Long Island, New York Attorneys

Joseph Savino, a Partner in the Firm's Litigation Practice Group, recently passed the Florida bar examination and was admitted to practice in the State of Florida.
Eric Horbey recently joined the Firm as an Associate in the Litigation Practice Group. Mr. Horbey is a 2008 graduate of the George Washington University School of Law and former law clerk to the Honorable Arlene R. Lindsay, U.S. Magistrate Judge for the Eastern District of New York.
Amelia Lister recently joined the Firm as an Associate in the Litigation Practice Group. Ms. Lister is a 2006 graduate of the Cornell University Law School.
Russell Penzer and Giuseppe Franzella of the Firm's Litigation Practice Group co-authored an article entitled "Broad Scope May Trigger Catastrophe for the Unwary" which was published in the New York Law Journal on May 12, 2010.
Christopher Roemer recently joined the Firm as an Associate in the Litigation Practice Group. Mr. Roemer is a 2006 graduate of George Washington University Law School.
Steven Aptheker and Russell Penzer of the Firm's Litigation Practice Group co-authored an article entitled "Analyzing Securitized Mortgages on Commercial Property" which was published in the New York Law Journal on March 11, 2010.
On September 24, 2009, the Firm was selected to receive the 2009 President's Award from the Greater Long Island Running Club, an annual award presented by GLIRC to the individual or organization that has been most instrumental in support of running, fitness and good health on Long Island during the past year. The Firm is honored to receive this award and proud to support GLIRC's efforts to promote physical fitness on Long Island.
Robin S. Abramowitz, Co-Chair of the Firm's Litigation Practice Group, has been appointed an Officer of the Suffolk Academy of Law for the year 2009-2010.
Martin Semel and William Gartland of the Firm's Corporate and Business Practice group represented a privately held garment manufacturer in the negotiation and closing of an approximately $14,000,000.00 acquisition of another privately held garment manufacturer.
Maryam Parvaneh recently joined the Firm as an Associate in the Litigation Practice Group and was admitted to the bar on May 6, 2009. Ms. Parvaneh is a 2008 graduate of Fordham Law School.
On March 7, 2009, the Firm sponsored its 12th Annual Kings Park 15K Race to benefit families afflicted by brain tumors.
Martin Semel and William Gartland of the Firm's Corporate and Business Practice group represented a privately held garment manufacturer in the negotiation and closing of a $30,000,000.00 increase to its existing credit facility.
As reported in the New York Law Journal on March 4, 2009, James Devine and Louis Fiore, Partners in the Firm's Real Estate Practice group, represented RXR Realty in the negotiation of a 35,000 square foot lease for the headquarters of a major Long Island law firm at the Omni Building in Uniondale, New York.
David Lazer and Christian Browne of the Firm's Litigation Practice Group recently negotiated a plea arrangement for a criminal defendant charged with Grand Larceny for stealing more than $38,000.00 from a little league baseball program in a much publicized case. The Nassau County District Attorney's Office recommended to the Court a sentence of 1-3 years in state prison. Despite that drastic recommendation, the Firm's attorneys were able to persuade the Court to accept a guilty plea with a sentence of 16 weekends in county jail, plus a term of probation, to which the defendant agreed. Through persistent advocacy, the Firm's attorneys subsequently convinced the judge to eliminate the jail portion of the sentence entirely and instead impose only a probation term, restitution and community service.
In a case discussed in the Wall Street Journal on June 25, 2009, Russell Penzer, Partner in the Firm's Litigation Practice Group, recently won a decision in the Appellate Division, Second Department, in a major anti-discrimination action against a Long Island country club. Our client is a member of a club that admitted members based upon a quota system that sought to "balance" the number of Jewish members ("J" members), Christian members ("C" members), those with mixed marriages ("M" members), and those classified as "O" for others. The client challenged this practice as a form of illegal discrimination, noting that persons who would have otherwise gained admission to the club were excluded due to their religion if their admission would upset the club's religious "balance." In an action before the New York State Division of Human Rights, Mr. Penzer successfully argued that country clubs that open themselves to various uses by non-members, as the client's club did, are "places of public accommodation" and, as such, are covered by the state Human Rights Law. These types of clubs, therefore, may not accept or reject members based upon a religious or racial litmus test. The initial decision by an administrative law judge who presided over the hearing on the matter was adopted by the Commissioner of the New York State Division of Human Rights and confirmed by the Appellate Division in February 2009 decision. This case is likely to have far-reaching implications for country clubs in New York State. Any club that permits non-members to use facilities or services in some fashion is now deemed covered by the Human Rights Law. Any such club, therefore, that engages in discriminatory admissions or membership practices no longer has the ability to shield those practices from the requirements of the state's principal anti-discrimination statute.
