Home//New York Magazine/December 2015/In This Issue
New York Magazine|December 20151 BECAUSE THE OLDEST PERSON IN THE WORLD IS LIVING IN BROOKLYN.HERE ARE SOME things that did not yet exist when Susannah Mushatt Jones was born in Alabama on July 6, 1899: the Model T, and for that matter the Ford Motor Company. The teddy bear. Thumbtacks and tea bags. Puccini's Tosca and Scott Joplin's "Maple Leaf Rag." The Flatiron Building and the subway system beneath it. Emma Morano, an Italian woman born four months later, who is today the only other living soul who was around before 1900.One hundred and sixteen years ago, Susie's tenant-farmer father, Callie, could theoretically have voted, though Alabama's poll taxes and rigged literacy tests pretty much took care of that. As for her mother, she was barred from the polls twice over, because voting rights for women were two decades off. Mary Mushatt had 11…4 min
New York Magazine|December 2015No. 21 BECAUSE OUR MAYOR AND OUR GOVERNOR WILL TURN DISPUTE OVER, SAY, TAX ABATEMENTS INTO BLOODSPORT.FEBRUARY 23 • Cuomo: “This will be the best relationship between a mayor and governor in modern political history when all is said and done.” MAY 27 • De Blasio: “I don’t know many leaders of the executive or legislative branch anywhere that ignore millions and millions of people and think it will not have a consequence.” JUNE 24 • A “top Cuomo-administration official”: De Blasio is “bumbling and incompetent.” Cuomo, the next day: “Sometimes it’s a little faster to talk off the record, as you know.” JUNE 30 • De Blasio: Cuomo’s actions were “revenge for some perceived slight.” Cuomo’s office: “For those new to the process, it takes coalition-building and compromise to get things done in government. We wish the mayor well on his vacation.” AUGUST 16 •…1 min
New York Magazine|December 2015SENATOR CHARLES SCHUMER ON ARTHUR Z. SCHWARTZ:Whenever anyone calls on Arthur to do something good, he’s there and he doesn’t ask what’s in it for him and he doesn’t ask how much money there is and he doesn’t ask anything. He just does it. And you know, when you think about it, he is the kind of person who – we use the word with a lot of cliché and it’s overused– but he truly is a great American. You know when the founding fathers set up the country – if you read the Federalist’s Papers, what was their greatest doubt? Well, they had a lot of doubts. There was dealing with this new little beast called democracy in a republic. But the thing they worried about most is whether the citizenry would come forward and…1 min
New York Magazine|December 2015New York Legal TrendsFANTASY SPORTS WEBSITES BANNED IN NEW YORKIn early November, attorney general Eric T. Schneiderman sought to ban prominent daily fantasy sports websites from operating in the state. The injunction first prohibited FanDuel and DraftKings from operating. It later expanded to include an inquiry into Yahoo’s daily fantasy gaming site, which just opened this summer.The claim targets daily fantasy sports as a violation of the state’s gambling laws. Traditional, season-long fantasy sports are not under investigation. Schneiderman said the daily fantasy sites were “plainly illegal” and “nothing more than a rebranding of sports betting.”FanDuel responded by temporarily suspending play for New York customers. However DraftKings has refused to halt operations, despite being denied a restraining order, which would have allowed the outfit to operate while the legal battle continues.Daily fantasy sports…5 min
New York Magazine|December 2015Between the Bread in BrooklynBunk740 Driggs Ave., Williamsburg 347-763-0434 bunksandwiches.comSouthside Coffee652 Sixth Ave., Greenwood Heights 347-927-4870 southsidecoffee nyc.comTHE BATHROOM-WALL photo of a wolfish '50s-era Elvis gobbling a sandwich tells you everything you need to know about Bunk. Bunk is all about indulging appetites. And Bunk is all about the glory that is the sandwich. Two ideas, incidentally, that pretty much sum up the philosophy of the Underground Gourmet. The counter-service sandwich shop, which opened recently in Williamsburg, is a branch of a popular Portland, Oregon, mini-chain run by a crew of musician-cooks including co-founder Tommy Habetz, who once worked for Mario Batali as a Lupa sous-chef.For his first Bunk foray outside Portland, Habetz hired Jake Adams, a former Milk Bar chef de cuisine, to oversee the kitchen. The sandwich-making modus operandi here is to…5 min
New York Magazine|December 2015Sidewalk Mystery: What Exactly Is the Salvation Army?The StructureThe Salvation Army is not purely a charity but also a Christian church, founded in the U.K.in 1865 on mainline Methodist principles. It has a quasi-military structure: Instead of bishops and archbishops, it has lieutenants and majors. Officers are ordained, and the belief system places emphasis on good works at least as much as on faith. The rules are strict; officers may marry only within the organization, and drinking and smoking are forbidden. Even before the organization’s American arm was founded in 1880, women were allowed to hold every office, including the top rank of general—the most recent female general, Linda Bond, served from 2011 to 2013—and they constitute more than 50 percent of officers worldwide.What Are Those Good Works?Day-to-day, it runs drug-and-alcohol rehab programs that are free. During…2 min
New York Magazine|December 2015JONATHAN D. SANDSJonathan D. Sands represents clients who have suffered serious damages in personal injury, product liability and construction-site accidents. He also represents individuals and businesses that have suffered substantial damage to personal and business property. Each client is unique and Mr. Sands is highly experienced in evaluating whether early settlement in the claim stage, traditional litigation, or alternative dispute resolution might best serve the individual client. Mr. Sands founded his practice fifteen years ago after serving as an assistant district attorney in the appeals, trial and major narcotics bureaus at the Kings County District Attorney’s Office, and as a senior trial attorney for major liability insurance carriers. In addition to his own practice, he is often called upon by other attorneys to assist with the handling of their matters.Mr. Sands graduated…1 min
New York Magazine|December 2015STEVEN D. SKOLNIKARBITRATION, COMMERCIAL LITIGATION, LITIGATIONSteve Skolnik is a multi-faceted attorney who represents clients in all aspects of commercial litigation, nationally and internationally. His practice embodies the multi-disciplinary approach of the firm, representing entrepreneurial clients in the global marketplace. An in-depth knowledge of the rules of procedure and evidence in state and federal court and arbitral tribunals, and willingness to try a case, are cornerstones of his resolution of business disputes.Steve has litigated intellectual property, LLC and shareholder, business torts, contracts, real estate, pharmaceutical, estates and trusts, libel, lending, insurance, and others. His grounding in corporate law gives him the perspective to approach a case in economic terms.Steve is a graduate of Yale College and Harvard Law School. In 2014, The National Trial Lawyers selected him as one of the top 100…1 min
