Katherine Rosenfeld

Obtained a favorable settlement in a case challenging the NYPD’s practice of manufacturing misdemeanor charges for marijuana possession. Along with the Bronx Defenders, ECBAWM represented six plaintiffs charged with misdemeanor when they should have received minor violations. Felix, et al. v. City of New York, et al. (S.D.N.Y.).

Represented Bronx photographer and artist Holly Van Voast in successful challenge to NYPD’s wrongful practice of arresting women who exerted legal right to go shirtless. Holly Van Voast v. City of New York (S.D.N.Y.).

Housing Discrimination

Obtained favorable settlement in multi-party action in New York Supreme Court alleging novel claims of alienage and citizenship status discrimination, on behalf of three East Harlem families who fled their rent-stabilized apartments in fear of the prior landlord’s immigration-related threats, with the settlement providing for restoration of the families to their long-time homes. (while at NYLPI).

Settled reasonable accommodations lawsuit for monetary and injunctive relief after a Queens co-op failed to provide an accessible entrance to a child resident with a disability. Santana v. Southridge (E.D.N.Y.) (while at NYLPI).

Negotiated a favorable settlement of $212,000 and detailed 3-year injunction covering 16 buildings and over 900 rental units, due to alleged housing discrimination based on race. The original complaint stemmed from a testing investigation in which four African American testers were told that no apartments were available, while the white testers with whom they were matched were told about and shown available apartments at the units. Fair Housing Justice Center, et al. v. Kara Realty, et al. (E.D.N.Y.).

Gender, Pregnancy, and Sexual Orientation Discrimination, and Sexual Harassment and Assault

Represented victims of gender-based violence and/or sex discrimination including employees sexually harassed at work, in the garment, legal and other industries (confidential settlements) and employees who were terminated because of sex, familial status, or pregnancy discrimination, including faculty at major academic institutions, an executive in the fashion industry, and a non-profit leader (confidential settlements).

Obtained jury verdict for a gay man, who was subjected to homophobic harassment while he lived in a Bronx apartment building, based on local laws prohibiting housing discrimination based on sexual orientation. Cruz v. Nieves (Bronx County).

Conducted internal investigation for leading non-profit organization into allegations of sexual harassment by senior leader.

Conducted successful internal appeal and negotiated separation for graduate student accused of sexual harassment by major New York educational institution.

Prisoners’ Rights

Served as co-counsel in historic class action litigation with the Legal Aid Society which secured broad injunctive reform seeking to halt the violence on Rikers Island for a class of prisoners who were severely injured by correction officers, in addition to $3.5 million in damages for individual plaintiffs. Nunez v. City of New York (S.D.N.Y.).

Settled a claim under the Federal Tort Claims Act on behalf of a woman who was sexually assaulted by a correction officer while incarcerated at a federal prison.

Represented the family of Patrick Miller, a man with mental illness who died in 2007 in the custody of the New York City Department of Correction, after being beaten in a jail hospital, to obtain $1.5 million settlement. Miller v. City of New York (S.D.N.Y.).

Disability Discrimination

Filed federal civil rights action with co-counsel on behalf of five families whose children were targeted for removal from school because of the children’s actual or perceived disabilities. Lawton, et al. v. Success Academy, et al. (E.D.N.Y.) (while at NYLPI).

Obtained preliminary injunctions in multiple federal cases on behalf of non-profit organizations that provide housing and supportive services to developmentally disabled individuals, in actions challenging landlords’ refusal to renew leases with non-profit organizations, based on source-of-income and disability discrimination claims. (while at NYLPI).

Filed a federal civil rights lawsuit with co-counsel against Orange County, New York challenging its discharge of two people with serious mental illnesses from immigration detention without planning for the continuity of their life-sustaining mental healthcare. Charles, et al. v. Orange County, et al. (S.D.N.Y.) (while at NYLPI).

Public Accommodations

Entered into a groundbreaking Structured Negotiation Agreement with the City of New York in 2016 to address the widespread inaccessibility of New York City’s courthouses to people with mobility impairments. (while at NYLPI).

Commercial Litigation

Successfully represented numerous businesses and publicly traded companies in a wide range of commercial cases alleging business torts and contract disputes.

Represented individuals in defamation matters.