Jeanne M. Vinal, Esq.
Partner
Jeanne M. Vinal, Esq., was born and raised in Western New York, graduating from Sacred Heart Academy, and then obtaining a dual degree in Economics and Philosophy from Colgate University where she was awarded a George Cobb Fellowship for Community Service.
Jeanne graduated from SUNY at Buffalo Law School, cum laude (with honors) in 1989. Since graduation, she has practiced law in Western New York.
Jeanne and Greg Vinal started Vinal & Vinal, P.C. in 1994 after spending five years working at two local firms.
Jeanne Vinal is a member of the American Trial Lawyers Association (now the American Association for Justice), New York State Trial Lawyers, Western New York Trial Lawyers, and the Erie County Bar Association. She serves on the Board of Stella Niagara Educational Park and is a member of the erie County Democratic committee and has served on the Board of Literacy Volunteers of Western New York and the Women’s Bar Association of the State of New York as well as the Western New York Chapter of the Women’s Bar Association, where she served as Treasurer.
Jeanne’s practice is primarily limited to litigation being civil work in the State Supreme Court. She also represents people in Social Security matters. In addition, she does do small business counseling for minority contractors.
Jeanne has devoted her practice to helping clients and has had the honor of obtaining most of her clients through referrals from other members of the Bar.
Jeanne and Greg have four children, Lizzy, Gregory, Jr., Frederic and Sarah, and are members of St. Benedict’s Parish.
Jeanne Vinal has devoted her professional life to the service of others and is proud to provide the highest level legal work to the injured, the poor, and the people who service the injured and poor.
Jeanne credits her roots. She was born and raised in East Buffalo, the fifth of six children in a home filled with happiness and love, but not without hardships. Jeanne's father, Fred Vezina, was a brilliant and brave man (MIT grad and 82nd Airborne during WWII). Her parents, then new to Buffalo, had three kids then, aged 4, 2, and 1 and the four year old contracted Polio and was paralyzed. Just months later, the vaccine came out but there were limited quantities, and people over 30 could not get it. Her father thought since he was 29, why not save the vaccine for a child. However, he contracted polio just weeks after the vaccine was available and was in the hospital for two years and came out in a wheelchair, told he'd live only a year. Due to the love and care of Jeanne's mom, Rita, he lived 38 more years and had three more children, including Jeanne. Fred and Rita ran a business together, on East Delavan and everyone worked hard together to keep the bills paid and food on the table. It was not always easy for sure, but gave each of the kids a deep appreciation for the help they received and the chances they had.
Jeanne graduated from Sacred Heart and received SHA's Christus Super Omnia Award. Jeanne graduated from Colgate where she was awarded the George Cobb Fellowship for community service. She graduated from University of Buffalo Law School with Honors. Jeanne started her own firm in 1994. She works in civil litigation in state and federal court in injury work, insurance claims, contract breach, civil rights, property damage, inhalation injury, chemical exposure, malpractice; No Fault arbitration of unpaid wages and medical bills; and SSI/SSD hearings.
She has served on boards including Literacy Volunteers of Buffalo & Erie County, Women's Bar Association of the State of New York, The WNY Chapter of the WBASNY, and Stella Niagara Education Park, and served past president of Interclub Council of WNY, St. Benedict's School Parents' Assn., and is a member of the bar associations and past member of the Women & Minority Business Committee for the Town of Amherst. She regularly gives training seminars to attorneys, paralegals, and medical billers across NYS.
Jeanne has been active politically as a member of the Erie County Democratic Committee for many years, served on the Erie County Charter Revision Commission, and on the Judicial Nominating Committee for six years in the past, and is currently serving as a County Legislator. Jeanne and Greg have been married for 39 years and they have four adult children, each successful in their own right.
One of our paralegals who worked with us for 20 years always said to clients, "Jeanne has you covered like a blanket."