Personal Injury Lawyers And Albany New York
ALBANY — Not everyone thinks lawyers who also happen to be legislators should get a free pass from disclosing the names of the clients contributing to their legal income.
A partner at a personal injury law firm that recently hired John Sampson, a Brooklyn Democrat and the Senate Democratic leader, said that having Mr. Sampson disclose his clients would not trouble him in the least.
The issue came up last week when lawmakers passed legislation to overhaul the state’s notoriously flaccid ethics and campaign finance laws in a bid to be seen by cynical voters as cleaning up a state government that has been riddled with scandal.
The legislation contained some notable reforms, including a move to end the Legislature’s practice of redacting lawmakers’ financial disclosure forms before turning them over to the public, making it difficult to figure out how much money they earned from other jobs or investments.
But to critics, the legislation was a typical Albany dodge: It would create a myriad of new commissions and rules, but leave the Legislature to police itself.
Another notable omission is that lawmakers with second jobs as lawyers — by far the most common second job in the Legislature — would be among a “protected class” of professions who would not have to reveal their clients. Shielding lawyers has been a priority for Sheldon Silver, the Assembly speaker, whose work at the giant personal injury firm Weitz & Luxenberg has long been shrouded in mystery.
Mr. Silver and his staff members have argued that disclosing clients would raise complicated issues of legal ethics and privacy.
But one top personal injury lawyer had a different view.
“I wouldn’t have a problem disclosing the names of my clients,” said Joseph W. Belluck, whose firm, Belluck & Fox, recently hired Mr. Sampson. “In fact, you could probably get it from court records.”
“I think the legislators involved in corporate law firms would have much more problems with that,” Mr. Belluck added. “My clients are just people, for the most part blue-collar working men and women who don’t have a legislative agenda.”
The bill passed with overwhelming support, but Gov. David A. Paterson said he would veto the measure as insufficient. There was uncertainty about whether lawmakers would move to override the governor.
— Danny Hakim
A Little Love and Money for Bruno
Speaking of ethics, last week supporters of Joseph L. Bruno held a fund-raiser for his legal defense fund.
Mr. Bruno, who was the longtime Senate leader until his retirement in 2008, was convicted in federal court of two corruption-related felonies last year. He is appealing the conviction and remains a popular figure in his Albany area district, where the fund-raiser was heavily attended but closed to the press.
Frank MacKay, the state chairman of the Independence Party, was one of the attendees at the fund-raiser, which was held at the Desmond Hotel outside Albany.
“Senator Bruno is a friend of mine and he will be forever,” he said, and recounted one of Mr. Bruno’s laugh lines from the remarks he delivered.
“People normally like to be introduced at these events,” Mr. Bruno said, according to Mr. MacKay, “but this is one where everyone’s asked me not to.”
Outside, eight protesters waved brooms and mops and a banner that said, “Felon Joe Fundraiser, Bribes Accepted.” The event was a fitting coda to a week of agitation about ethics in the capital, particularly since one of the hosts was John Nigro, a member of the Legislature’s ethics oversight commission.
— Danny Hakim
More Power for State Universities
Lost amid Gov. David A. Paterson’s laundry list of cuts, taxes and fees to grapple with the state’s budget crisis was an idea that would fundamentally alter the way the state’s public universities would operate.
Under Mr. Paterson’s proposal, officials at the State University of New York and City University of New York would be given much more control over how they raise and spend tuition money, essentially removing those decisions from the annual budget process. The state’s additional subsidies to the system, some $1.9 billion plus fringe benefits, would continue to be appropriated through the budget.
Mr. Paterson has put this overhaul at the center of his higher education agenda. And SUNY’s leadership, including the system’s chancellor, Nancy L. Zimpher, is also enthusiastic.
But there are skeptics, among them the New York Public Interest Research Group, a good-government organization that is active on college campuses. Why? They worry that by giving schools power over their own purse, governors and lawmakers will have an excuse to cut the subsidies the state provides. And if lawmakers are not forced to vote on tuition increases as part of the budget, there will be little check on school officials to raise them.
Fueling the worry is the fact that, as part of a broad package of cuts to the state budget, Mr. Paterson is also proposing to cut about $200 million in state funding for SUNY and CUNY this year.
“Right now, a tuition hike is a last resort,” said Fran Clark, the coordinator of the public interest group’s higher education program. “It is politically painful. Legislators have to vote on it. Now it could be a first resort.”
