KEY OFFICEWIDE INITIATIVES
Appeals
Legislature Passes Collateral-Source Bill Backed by Municipalities
- New York Law Journal, 11/12/09
Oversaw the multi-year
effort and built a statewide
coalition of over 1,400
municipalities and other
public entities to lobby the
State
Af?rmative Litigation
Federal Judge will Decide who Owns Tavern’s Name
- New York Times, 12/1/09
Legal Counsel
Putting an End
to Double Dipping
Provided counsel and
expertise in drafting legislation
Tort
Supported legislative efforts
with research and case
studies
As part of the Governor’s Mandate Relief Package, the Law Department
corrected a loophole in state law which allowed government workers who are
injured to double-dip by collecting payouts twice for the same injury. Unlike their
private sector counterparts, government employees were able to simultaneously
collect disability pension and payouts from lawsuits without any off-set. New
York City alone is expected to save $14.5 million annually in future lawsuits as a
result of the new law.
NY Judge Tosses Out Term Limits Challenge
- Associated Press, 1/13/09
General Litigation
Spearheading
Tavern on the Green
Litigation
Attorneys secured approval from the U.S. Department of Justice for a local law
that extends term limits from two terms to three terms for City elected of?cials,
and successfully sought the dismissal of a lawsuit challenging the law.
Provided counsel on
trademark law and assisted in
the trademark litigation
Tax & Bankruptcy
Defended the City’s interests
in Bankruptcy Court
Tort
Congress is Again Weighing Aid for Ground Zero Rescuers
- New York Times, 4/1/09
Oversees the City’s defense,
with outside counsel, from
lawsuits
Tort
Prepared the congressional
testimony
Legal Counsel
Extending Term Limits
Oversaw the City’s efforts and
provided counsel on contract
matters
The Law Department defended the City’s interests in the bankruptcy ?ling of
the LeRoy family – the most recent concessionaires of the famed Tavern on
the Green restaurant in Central Park. City attorneys prevented City property
from being auctioned off – the most valuable item being the trademark name
itself. The City and the LeRoy family both claimed exclusive ownership of the
trademark, and City attorneys ensured that the trademark would not be
auctioned without its claim to ownership being heard. Although the District Court
rarely exercises its power to hear pending bankruptcy matters, City attorneys
successfully petitioned to have the trademark dispute removed to the Southern
District from the bankruptcy court. The City – as the long-time property owner –
has operated the restaurant with a series of different concessionaires under the
“Tavern” name since 1934.
Argued the case before the
Eastern District
Assisted in preparing the
litigation papers, and secured
pre-clearance from the U.S.
Department of Justice which
af?rmed that the law would
not diminish minority voting
rights
Contracts & Real Estate
Legal Counsel
Appeals
Argued the appeal before
the 2nd Circuit
Led the trademark litigation
Supporting the 9/11
Victim’s Compensation Fund
& Protecting the City’s Interests
Executive Counsel
Met with legislators and
testi?ed before Congress
Corporation Counsel Michael A. Cardozo testi?ed before Congress in support of
the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act of 2009. The bill would
reopen the World Trade Center Victim’s Compensation Fund to compensate
those who were injured while responding to the attacks; limit unnecessary
litigation; and provide stable funding for long-term health-care programs for
those affected by the attacks.