New York Magazine|December 2015SCHLISSEL OSTROW KARABATOS, PLLCSCHLISSEL OSTROW KARABATOS (SOK) IS AN INNOVATIVE matrimonial and family law firm with a reputation for handling the most complicated financial, valuation, and property distribution matters, as well as the most complex custody and support issues.“WE’RE WILLING TO CHALLENGE WHAT PEOPLE think are established principles,” notes managing partner Elena Karabatos. “When the law is undeveloped or still developing, this firm has never hesitated to try and make new law for the betterment of our clients.”INDEED, SOK HAS REGULARLY CHALLENGED CASE law to protect its clients’ interests. SOK attorneys were among the first lawyers in the country to prevent a parent from smoking in the presence of her children, and they pioneered new law in the areas of settlement agreements and custody evaluations. The firm has also been a leader in…3 min
New York Magazine|December 201520 BECAUSE SHELDON SILVER IS FINALLY A FELON.HE’S LIVED LIKE a fugitive for years. The longtime Speaker of the New York State Assembly, Silver frequently traveled by air from his attached apartments in the Lower East Side to Albany, routing himself through Philadelphia and Washington, D.C., to run up an estimated 168,618 frequent-flier miles in three years, at a $20,219 cost to taxpayers. The most powerful man in state government through five governors—prior to his bust in January and extortion conviction last month—preferred five-hour sojourns to the one-hour direct flight, though no one who knows Silver thinks he spent them reading policy memos.He once bumped into a friend at an airport and they wound up flying together. When the flight attendant came by with peanuts, Silver took his bag, but the friend demurred. As the attendant continued…3 min
New York Magazine|December 2015Learning to Love .500 What the Jets, Knicks, and Mets have to teach us about fandom.IF THERE’S ONE enduringly destructive problem with New York City sports franchises, it's that every team is expected to win a championship, or at least chase after it in desperate good faith, every year. They don't do rebuilding in New York—because of the inherent financial advantages of running a team here, to insist on anything less than total domination, all the time, seems somehow defeatist. It's Donald Trump meets George Steinbrenner: If you don't win everything, you're a loser.The thing about this strategy is that it produces a lot of losers. The Yankees fostered the illusion that their dominance since the '90s was the result of some secret capitalist formula only they understood, but the real secret to their success was young, cost-controlled talent; some happy postseason kismet; and Mariano…7 min
New York Magazine|December 2015PARTY LINES25TH ANNUAL IFP GOTHAM AWARDS HOSTED BY EUPHORIA CALVIN KLEINCIPRIANI WALL STREET. NOVEMBER 30.“We won the ensemble award for Spotlight. Between the 12 of us, I guess we each get it one month a year? No. Let’s make it one year per person, in rotation, in perpetuity, until one of us kicks off!”—Mark Ruffalo“I wish somebody would offer some creative way of paying me. ‘I’m going to give you a boat.’ Or a garden statue.”—Matt Dillon“My paychecks aren’t very high right now! Not a sought-after dude! So as payment I would accept 15 burritos per day.”—Jorma TacconeTANGENT“What is my philosophy about swearing? I don’t like endless swearing, but the reality is, that’s the way most of us adults speak. They expect it of Johnny Depp, but people are more shocked…1 min
New York Magazine|December 2015No. 36 BECAUSE THIS PLACE HAS BEEN SHOWING HOW BLACK LIVES MATTER FOR 90 YEARS.FOR SOME, Harlem’s Schomburg Center is simply their local New York Public Library. But it’s also where you could have heard, recently, a lecture on Nat Turner, a scholarly discussion of the Young Lords Party (a Puerto Rican nationalist group), or a conversation with Ta-Nehisi Coates. The library, around since 1925, also functions like a museum, with rotating exhibitions—next up, “Black Suburbia: From Levittown to Ferguson” and “Unveiling Visions: The Alchemy of the Black Imagination”—meant to introduce visitors to the center’s vast collection of art, film, and rare books and manuscripts. There’s also a gift shop filled with books by James Baldwin, Malcolm X, and Maya Angelou—as well as everything else that can be black: posters of African art, a Kwanzaa kinara, an Aretha Franklin CD. And there are, of…1 min
New York Magazine|December 201513 BECAUSE WENDI DENG’S RUMSPRINGA TOOK HER TO BURNING MAN.FORTY-SEVEN YEARS AGO this month, a girl was born in communist China. She was raised in a house without hot water.Three decades later, before it all ended, Wendi Deng had performed the steepest social climb in living history, as the wife of a news-magnate billionaire whose daughters will inherit portions of the family fortune equal to those of the half-siblings roughly Deng's own age.The Deng–Rupert Murdoch split last year could have been the end of Wendi. It featured rumors about an affair with a British prime minister and a humiliating tale about a smutty diary supposedly authored by the Yale-educated Deng. ("He [Tony Blair] has such good body and he has really really good legs Butt.")But Deng emerged from the muck better than ever. She does yoga with Arianna Huffing-ton,…1 min
New York Magazine|December 2015KANTROWITZ GOLDHAMER & GRAIFMAN, P.C.Since 1975, Kantrowitz Goldhamer & Graifman, PC has provided large-firm, full-service, high-quality legal work for a broad range of clients with a wide variety of legal problems. Forty years later, the firm remains “big enough to do it all, and small enough to care.”KGG Partners Barry Kantrowitz, Paul Goldhamer and Gary Graifman, are all recognized as Super Lawyers honorees, and lead an AV rated , multistate team of attorneys that includes talented litigators, authors, lecturers, and TV and radio hosts. The firm’s reputation as one of the premier firms in the northern New York City suburbs has grown to include national class actions and multistate litigation. The firm’s core practice of negligence and personal injury; divorce and family law; wills, trusts and estates; real estate; and corporate law now also…1 min
New York Magazine|December 2015No. 33 BECAUSE LIFE AS A MOLE PERSON MIGHT NOT BE THAT BAD.ON A BRIGHT AUTUMN day on the Lower East Side, the architect James Ramsey opens a metal door and ducks into a dark warehouse that, in a TV drama, would be frequented by dead-eyed mobsters. Ramsey, the founder of the architecture firm Raad Studio, steps into a pool of intense light beneath an aluminum sky and strolls around a miniature Eden. Pathways wind through a contoured chain of tiny mountains, densely furred with ferns, herbs, ground cover, and other flora. The overhead glare floods one verdant hillside and peters out at the edge of the luminescent cone. The energy that pours from the ceiling is honest-to-goodness sunlight, harvested 20 feet above our heads and piped in through Lucite tubes. Welcome to the Lowline, the future of urban nature.It's a dry…2 min
