On May 11, Benedene Cannata was again sworn in to continue as one of the Deans of the New York State Academy of Trial Lawyers, a position she has had the privilege to enjoy since 2006. Deans are responsible for what the academy presents in terms of legal education courses. They conceive CLE topics and also present their own courses and write CLE materials.

On May 17 and 18 in Syracuse, Rochester and Buffalo, Benedene, a co-presenter for the New York State Academy of Trial Lawyers CLE “Punitive Damages, What to Plead, What to Prove” spoke about punitive damages in motor-vehicle accident cases.