David Lazer and Christian Browne of the Firm's Litigation Practice Group recently secured a significant judgment for a client against a law firm partnership and its surviving partner, who resides and practices law in Florida. The client loaned money to the partnership at the request of his then-attorney, the New York-based partner in the partnership. After loaning the partnership hundreds of thousands of dollars over several years, purportedly secured by a mortgage on the home of the New York attorney, that attorney committed suicide, leaving an unpaid balance on the client's loans of more than a quarter-million dollars. The client also discovered that the loans were never secured with a mortgage on the attorney's home; the attorney had forged the his wife's signature on mortgage documents, pulled the equity out of his home and spent it for his own ends. The Firm commenced an action in New York State Supreme Court against the law firm partnership for failing to repay the loans. After the defendant law firm defended the case throughout, it failed to appear for trial and a default judgment was obtained. The Firm's attorneys conducted a trial on damages, winning a total judgment for the client in excess of $400,000, including $60,000 in legal fees and costs. Through our Florida office, the Firm converted the client's New York judgment into a Florida judgment in order to pursue the surviving partner in that state.
Tara M. Primis of the Firm's Real Estate Practice Group has been promoted to Counsel, effective January 1, 2009. Ms. Primis was formerly an Associate.
Sam Yedid, co-chair of the Firm's Real Estate Practice Group, has been elected Vice President of the Long Island Real Estate Group (LIREG) for 2009-2010. LIREG provides the real estate industry and allied trades a platform for real estate-related charitable giving and networking. Since its inception, LIREG has made generous contributions to such organizations as Angela's House, Habitat for Humanity, Haven House/Bridges, Hospice Care Network, North Shore Holiday House, Ronald McDonald House of Long Island, Schneider Children's Hospital and Sunrise Day Camp.
Effective October 1, 2008, the Firm is now serving the Florida community through its newly established Boca Raton office.
Harvey A. Nussbaum recently joined the Firm as the managing partner of our newly established Boca Raton office. Mr. Nussbaum has nearly three decades of experience in matrimonial, commercial, real estate and probate litigation. Mr. Nussbaum is a graduate of Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri (B.A., Dean’s List, 1976) and Nova Law School (J.D., 1979) where he was a member of the Law Review.
Steven B. Aptheker, co-founder of the Firm and a Partner in its Litigation and Transactional Practice Groups, recently passed the Florida bar examination and was admitted to practice in the State of Florida.
Giuseppe Franzella, an Associate in the Firm's Litigation and Corporate and Business Practice Groups, recently passed the Florida bar examination and was admitted to practice in the State of Florida.
On March 27, 2008, the Firm won a non-jury verdict in Supreme Court, Suffolk County, on behalf of our client, a chiropractor, in a dispute over a contract for the sale of her chiropractic practice to the purchaser/plaintiff. The plaintiff claimed that our client had breached the restrictive covenant contained in the contract, and sought monetary damages. Our client counterclaimed for damages stemming from the plaintiff's failure to pay the remainder of the note in accordance with the contract. Russell Penzer and Giuseppe Franzella of the Firm's Litigation Practice Group successfully argued before the Hon. Peter Fox Cohalan that the plaintiff did not suffer any damages from the alleged breach and therefore was not entitled to recovery, and that our client was entitled to payment of the note. Justice Cohalan, ruling from the bench, found in favor of our client and denied recovery to the plaintiff.
On October 21, 2007, the new Touro Law Center in Central Islip was dedicated. The Dean announced that the four story atrium at the entrance to the building has been named in honor of Justice Leon Lazer, counsel to the Firm. Justice Lazer is a professor at the Touro Law School and Chair of the Pattern Jury Committee.