New York Magazine|December 2015Top Ten Movie Performances1. Brie Larson, RoomEvery time you see her, you forget you've seen her before—she's that good.2. Steve Carell, The Big ShortThe (edgy) moral center, his hedge-funder is the picture of a man at odds with his own instincts.3. Saoirse Ronan, BrooklynShe pronounces it Seer-sha, and you better learn it.4. Blythe Danner, I’ll See You in My DreamsWe knew her range and depth from theater, but it has taken this long to see her transcendent soul onscreen.5. Chiwetel Ejiofor, Z for ZachariahNo one saw this postapocalyptic chamber piece, but his performance—a cauldron of rage and fear—is a major one.6. Michael Shannon, 99 HomesAs a predatory Florida Realtor, he shows how a man can channel his demons with society-destroying efficiency.7. Jason Mitchell, Straight Outta ComptonHis volatile Eazy-E is the movie's least hom*ogenized…1 min
New York Magazine|December 2015EVAN J. WHITE • JOSEPH HARRISLABOR AND EMPLOYMENT LAW, REPRESENTING MANAGEMENTEvan J. White and Joseph Harris, partners in the firm White Harris PLLC, have been rated “AV Preeminent” by Martindale-Hubbell. For the past three years, they have both been selected as New York Metro “Rising Stars” by Super Lawyers, a Thomson Reuters publication. In 2014, they were finalists for the SmartCEO magazine “Attorney of the Year” award.White Harris PLLC is a premier management-side employment law firm devoted exclusively to the practice of labor and employment law. The firm represents local, national, and international businesses of all sizes, and at all stages of development, from start-up companies to mature corporations. A strategic and aggressive team of employment lawyers, White Harris PLLC is committed to developing superior solutions for businesses in a wide range of employment law…1 min
New York Magazine|December 2015GREGORY ANTOLLINO, ESQ.PERSUASION IS AN ART .The practice of law is persuasion guided by rules and creativity; humor is allowed. I never imagined myself in an ad like this, and I’m giving it my own special touch. What you see is what you get.BIG VERDICTS ARE GREAT, and I’ve had mine, but they can be reduced on appeal, and take years to complete. Sometimes it is better to compromise. On the other hand, I crave a trial, and attended The Trial Lawyer’s College in 2003. If you want a trial, you want a lawyer with multiple jury verdicts who also knows his way around an appellate courthouse. By sheer number, I am more experienced in appeals than trials; I practice in federal and state courts in New York. Once, I argued to…1 min
New York Magazine|December 2015No.7 AND BECAUSE OUR RATS ARE DISCRIMINATING, TOO.IN HONOR OF 2015's most prominent New Yorker—"Pizza Rat," the rodent whose scuttle down a set of East Village subway stairs with a slice larger than his body has been viewed more than 8.5 million times on YouTube— New York decided to settle, once and for all, the debate over what the best pizza in the city is. We ordered pies from four establishments, let them sit around the offices all day, then recruited a few discerning critics in a Chinatown park after dark. Watch out, Adam Platt.(Video of the taste test on nymag.com.)Grimaldi’sAn order of the famous original pie, with Italian sausage.Which just sat there. One rat sniffed around but …… left without trying anything.TOTAL: 0 slicesWilliamsburg PizzaA not-so-fresh order of pizza margherita.One rat nosed around the box for…1 min
New York Magazine|December 2015BASHIAN & FARBER, LLPBashian & Farber, LLP, is a law firm with established experience in a wide range of practice areas, including trust and estate planning, administration and litigation; asset preservation trusts; business transactions and litigation; matrimonial and family law including related criminal law; real estate transactions; elder law and guardianship litigation; and, appellate law.“We bring practical knowledge and relevant experience to the legal issues that matter the most for our clients,” notes Managing Partner Gary Bashian.Bashian, a past President of the Westchester County Bar Association who has a wealth of experience in the practice areas, is joined by Partners Irving Farber and James Hyer, who are similarly qualified. Farber has litigated hundreds of cases to verdict, developing a reputation at trial for his expertise in multiple types of civil litigation and appeals.…1 min
New York Magazine|December 2015THE APPROVAL MATRIXDESPICABLE“Peace on Earth, goodwill toward men” had one crappy Q4.Donald Trump isn’t funny anymore.A woman is stabbed at Art Basel Miami Beach, and onlookers think it’s performance art …… And somehow Art Basel seemed more Hunger Games than usual this year.Some Ukrainian nationalists are holding 24 stolen Dutch Golden Age paintings for ransom for $55 million.The WSJ editorial page’s shifting reasoning for why we never need to reduce emissions.Forest City Ratner’s modular skyscraper factory in the Brooklyn Navy Yard might lay off over 200 workers.The Met has some of its former curators sign confidentiality agreements.The Economic Policy Institute estimates that Walmart’s China imports have eliminated 400,000 U.S. jobs since 2001.Residents of the fancy Jean Nouvel condo in West Chelsea sue, claiming that its nifty façade is really drafty.The dyspeptic owner…3 min
New York Magazine|December 2015PUBLIC POLICYPublic policy, also commonly referred to as domestic policy, is a system of laws and regulations that reflect the actions of the government.It is the collective attitude, ideas, and opinions of the citizens of the country and individual states, and it influences the enactment and interpretation of legislation.Public policy reflects the course of action taken by the government to address the needs of society and solve its problems, encompassing governance and administration and public finance. It also reflects the inaction of the government in areas that the government refuses to regulate or govern. Essentially it is what the government does and does not do in the areas of public health, safety, and welfare.ROOTED IN VALUES, MORALS AND PRINCIPLESPublic policy is derived from the values, morals, and principles of citizens. Legislature…3 min
New York Magazine|December 2015TACOPINA & SEIGELFEW LAWYERS HAVE RECEIVED the level of national acclaim that trial attorney Joseph Tacopina has garnered from media outlets during his career.THE NEW YORK POST identified Tacopina as a “top-shelf, high-powered litigator”; GQ Magazine called him “the best-dressed, smoothest-talking, hardest-working criminal defense attorney going”; Fox’s Sean Hannity described him as “one of the greatest defense attorneys of all time”; and The New York Times even noted, “Mr. Tacopina is to the defense bar what Donald Trump is to real estate.”HIGH PRAISE, BUT WITH GOOD REASON: OVER HIS more than two decades in practice, Tacopina has thrived in the courtroom, trying nearly 100 cases to verdict and representing many high-profile defendants.“FROM THE BEGINNING I GRAVITATED TOWARD trial work because of what comes with the territory—high stakes and a lot of pressure,”…3 min
