ECBAWM Sues NYC Department of Correction After the Agency Denied Records to Family of Bayside Man who died at Rikers

Donny Ubiera died on Rikers Island while in the custody of the New York City Department of Correction. His family submitted a Freedom of Information Law request to the DOC to obtain records about Mr. Ubiera.

The request was denied less than a month later, and the agency failed to respond to the family’s appeal within the 10-day deadline. Now, ECBAWM is seeking the records from the DOC in state court. Read more.

ECBAWM leads lawsuit challenging Governor Hochul’s authority to block Congestion Pricing plan

ECBAWM filed a lawsuit on behalf of the City Club of New York in New York County Supreme Court, arguing that it is unlawful for Governor Hochul to unilaterally halt the implementation of New York’s congestion pricing program, as enacted in the 2019 Traffic Mobility Act, passed by both houses of the State Legislature and signed into law by the then-governor.

“The governor bucking the command of the Legislature does not serve New Yorkers who need better air, subways and traffic. This case will reorder the proper power sharing between the separate branches of state government,” said ECBAWM partner Richard Emery. Read more.

New York Times features ECBAWM Wrongful Conviction Case of Brian Scott Lorenz

The New York Times published an article covering the current status of ECBAWM client, Brian Scott Lorenz, who currently remains incarcerated despite having his conviction overturned last August.

In a quote to the New York Times, ECBAWM partner Ilann Maazel stated, “We have a man languishing in prison for over 30 years without receiving a fair trial and can’t even get his day in court. This is not the quality of justice we should expect in New York State in 2024.” Read the full coverage here.

ECBAWM secures groundbreaking housing discrimination settlement with operators of 6,000 rental apartments in the Bronx

Lawyers at Emery Celli Brinckerhoff Abady Ward & Maazel have reached a settlement agreement on behalf of their client, the Fair Housing Justice Center, alleging that Parkchester Preservation Management enforced an income requirement for rental applicants that excluded renters with housing subsidies, including Section 8 vouchers. Read more.

City to pay $12m to ECBAWM client following police shooting

New York City has agreed to pay $12 million to Peyman Bahadoran, who was paralyzed in a June 2020 police shooting in Manhattan’s East Village.

In a quote to the NY Daily News, ECBAWM partner Earl Ward said “It’s a very difficult and hard life. He suffers every day as a result of what happened to him.” Read more.

ECBAWM Announces New Associates

Hannah Brudney previously served as a litigation associate at Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler LLP, where she focused on false advertising, employment, and complex commercial litigation as well as internal investigations. She also clerked for Judge Valerie Caproni of the Southern District of New York.

Ariadne Motta Ellsworth clerked for Judge Eunice C. Lee on the Second Circuit Court of Appeals. She graduated from Yale Law School where she was a teaching assistant for the Litigating Civil Rights course and a member of the Criminal Justice Advocacy Clinic.

Laura Kokotailo clerked for Judge Nina R. Morrison in the Eastern District of New York and Judge Sidney R. Thomas on the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. Before then, she was a Yale Public Interest Fellow at the Legal Aid Society, where she worked in the Immigration Law Unit’s Federal Practice.

Sonya Levitova completed clerkships for Magistrate Judge Sarah Netburn in the Southern District of New York and Judge Jane B. Stranch of the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals. She was previously a Justice Catalyst Fellow with ECBAWM.

Hafsa S. Mansoor clerked for Judge Edgardo Ramos in the Southern District of New York and was a litigation associate at White & Case LLP, where she represented corporate and individual commercial clients and maintained a large pro bono practice.

Rachael Wyant worked in international development for over ten years prior to attending law school as a Public Interest Law Scholar at Northeastern University School of Law. She previously clerked for Chief Judge Jon D. Levy in the District of Maine.

Sydney Zazzaro was a Justice Catalyst Fellow at ECBAWM. She graduated Boston University School of Law where she worked with the Civil Litigation and Justice Program, the Civil Rights Unit at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts, and the First Circuit Court of Appeals.

ECBAWM Partner Julia P. Kuan speaks on CNN about Police Killing of 13-Year-Old Boy in Utica

Julia P. Kuan, a partner at Emery Celli Brinckerhoff Abady Ward & Maazel, spoke to CNN about the tragic death of Nyah Mway, a 13-year-old boy, who was killed by Utica police. Watch Ms. Kuan on CNN here.

13 ECBAWM Partners named to 2024 Lawdragon 500 Leading Civil Rights & Plaintiff Employment Lawyers

These lawyers were selected through Lawdragon’s “process combining independent journalistic research with a wealth of submissions.” We are proud of our team and the recognition of their ongoing work to advocate for our clients. See the full list of lawyers here.

13 ECBAWM Partners named to 2024 Lawdragon 500 Leading Civil Rights & Plaintiff Employment Lawyers

Diane L. Houk, partner at Emery Celli Brinckerhoff Abady Ward & Maazel was a co-host of the Annual Case Updates at the National Fair Housing Alliance (NFHA) Conference. The NFHA’s mission is to “eliminate housing discrimination and ensure equitable housing opportunities for all people and communities through its education and outreach, member services, public policy, advocacy, housing and community development, tech equity, enforcement, and consulting and compliance programs.” Read more about the National Fair Housing Alliance here.