— Nicholas Confessore
Mixing Prison and Politics
Prisons and politics in New York have never made very good bedfellows. Expect the two to collide again this week when Senator Eric T. Schneiderman, a Democrat from the Upper West Side who is weighing a bid for attorney general, introduces legislation that would exclude people in prison from being counted as residents of the legislative and Congressional districts where they are serving time. Instead, they would be counted as residents of their last known address.
The political ramifications are huge. Prison populations have historically helped bolster the population of several heavily Republican districts upstate. Without those prisoners included in the population count, Republicans would surely lose political influence when district lines are redrawn in 2011.
— Jeremy W. Peters
Our Albany reporters offer you a peek under the Capitol dome. Check back every Monday. Got a tip? Send it to Danny Hakim, Nicholas Confessore or Jeremy W. Peters.
ALBANY, NY (01/29/2010)(readMedia)-- Mark A. Longo of Brooklyn (Longo & D'Apice) received the 2010 Attorney Professionalism Award from the New York State Bar Association during the House of Delegates Dinner on January 28. Sponsored by the Committee on Attorney Professionalism, the award honors a Bar member who displays the highest standards of professionalism, including extraordinary dedication to clients, unwavering commitment to promoting respect for the legal system, exemplary ethical conduct, as well as being a role model in the areas of competence, good judgment, integrity and civility.
The committee singled out Longo for his integrity and professionalism. Letters from colleagues in support of his nomination called Longo a master of trial technique, a skillful advocate and cross-examiner, who zealously represents his clients, yet never succumbs to unprofessional or unethical trial practices or strategies. Colleagues have referred to him as a "gentleman practitioner" who is always respectful to the court, the litigants, the jury and opposing counsel – and "whose word is gold and whose handshake could always be trusted."
"There are many in our profession with distinguished records of service and contributions to the greater good, but there are few who can match Mark Longo's reputation for dedication to the legal craft. Mark Longo comports himself with civility and decorum; mentors many young lawyers and applicants to the Bar; and through his example, promotes the highest standards of integrity, ethics and professionalism in the practice of law," said President Michael E. Getnick (Getnick Livingston Atkinson & Priore, LLP of Utica and of counsel to Getnick & Getnick of New York City). "I congratulate him for winning this prestigious award and thank him for reminding us of our obligation as lawyers to serve our clients zealously, ethically and with the utmost integrity."
Longo is a trial lawyer and a principal in the firm of Longo & D'Apice, concentrating his practice in personal injury, tort, insurance and other civil litigation, as well as attorney grievance matters. He is a past president of the Brooklyn Bar Association and the recipient of its Lifetime Achievement Award; past president of the New York City Trial Lawyers Association; past president of the Columbian Lawyers Association of Brooklyn; past president of the Nathan R. Sobel Inns of Court; past chair of the Grievance Committee for the 2nd and 11th Judicial Districts.
"In his more than 35 years of law practice, Mark Longo has always exhibited integrity and fairness within our profession. He represents the very best in legal practice and is a model of civility and professionalism," said Committee Chair RoseAnn C. Branda of New York (Caruso, Caruso & Branda, PC). "I am delighted to present this award to Mark in recognition of his exemplary legal practice and even greater record of service."
Within the State Bar, Longo is a member of the House of Delegates and a past chair of the Special Committee on Procedures for Judicial Discipline. He received the President's Pro Bono Service Award in 2000. He also is a member of the Torts, Insurance and Compensation Law Section and the Trial Lawyers Section. He received his undergraduate degree from Fordham University and earned his law degree from Widener University School of Law.
Previous award winners are: Jill M. Cicero of Rochester (Jill M. Cicero & Associates); Peter V. Coffey (Englert, Coffey, McHugh and Fantauzzi, LLP); Frank E. Yannelli of Rockville Centre (Yannelli & Zevin); Hon. Barry Kamins of Brooklyn (Administrative Judge for Criminal Matters, Second Judicial District); Lucille A. Fontana of White Plains (Clark, Gagliardi & Miller, P.C.); Carlton F. Thompson of Binghamton (Levene, Gouldin & Thompson LLP); Anne Reynolds Copps of Albany (Law Office of Anne Reynolds Copps); James M. Conboy of Menands (Carter, Conboy, Case, Blackmore, Maloney & Laird, P.C.); George J. Nashak, Jr. (Ramo Nashak & Brown) of Glendale; and Terrence M. Connors of Buffalo (Connors & Vilardo, LLP).
Founded in 1876, the 77,000-member New York State Bar Association is the official statewide organization of lawyers in New York and the largest voluntary state bar association in the nation. The State Bar's programs and activities have continuously served the public and improved the justice system for more than 130 years.
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