New York Magazine|December 201538 BECAUSE WHATEVER YOU’VE HEARD, INDEPENDENT RETAIL IS THRIVING.TO BE A SHOPPER in this city is to experience loss. We all carry memories of awnings past, and reflexively look for vanished haunts: the paperback bookstore that also rented VHS tapes, the toy shop with the Power Ranger knockoffs, the diner with the foul coffee and the friendly vibe. Some businesses simply go obsolete. Others wither after the owner dies, or discovers that his partner's been embezzling for years. But whenever a little store closes, we credit that same demonic force: the rent. It can feel like a whole ecosystem is being obliterated by corporate juggernauts, and sometimes it is. When a cluster of old buildings housing a dozen businesses came down along Broadway in the Seventies a few years ago, they were replaced by a CVS and a…3 min
New York Magazine|December 2015MICHAEL H. SCHWARTZMr. Schwartz goes the extra mile in his fight to defend his clients. His legal proceeding against the Bank of America, just one of many of his legal proceedings on behalf of his clients against Banks, Credit Card Companies and Lenders has been written up in both the NY Times and Wall Street Journal . He has been a guest speaker on bankruptcy law for the Westchester County Bar Association, New York State Bar Association, Mount Vernon Bar Association, Westchester Woman’s Bar Association, New York Society of Independent Accountants, Building 32B-J Legal Services, National Business Institute and other organizations. He is one of the original and is a sustaining member of the National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys, the national organization dedicated to serving the needs of consumers and their…1 min
New York Magazine|December 201518 BECAUSE JUNGLEpuss* WENT FROM EAST NEW YORK TO LECTURING AT YALE ON THE STRENGTH OF A SINGLE CALLED “CREAM TEAM.”“TODAY, WE’RE MAKING Junglepuss* juice," says Junglepuss*, the 24-year-old rapper born Shayna McHayle, once she's finished introducing me to her mother, whose house we're in, and her aunt and uncle, who are visiting from Trinidad for Thanksgiving. She's got two albums, 30,000 Twitter followers—including Erykah Badu, who sends her messages like "Damn I love you girl"—and a gig at the Apollo Theater. But she's serious about that juice: "I wish everybody would treat themselves like a plant," she says. "You wouldn't pour soda on plants." She turns around and bends her lanky five-foot-ten frame down to the freezer to grab frozen strawberries before moving up to the fridge for carrots and ginger, then walks over to the aloe plant by the window, chops off an arm ("I get sad every…3 min
New York Magazine|December 2015To DoFor full listings of movies, theater, music, restaurants, and much more, see nymag.com/agenda.TV1. Watch LutherBack, just the way you like him.BBC America, December 17 at 9 p.m.Idris Elba as James Bond. Idris Elba as Batman. Idris Elba in a silk robe eating pasta and watching The Price Is Right. Or how about Idris Elba as Luther, in a one-night special, glowering and snarling and exploding and snarking his way through a comic-book-noir universe of vicious criminals whose biggest mistake is underestimating him? Yes, that'll do. MATT ZOLLER SEITZPOP2. Hear Ronnie SpectorBe her Santa baby.City Winery, December 22 and 23.If you've already experienced Mariah at the Beacon (from whom a stellar performance is not exactly a guarantee these days), your next best bet for some big-voiced pop-musical holiday cheer is the…9 min
New York Magazine|December 2015MEET THE MAN WHO HAS A LOT ON HIS PLATEDaniel Humm , chef/owner of Michelin three-star restaurant Eleven Madison Park and The NoMad in New York City, is an acclaimed author, the recipient of four stars from The New York Times , six James Beard Awards, including Outstanding Chef and Outstanding Restaurant in America, and holds a top spot on the S. Pellegrino list of the World’s 50 Best Restaurants.NYMAG.COM/MEETTHEMANWHOWhat do you love most about living in New York?There is so much to love, but one of the things I love most is that every day brings something new. I’ve discovered beautiful new buildings walking between the restaurants, food from across the globe in the most unexpected places, and met some of the most creative people. To be able to experience all of that, while still having a connection…2 min
New York Magazine|December 2015LYNCH LYNCH HELD ROSENBERG, P.C.2015 was another banner year for the firm and the partnering attorneys who referred matters to the firm.LYNCH LYNCH HELD ROSENBERG, P.C. , with four Super Lawyers honorees, three certified trial Attorneys and four attorneys in the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum, again proved why it’s the choice for attorneys to refer their personal injury, medical malpractice and workers’ compensation cases. The firm is permitted under New Jersey law to pay referral fees.Founded in the 1940s by law professor Arthur V. Lynch, the firm is now managed by his grandsons, James and Arthur Lynch. The firm boasts of several attorneys who have attained verdicts or settlements in the multiple millions.JAMES S. LYNCH , Managing Partner, handles construction accidents and medical malpractice cases. He is on the Executive Board of Governors of…3 min
New York Magazine|December 2015ADRIA S. HILLMANFAMILY LAWAdria S. Hillman Family Law office concentrates on complex, multi-jurisdictional divorce, financial and custodial issues (including forensic evaluations, access calendars, mental health issues) for high net worth individuals. Highly experienced in all forms of resolution from simple settlements to mediated, collaborated and litigated resolutions. Extensive experience in strategic analysis, trials, appeals, negotiations, settlement and document drafting. Works with knowledgeable and skilled business valuation experts on a wide range of industries, including hedge funds, private equity and other financial service sectors. Accessible, direct, responsive and judicious. Offices include experienced counsel and paralegals.ADRIA S. HILLMAN, ATTORNEY AT LAW, P.C.41 EAST 57TH ST., 34TH FLOOR, NEW YORK, NY 10022 PH: 212.593.5223 | FAX: 212.593.4633 AHILLMAN@ADRIASHILLMAN.COMWWW.ADRIASHILLMAN.COM…1 min
