New York

Same-Sex Spouse Inherits Estate, NY Judge Rules

A New York man who married his longtime same-sex partner in Canada last year is entitled to inherit his estate as his spouse, a New York probate judge has held in what a law professor says is a historic ruling likely to have significant impact. Because the marriage was valid…

Feb 3, 2009 7:24 PM CST

New York Bar Group Launches Life Raft for Laid-Off Lawyers

When the New York State Bar Association created the Special Committee on Lawyers in Transition, former bar President Mark Alcott envisioned a resource for attorneys returning to the profession after a voluntary leave of absence. But with no signs of a layoff let-up—ABAJournal.com noted 1,487 terminations in January—the NYSBA is…

Feb 3, 2009 5:41 PM CST

Lehman Bankruptcy Judge Accused in Domestic Incident

The judge overseeing the bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers has been arrested and accused of slapping his wife. U.S. Bankruptcy Judge James Peck of Manhattan was arrested on Saturday and charged with third-degree attempted assault and second-degree harassment, both misdemeanors, according to Bloomberg and the New York Post. His wife, Judith,…

Feb 2, 2009 7:26 PM CST

Economic Storm Hits Lawyers Hard But ‘Unhappy Work’ Offers New Opportunities

A couple of years ago, attorney Ira Goldenberg did about 10 residential real estate closings a month. Now he is handling just one. Talk of the nation’s economic debacle has been the central topic among Goldenberg and other lawyers at the annual meeting of the New York State Bar Association.…

Jan 30, 2009 9:44 PM CST

How Did Court Examiners Miss $4M Allegedly Siphoned By N.Y. Guardian?

News this week that a New York lawyer serving as a court-appointed guardian has been accused of taking $4 million from some $30 million in funds that he was in charge of overseeing is sparking scrutiny of the system for reviewing guardians’ work. Outside examiners selected by judges from a…

Jan 30, 2009 5:41 PM CST

‘Bride Wars’ Character Appears to Be a Ropes & Gray Lawyer

Kate Hudson’s character in the movie Bride Wars appears to be an associate at Ropes & Gray. The movie uses a fictitious law firm name, but some scenes in the movie suggest Hudson’s character Liv actually works at Ropes & Gray, the Boston Business Journal reports. Some of the real…

Jan 30, 2009 4:52 PM CST

NY Appeals Court Affirms Jailing of State’s ‘Most Obnoxious Lawyer’

A man once described as “New York’s most obnoxious lawyer” has once again been slapped down by the state’s courts. Kenneth Heller’s most recent battle with the courts was over a 30-day sentence and $10,000 fine imposed by a New York judge after the onetime lawyer ignored court orders to…

Jan 30, 2009 3:07 PM CST

Expensive Lesson? Despite Court Order, NY Divorce Lawyer Hands Out $61K

A New York lawyer has been disqualified from a matrimonial case and will have to pay as much as $42,500 for depositing into his escrow account and then evenly splitting between the divorcing spouses a two-party $61,570 auction house check from the sale of their art work. A stipulation prepared…

Jan 28, 2009 11:57 PM CST

Court-Appointed NY Lawyer Accused of Stealing $4M from Clients

A Brooklyn lawyer appointed by New York judges as a guardian overseeing the assets of elderly and incapacitated clients allegedly siphoned away $4 million for his own personal use from as much as $30 million in settlements and other funds. “Steven Rondos, 44, and his law firm, Raia & Rondos,…

Jan 28, 2009 10:28 PM CST

What Should Be Done With Portrait of Disgraced 2nd Circuit Judge?

When a longtime federal district court judge in New York died last year, he left an unusual legacy. In the chambers of Judge Charles Brieant Jr. was a portrait of a former judge on the New York City-based 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals: Martin Manton. Once considered a candidate…

Jan 28, 2009 6:06 PM CST

Former NY Senate Leader Joseph Bruno Charged With Profiteering in Office

When he decided not to seek reelection in June, longtime New York Senate majority leader Joseph Bruno said the decision had nothing to do with the FBI’s seizure of 30 boxes of records at his office at the state Capitol. But today the U.S. Department of Justice announced that Bruno,…

Jan 23, 2009 9:20 PM CST

Bad News or Good News? Economy Cuts Asset Values, Creates New Divorce Issues

The rollercoaster ride that the economy has been on in recent months is creating new issues for divorcing couples. Real estate that was worth much more only a year or two ago has plummeted in value. And a number of soon-to-be-ex-spouses with high-paying jobs suddenly have no employment at all.…

Jan 23, 2009 6:14 PM CST

NY Times: Caroline Kennedy Says No to Hillary Clinton’s Senate Seat

Citing the need to focus on health concerns regarding her uncle, Sen. Ted Kennedy, Caroline Kennedy reportedly has decided not to seek appointment to a U.S. Senate seat. “On Wednesday she called [New York] Gov. David A. Paterson, who will choose a successor to Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton,” recounts the…

Jan 22, 2009 1:21 AM CST

NY Real Estate Lawyer Accused of Pocketing $500K

A New York real estate lawyer pleaded not guilty today to two counts of second-degree grand larceny for allegedly pocketing nearly $500,000 in payments while serving as a middleman in two investment schemes. Frederic Powell, 53, of East Meadow is accused of having failed to pass along to private investors…

Jan 21, 2009 10:53 PM CST

It May Take SIPC 5 Years to Sort Out Madoff Mess & Pay Investors

Bernard Madoff’s alleged $50 billion Ponzi scheme run under the guise of a hedge fund is the most complex financial web the Securities Investor Protection Corp. has ever had to untangle in its 40-year history. So figuring out what, exactly, has been going on at Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities,…

Jan 21, 2009 6:39 PM CST