IN THE HEADLINES
► Bracewell: Paul Shechtman (appellate practice; bet-the-company litigation; criminal defense: white-collar, 2006) is defending former correction union boss Norman Seabrook, who faces charges for allegedly accepting a $60,000 cash bribe in order to put $20 million of union pension funds into a shady hedge fund called Platinum Partners. Shechtman and Seabrook maintain that most of the money ($22,350), which he claims to have won gambling in a casino, was taken from a safe in Seabroook’s bedroom.
► Brafman & Associates: Benjamin Brafman (bet-the-company litigation; criminal defense: general practice; criminal defense: white-collar, 1995) is defending landlord Steve Croman, who was investigated over the course of a year for committing tax fraud and scamming banks out of over $45 million in refinancing loans by falsely claiming that rent-stabilized units were market-rate. Croman faces 20 felony charges and up to 25 years in prison.
► Dankner Milstein: Jay W. Dankner (personal injury litigation – plaintiffs; product liability litigation – plaintiffs, 2007) is representing Joshua Angelo Mileto and Sawida Lynn Ancharski-Mileto, who claim their son, Joshua Mileto, died during a football practice due to the “negligence and carelessness” of Sachem Central School District and the Sachem East Touchdown Club. Mileto died when a 400-pound log crashed into his head during a preseason drill.
► Debevoise & Plimpton: Mary Jo White (bet-the-company litigation; commercial litigation; corporate governance law; criminal defense: white-collar; litigation – securities, 2005) is leading the investigation into a sexual misconduct situation at the University of Rochester. A professor has been placed on leave, and the university is being investigated after seven current and former faculty members and a graduate student accused the university of creating a hostile work environment in retaliation for exposing the professor’s alleged behavior. White will also deal with the overall handling of the case.
► WIGDOR: Douglas H. Wigdor (labor law – management, 2008) is defending former frequent Fox News commentator and guest Scottie Nell Hughes, who filed a lawsuit against the network after alleging that she was sexually abused over a period of years by Fox Business host Charles Payne. She also alleges that the network retaliated against her when she came forward with her allegations.
HONORABLE MENTION
► Norton Rose Fulbright: Jeffrey I.D. Lewis (patent law, 2012) joins Norton Rose Fulbright’s intellectual property practice, coming from Fried Frank Harris Shriver & Jacobson.
ITN FEATURE
Fostering Community through Basketball
Gersowitz Libo & Korek: Jeff S. Korek (medical malpractice law – plaintiffs; personal injury litigation – plaintiffs, 2006) works with the Gardiner Foundation to present the annual Gardiner Memorial Basketball Classic Tournament each summer in the Bronx. This past August was the tournament’s 12th annual series.
Dexter Gardiner was a former teammate of Korek’s in a local basketball league. It was originally created by Dexter and his twin brother, Derrick, but his brother was unfortunately involved, along with five other family members, in a fatal car accident. Rather than shutter himself away, Dexter delved into the community to bring the tournament to life.
With the help of the firm and other donors, the Gardiner Foundation is able to connect with the South Bronx community and help the next generation. Due to the popularity of the tournament, which is one of the premiere basketball tournaments in the country, thousands of local students get new school supplies, and 36 are set up with college scholarships.
In addition to the games, the Gardiner Foundation also donates more than 1,000 Thanksgiving meals each year and does a huge holiday toy drive in December.
The Gardiner Foundation is seeing consistent expansion, too. They recently began discussions about collaborating with Tru Talk, a mentoring program that has provided a safe haven for over 150 teens and helps them continue their education.
It’s the type of work that not only benefits the community, but also impacts each and every person involved.