New York Magazine|December 201532 Because we’re colonizing Utah.IN A COFFEE SHOP in Soho, an artist with foppish hair is hunched over a table, reviewing my passport application for the little-known nation of Zaqistan. It’s all very official—he has an application printed on Zaqistani government letterhead and a red stamp that he presses onto my paperwork. It takes less than five minutes to become a citizen of the Republic of Zaqistan, which anyone who’s ever dealt with a consulate knows is nothing short of a miracle. Of course, whether or not you consider the passport legitimate depends on whether or not you consider Zaqistan legitimate. “I figured the Bush administration had f*cked up foreign policy so bad that I could do a better job,” Zaq Landsberg, now 30, told me. So he did what any disillusioned millennial with…1 min
New York Magazine|December 2015CLIFFORD A. MEIROWITZELDER LAW, TRUSTS AND ESTATES, ESTATE LITIGATIONClifford Meirowitz’s practice concentrates on elder law, estate planning, wills, trusts, guardianships, Medicaid planning, probate and related litigation. He is a founding member of NY Presbyterian Hospital’s Planned Giving Advisory Council, was a member of the Professional Advisors Council of the JCC in Manhattan, an adjunct professor at NYU’s School of Continuing and Professional Studies, a mentor attorney for the NY Law School Guardianship Clinic, and a member of the Supreme Court Advisory Council. He was selected for NY’s SuperLawyers in 2009-2015 and NY’s Best Lawyers in 2012-2016. He was past chair of the New York County Lawyer’s Association pro bono Elder Law Project and Elder Law Committee, a contributing author to Elder Law and Guardianship in NY, and was quoted in newspapers such…1 min
New York Magazine|December 2015PERSONAL INJURY CLAIMS AND WEARING A HELMETHelmet use is often a hot issue, from sports to bike and motorcycle use. There’s debate on whether government laws and rules should require helmet use. Then there’s the impact of helmet use in a personal injury lawsuit after an accident.DO I HAVE TO WEAR A HELMET?Helmet use during certain activities may be controlled by a state law, local ordinance, or a private party’s rules, such as a sports facility owner or operator. It’s also possible helmet use is expected based on custom or culture.HELMET REQUIRED BY LAWSome states, cities and towns have laws or ordinances for helmet use while using motorcycles or bicycles on public roadways and paths. Local ordinances may extend helmet use during certain sports or recreational activities, such as at public skate parks. Use may also…4 min
New York Magazine|December 2015CHARLES A. ROSSCRIMINAL DEFENSE, WHITE COLLAR DEFENSEWhether he is representing an individual at trial or advising a company on how best to negotiate the dangerous shoals of an investigation, Chuck Ross is sought out for his skill, expertise, and dedication to achieving the best results for his clients. He has successfully represented a wide variety of individuals and companies in both criminal and regulatory matters. Chuck is a member of the Florida State Bar, as well as the Southern and Middle Districts of Florida. He is also a member of the New York State Bar, Southern and Eastern Districts of New York. He is a member of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, the New York Council of Defense Lawyers, and the Federal Bar Council. He served as vice chair of…1 min
New York Magazine|December 2015No. 4 BECAUSE ZINGIS KHAN IS STARTING AT FORWARD.WHEN THE KNICKS used the fourth overall pick in June's NBA Draft to select a skinny 19-year-old Latvian who topped out at over seven feet but was untested by the American basketball system—and unknown to fans beyond some grainy YouTube footage—fans weren't exactly happy. When the pick was announced, ESPN's cameras caught a young fan in Knicks gear erupting in a fit of tears.Six months later, Kristaps Porzingis is the Knicks' leading rebounder and shot-blocker, their second-leading scorer, and the brightest beacon of hope since Jeremy Lin stormed the Garden. (This time, the city is caught up in "Zingsanity.")On the first day of December, Porzingis showed up at the ribbon cutting of a newly refurbished school gymnasium in Queens wearing loose gray sweats from head to toe. No signature shoes…2 min
New York Magazine|December 201546 BECAUSE NORMCORE DINING IS A THING.IS CHICKEN MARSALA on the menu? Will I be able to order creamy rigatoni with string beans and sun-dried tomatoes? Are the waiters in their 70s? Is there carpeting? Is the lighting unflattering? Would my grandmother like it? If so, count me in—and, yes, I'd like a basket of bread served with the type of butter that you have to unwrap. Ideally, I'm making my reservation for 1987. That's a joke, because who even knows whether any of my favorite restaurants in New York take reservations. You certainly don't need one to eat in them.Normcore fashion, we all now know well, is a reaction to trendiness overload, a Champion sweatshirt in the face of a cutout leather dress. And as the city I grew up in has become both too…4 min
New York Magazine|December 201523 BECAUSE THESE START-UPS HAD A POST-IT-ART WAR.EMILY DUONG , at the time an art director for the Daily Burn, a fitness company, was looking out her office window on 26th Street and Sixth Avenue last December when she noticed a Post-it Santa in the window of digital agency Flightpath across the street. Convinced she could do better, she and her team of designers put up a Super Mario Post-it window and tweeted a picture of it to her neighbors: “You just got 1UP’d!” Flightpath responded by adding a full holiday window, complete with menorah and Christmas tree.It was on. Next, Duong and her colleagues created an image of the internet meme Nyan Cat, its rainbow tail stretching across five windows. But competition arrived from an unlikely direction: not across, but up. Five floors above the Daily…1 min
New York Magazine|December 2015The Culturati CaucusOVER THE PAST MONTH, we canvassed 118 culture creators about the year in movies, TV, music, books, and various other entertaining miscellany that flitted across their screens. As it turns out, a survey of the last 12 months in culture doubles as a pretty handy survey of what mattered in 2015.Favorite Film Performance11% Cate Blanchett Carol“She’s so incredibly luminous, real, subtle, deep, and effortless.”ARI GRAYNOR, actressMORE STAR TURNS8% Michael FassbenderSteve Jobs7% Bel PowleyThe Diary of a Teenage Girl"Honest portrayal of being young."DESIREE AKHAVAN, director4% Amy PoehlerInside Out"She hit that tone of joy so perfectly."ADAM MCKAY, director3% Matt DamonThe Martian"He took his feces and grew potatoes!"JAY PHAROAH, actorFavorite Movie11% Mad Max: Fury Road“It was a gorgeous, gorgeous movie, a lesson in how to do more with less.”TA-NEHISI COATES, writerOTHER FAVORITE FLICKS8Inside…4 min
New York Magazine|December 2015A CULTURE OF COLLABORATIONSince its founding in 1936, Koskoff Koskoff & Bieder has, with good reason, been recognized as one of the leading trial firms in the country.The firm has served as an advocate for individuals and families injured by the medical profession, powerful organizations and large corporations throughout its 79 years in practice; and through its efforts, Koskoff has grown to where it now has multiple offices in Connecticut, as well as an unprecedented track record of personal injury verdicts.Of the top ten personal injury verdicts in Connecticut, Koskoff lawyers have won six, including the largest medical malpractice judgment in state history—a $58.6 million jury award for a family whose son developed severe cerebral palsy after a delayed caesarean section.In March 2013, the firm also secured the largest non-medical malpractice personal injury…3 min
