of the UB Medical School, a committee of physicians from ECMC and Kaleida Health and an array of lawyers. In the end, the parties resolved key differences and found common ground."

"This is the most complex thing I have ever been involved with," Curran said at the time, adding that it also was the most rewarding thing he had ever done.