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In 1997, Attorney General Vacco personally argued the case of Vacco v. Quill before the United States Supreme Court. Mr. Vacco argued that the Second Circuit wrongly determined that the act of physician-assisted suicide was not illegal. The Supreme Court agreed with Mr. Vacco’s argument that physician-assisted suicide was not a constitutionally protected right. Vacco’s role in this important decision was applauded by organizations representing the elderly and disabled. In 1998 Mr. Vacco served as one of the lead negotiators seeking to resolve the multi-state lawsuits against the tobacco industry. Through his efforts, New York State was awarded the single largest share of the $200 billion settlement awarded to the States. Prior to being elected as Attorney General, Mr. Vacco was appointed as the United States Attorney for the Western District of New York State by President Ronald Reagan. He continued to serve in that capacity under President George H. Bush. While United States Attorney, Mr. Vacco served as the Chairman of the Advisory Committee to the Attorney General on Environmental Enforcement, and created the first environmental task force in the nation which joined State, local and Federal resources in an effort to combat environmental crime. Prior to his Senate confirmation as United States Attorney in 1988, Mr. Vacco served as an Assistant District Attorney in Erie County, New York. Vacco, who was hired by the District Attorney upon graduation from the University Of Buffalo School Of Law in 1978, was promoted to Grand Jury Bureau Chief in 1982. In the District Attorney’s Office Vacco was well known for his trial work. He led the investigation into the 1987 double homicides of two Roman Catholic priest and ultimately tried the case which led to the conviction of one of the defendants. Upon the end of his term as Attorney General in 1998, Mr. Vacco was recruited by Waste Management Inc., of Houston, Texas to serve as the president of the company’s New York subsidiary. As chief operating officer of Waste Management of New York, LLC, Mr. Vacco was responsible for over $700 million in revenue, nearly 3,000 employees and over a dozen operating sites across the State. In 2004 Mr. Vacco left Waste Management to form, in Albany, New York, a consulting firm which advised clients on government relations and compliance. Mr. Vacco’s clients included businesses in the insurance, gaming, environmental, healthcare and educational sectors of the economy. In April of 2008 Mr. Vacco left his consulting firm in order to concentrate his law practice on serving various companies as outside general counsel. Mr. Vacco currently serves on the Board of Directors American Coradius International, LLC. He previously served on the Boards of the National Grape Cooperative and Welch’s. Mr. Vacco earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Economics from Colgate University in 1974 and his Doctorate of Jurisprudence from the University Of Buffalo School Of Law in 1978. He resides in Boston, New York with his wife Kelly, who is also an attorney, and their two teenage sons. Partner Practice Areas:
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Lippes Mathias Wexler Friedman LLP | 665 Main Street, Suite 300 | Buffalo, New York 14203 |
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