New York Magazine|December 2015THE BOOTS ARE JUST THE BEGINNING…AWARD-WINNING6 Tony Awards including Best Choreography, Best Original Score and Best Musical.16 original Grammy - winning songs by Cyndi Lauper, ranging from heart-stirring ballad to celebratory anthem.Led by a trio of legends including pop icon Cyndi Lauper, Broadway favorite Harvey Fierstein and stage superstar Jerry Mitchell, Kinky Boots’ decorated creative team has collectively received 3 Emmys , 4 Grammys and 12 Tonys!DAZZLING DETAILS1 incredible true story. Kinky Boots follows a shoe factory owner’s bold efforts to save his business by catering to an unconventional and utterly fabulous new demographic.2 worlds collide in this touching musical about unlikely friendship, compassion and triumph.10,000 crystals, rhinestones and beads make these Tony-nominated costumes the most glamorous on Broadway.7 jaw-dropping dance numbers incorporate everything from conveyor belts to catwalks.1,222 total tubular feet of fabulous footwear…2 min
New York Magazine|December 2015THE TEN BEST Books OF THE YEAR1. The Visiting Privilege: New and Collected Stories, by Joy WilliamsA Joy Williams story tends toward a moment of anti-epiphany, when a life or a world is rearranged, though the character living that life in that world may be blind to it. She emerged as a prodigy among the minimalists of the 1970s, and this volume traces her journey to sui generis master. Her nearest cousin among American writers is Don DeLillo, but only because, like him, nobody writes sentences like she does. A DeLillo sentence unfurls; a Williams sentence proceeds in a dazzling forward march. Here's one: "The baby's head is a white globe beneath my heart." Though she treats common states—parenthood, pet ownership, alcoholism—Williams eschews the realist story writer's bromide that in the ordinary we find the extraordinary,…3 min
New York Magazine|December 2015BARRY S. SCHWARTZREAL ESTATE, LANDLORD-TENANTBarry S. Schwartz is an AV Preeminent attorney since 1997 and a veteran practitioner specializing in all aspects of landlord-tenant and real estate litigation, including the prosecution and defense of both commercial and residential nonpayment and holdover proceedings, the defense of 7A proceedings, arbitration and administrative proceedings, litigation against state and city agencies including the New York State Division of Housing and Community Renewal and the New York City Department of Housing, Preservation and Development, condominium and cooperative housing litigation, and appeals to all state appellate courts. Mr. Schwartz also specializes in the purchase and sale of apartment buildings, houses, co-ops and condos, has lectured on real estate litigation and landlord tenant trial techniques before the New York County Lawyers Association, and has written extensive continuing legal education…1 min
New York Magazine|December 2015No. 41 BECAUSE New York makes the best reality-show villains.ONE CLASSIC NEWYork dream goes something like this: You move to the city, achieve something notable, and earn the adoration of the world. The advent of reality TV, though, changed this process radically, allowing people to become famous not for some great achievement but simply by striving to become famous. This might be why New Yorkers have proved so good at reality TV, from Real Housewife turned mogul Bethenny Frankel to mogul turned Real Presidential Candidate Donald Trump. In 2015, to the canon was added The Bedford Stop, a web-distributed series of episodes of … something. Each sub-six-minute episode is a documentary-ish look at four young women who recently moved to Williamsburg “to pursue their dreams”: Sarah (“The boy-crazy one”), Olena (“You never know what will come out of her…1 min
New York Magazine|December 2015JOSEPH SIERCHIO, ESQ.Founded by Joseph Sierchio, Sierchio & Partners, LLP, is a boutique firm specializing in finance, corporate transactional and securities law matters and providing clients with professional and experienced service.Our lawyers provide clients with the focused attention that is required to not only understand their current and long-term objectives, but to allow them the opportunity to leverage off of the firm’s network of financial firms, high net worth investors and service providers. We go beyond simply providing legal services — we partner with our clients so that they may reach their full potential.We represent domestic and foreign companies, broker-dealers, registered personnel, high net worth investors, and others, in connection with a range of business transactions, including: mergers and acquisitions; securities offerings and compliance; SEC enforcement matters; and general corporate and compliance…1 min
New York Magazine|December 2015Top Ten Songs1. “Where Are Ü Now,” Jack Ü Featuring Justin BieberA career-resuscitating slow jam with a drop that feels like 4 a.m. at an undersea rave.2. “Trap Queen,” Fetty WapCooking crack never sounded so romantic until Fetty Wap heywhat's-up-hello'd out of nowhere and gifted the world with this undeniable anthem.3. “Gosh,” Jamie xxA hypnotically simple song that encapsulates everything great about the producer's debut album, In Colour.4. “Hotline Bling,” DrakeA beat like Heaven's hold music, a hook that summons your most geriatric dance moves. For once, the ends actually justify the memes.5. “Run Away With Me, ” Carly Rae JepsenHe called her. Definitely. And then she made this soaring, saxophone-kissed ode to the post-crush feeling.6. “Uptown Funk,” Mark Ronson Featuring Bruno Mars"Uptown Funk" will be played at every wedding reception you…1 min
New York Magazine|December 2015Top Ten TV Episodes1. “No Room at the Inn,” The Leftovers (HBO)Matt Jamison and his pregnant wife, Mary, try to get back home, enduring suffering that even Job might find a bit much; the final image has talismanic power.2. “Stingers,” The Americans (FX)Teenage Paige finds out the truth about her parents in a series of exquisitely acted, written, and directed scenes that are all the more devastating for their economy and quiet.3. “Digestivo,” Hannibal (NBC)The conclusion of season three's Florence arc represents Hannibal at the apex of its ornate style and pulpy audacity.4. “Escape From L.A.,” BoJack Horseman (Netflix)The most melancholy episode of the season, which is saying a lot; the second half felt like a missing subplot from Short Cuts.5. “International Assassin,” The Leftovers (HBO)One of the damnedest things you'll ever see…1 min
New York Magazine|December 2015MORELLI LAW FIRMWHEN IT COMES TO HIGH-STAKES LITIGATION , preeminent trial lawyer aenedict lorelli has a proven track record of success—including a history of precedent-setting verdicts—across a wide array of practice areas.“WE REALLY TRY TO STAY AHEAD OF THE CURVE in terms of handling new cases and helping people in different areas,” lorelli says. “she diversity in our practice is unique for a firm of our size, but it’s possible because we have a level of experience in the courtroom that many other law firms just don’t have—it’s a major advantage, and the reason we can litigate important cases against substantial opponents and win.”OVER ITS HISTORY, MORELLI LAW FIRM HAS handled many high-profile cases, representing victims of negligence, discrimination, and harassment against some of the largest law firms and corporations in the…4 min
New York Magazine|December 201531 BECAUSE WILLIAMSBURG IS ABOUT TO FLOAT AWAY.IN EARLY AUGUST, an odd flyer appeared in a Greenpoint deli: "Brooklyn Sea Captain Seeking Crew!" The captain was a longtime Brooklyn contractor—"40+ years"—looking for a 12-person crew of trustworthy, hardworking, and "mentally stable" individuals. The boat was a 158-foot wooden tall ship called The Peacemaker, which would follow an itinerary from Florida to Panama, through the canal, on to Australia, across the Indian Ocean and Mediterranean Sea, then back to New York."So, it sounds like you might want to go sailing around the world?" Van Vollmer, the captain, said one recent afternoon. Vollmer, who is 86, was talking on the phone to one of the 200 or so people who have applied to join his crew. He was inside a shuttered Williamsburg sushi restaurant where he currently lives with…3 min
New York Magazine|December 2015WARREN ESANUWarren Esanu is a founder of Esanu Katsky Korins and Siger (now Katsky Korins LLP). Ranked AV (the highest ranking) by his peers, Warren has counseled wealthy families regarding estate and trust planning and estate and trust administration. He has represented individuals and families in the sale and recapitalization of closely-held businesses. In addition, Warren has extensive experience in a wide range of corporate and tax matters. Moreover, he has worked extensively on both public and private company mergers, leveraged buy-outs, acquisitions and sales.Warren is a published author and editor of a number of books and publications. He has lectured on corporate and tax matters. In addition, he has served as chairman of the board of a public company and as a director of a number of public and private…1 min
New York Magazine|December 2015DONALD L. SAPIREMPLOYMENT LAW EMPLOYMENT/SEPARATION AGREEMENTS, WAGE AND HOURA partner at Sapir Schragin LLP, an employment law firm, Don is widely respected for the breadth and depth of his knowledge and 39 years of experience representing employees and area businesses in employment disputes involving termination, discrimination, sexual harassment, retaliation, wage and hour overtime claims, family medical, disability, and military leave, separation agreements, employment contracts, non-competes, whistleblowers, pensions, and class actions. He is an effective litigator with many landmark court victories, but often uses mediation to achieve successful results for clients. Don was voted one of Westchester’s Top Attorneys, a N.Y. Super Lawyer, and one of the Best Lawyers in America. He is a past President of the College of Labor and Employment Lawyers and a past Chair of NYS Bar Assoc. Lab.…1 min
New York Magazine|December 2015MARK E. SEITELMANWe do not brag about our high settlements and verdicts. We do not seek publicity. We do not advertise on television.Our mission is to quietly help our clients. That not only includes the best settlement or verdict, but also handling the other, collateral and sometimes messy issues, such as getting medical bills paid, lost income, finding a specialist physician, and getting property damage paid. Sometimes that means just setting aside the time and listening to the client and the family.Our five attorneys and eight paralegals are dedicated to providing personal and caring attention. That is why 95% of our clients are referred by their families, friends, and other attorneys.Our office has wide experience in all kinds of personal injury cases, such as automobile, construction and work accidents, buildings, sidewalks and…1 min
New York Magazine|December 2015Robert G. Smith, pllcFamily LawRobert G. Smith is nationally recognized as a talented litigator and negotiator in the field of family law, for celebrities, entrepreneurs and professionals, in high-net-worth divorces, as well as contested child custody cases. His state-of-the-art law firm, located at 59th Street and Park Avenue in midtown Manhattan, serves a client base from New York City to Long Island and the Hudson Valley.Strategically managing media attention in high-profile cases is important, especially when there are children and sensitive business relationships in the equation.Not every family law assignment is high profile, but every one of them has the potential to extract catastrophic emotional and financial costs. Successful completion of the assignment requires the lawyer’s skills and experience in a broad array of disciplines: forensic mental health, forensic accounting, commercial law, criminal…2 min
New York Magazine|December 2015THE LOOK BOOKANTHONY LUPI, UPS DriverWork must be nuts. I'm dealing with a tremendous amount of packages right now. It's unbelievable. I don't know where people get the time or money to order so much stuff! But the job's great; I have my regular routes here in downtown Manhattan, and I'm super-personable with my customers: "Oh, hey, how are you?" One of them just walked by.Do you get hit on a lot? I can't lie to you: Yes. A lot. There are definitely some ladies on my route who always try to chat a little bit longer. It's flattering for sure, but I always gotta keep it moving.How do you like the uniform? It's not terrible, right? I worked in fashion before this—for a suiting company—and learned how to cut, tailor, sew,…1 min
New York Magazine|December 2015No.11 BECAUSE YOU CAN TAKE GUITAR LESSONS FROM THE GUY FROM TELEVISION.RICHARD LLOYD , who’s 64, doesn’t gig much these days, but he does teach for $100 an hour. (And he isn’t the only name-brand, high-cred option available to New York’s aspiring guitar heroes. The ferocious Marnie Stern teaches occasionally, as has Charles Bissell of the godlike Wrens.) About a week after I scheduled time with him via the email address on his website, Lloyd invited me into his living room—where a Television concert poster hung on the wall—handed me one of his gorgeous Fender Stratocasters, and flipped on a couple of small amps. “Can you play me a major scale?” Lloyd asked, a little gruffly. Yep. “Pentatonic scales?” I played one. Lloyd next ran me through some tough chording exercises, up and down the neck. My left hand hurt. “Do…1 min
New York Magazine|December 2015No.2 BECAUSE NO MATTER YOUR POLITICS, THERE’S A NEW YAWK ACCENT FOR YOU.EARLY IN OCTOBER, Donald Trump was in the midst of a speech at the Electric Park Ballroom in Waterloo, Iowa ("I love eminent domain"), when from the audience a man yelled out that Trump was going to be president. It was early enough in the Trump phenomenon that one's thinking the tycoon might actually win seemed a mark of minor instability: too much life wasted in comments sections or maybe just being drunk. Trump smiled, a little dismissively, let his tiny eyes disappear into a coy tuck. He held up his hand: "I don't want to get too braggadocios." Braggadocios! What New Yorker still talks like that?All through the summer and fall, Trump, who was born in Queens, and Bernie Sanders, who was born in Brooklyn, kept up an impenetrable…3 min
New York Magazine|December 2015HARVEY S. MARSEMPLOYMENT & LABORFor over 25 years Harvey S. Mars has provided quality legal representation to employees and labor organizations in diverse legal matters including labor and employee benefits law; covenants not to compete and employee confidentiality agreements; collective bargaining negotiations; arbitration; ERISA litigation; and administrative proceedings before the NLRB, NYSERB, U.S. Equal Opportunity Commission, and New York State Division of Human Rights. He is a hard-working, diligent, and tenacious advocate who particularly enjoys providing legal representation and advice to professional musicians and recording artists. Harvey serves as an in-house counsel to the Associated Musicians of Greater New York, Local 802, AFM, the largest local union representing professional musicians in the United States.LAW OFFICE OF HARVEY S. MARS, LLC322 WEST 48TH STREET 6TH FLOOR, NEW YORK, NY 10036 PH: 212.765.4300 |…1 min
New York Magazine|December 2015THE TEN BEST Pop ALBUMS OF THE YEAR1. Kendrick Lamar, To Pimp a ButterflyTo Pimp a Butterfly isn't a perfect album, but it's the one we needed. Compton rapper Kendrick Lamar's searing third album is as much an interrogation of institutional power as it is an interrogation of self. He stares into a cracked mirror on the nightmarish "u" and grapples with the capitalistic trappings of his fame on the funkadelic "Wesley's Theory." Throughout, Kendrick spits with casual virtuosity, like he's tired of proving he's the most dexterous rapper in the game, but whenever Butterfly risks getting caught up in his head, his band's grooves bring everything back down to Earth.2. Jamie xx, In Colour"I go to loud places, to search for someone to be quiet with," xx vocalist Romy sings, summing up the contradiction that lies…3 min
New York Magazine|December 2015Brodo at Morgenstern’s2 Rivington St., nr. Bowery; 212-209-7684HERE’S AN EXCITING culinary collaboration you don't come across every day: Brodo and Morgenstern's Finest Ice Cream. That's right. Marco Canora is taking his bone-broth concept and popping it up out of the window at Nick Morgenstern's scoop shop. As it turns out, the two Gramercy Tavern vets are members in good standing of a mutual-admiration society. "He's an ice-cream ninja," says Canora. "He's an OG legend," says Morgenstern. So for the next few months, the full East Village Brodo menu will be available at Morgenstern's, plus two new holiday-inspired elixirs: The "What Came First" (organic egg yolk, freshly grated nutmeg, organic chicken broth) is Canora's savory take on eggnog ($7 for ten ounces), while Morgenstern's contribution, the St. Nick, goes where no bitter, 100…1 min
New York Magazine|December 2015SCHWARTZAPFEL LAWYERS P.C.FOR THE PAST THREE DECADES, THE PERSONAL injury law firm Schwartzapfel Lawyers has served as a powerful advocate for people who have been seriously injured, maimed, disabled, or killed as a result of someone else’s wrongdoing.SCHWARTZAPFEL LAWYERS P.C. is one of the most prominent and well respected law firms in New York. Steven Schwartzapfel has received numerous awards including Top 100 Trial Lawyers by the American Trial Lawyers Association, Top 100 Trial Lawyers by the National Trial Lawyers Association, Super Lawyers for 7 consecutive years as published in The New York Times. Recognized in Legal Leaders as a Top Rated Lawyer published by ALM in The Wall Street Journal, the New York Law Journal, Newsday, The American Lawyer, Corporate Counsel and the National Law Journal, Leader in Law in Newsweek,…2 min
New York Magazine|December 201510 BECAUSE THE BEST SHOW ON BROADWAY IS ABSOLUTELY FREE.USUALLY, the call goes out on Twitter before lunch, on Lin-Manuel Miranda's feed, and it's a little cryptic. "A fellow composer on tonight's #Ham-4Ham show! singing a song with some army wives for backup," read one a couple of months ago. Doesn't matter how specific it is: By 5:55 p.m. outside the Richard Rodgers, a thousand people will have shown up. Each is ostensibly there to drop a slip of paper into a bucket, because seats in the front row for Hamilton, at $10 each, are offered by lottery each day at 6 p.m. (The rest of the house is effectively sold out till next summer.) But of those 1,000 people, 979 will have to head home. The next five minutes are, mostly, for them.The Ham4Ham performance is unique every…2 min
New York Magazine|December 2015PREPARING TO MEET AN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAWYERIt can be a big waste of time for both you and the lawyer if you’re not prepared for your first meeting. Being unprepared may also end up costing you money, because it will take longer for the lawyer you hire to get up to speed on your legal matter.The lawyer will want to know who you are and how you can be contacted. The lawyer may also ask for a personal and business background. So you’ll need to write down anything that you consider to be relevant background information and have it available for the lawyer. Also bring along any documents that you have.Sometimes, a lawyer may also try to speed the information-gathering process by sending you a questionnaire to fill out in advance. If this happens, be sure…3 min
New York Magazine|December 201548 BECAUSE THAT UBER MIGHT BRING YOU COCAINE.OR THIS ONE.A MAN IN WILLIAMSBURG was throwing a party, and he said he would buy the cocaine himself. His co-host was running late and did not have time to buy it, so she sent him a phone number and told him the drug runner would be driving an Uber car. Yes, an Uber car. With the Uber sticker and everything. Technically, it’s not an Uber when the drug runner is driving it—he shares the car with a professional driver who delivers passengers to destinations during the day. But after sunset, a second shift begins. When “Uber Cocaine” arrived, he went downstairs, hopped into the car, and made the purchase. Then his phone rang—“Uber Cocaine” calling again. “Hey, I’m still here, waiting for you.” He had gotten into the wrong car, which…1 min
New York Magazine|December 2015DIVORCE: STOCKS AND CLOSELY HELD CORPORATIONSCorporate stocks and other assets of closely held corporations are often the subject of dispute in a divorce, especially if the corporation provided most of the income for the family. Many states have laws dealing with the distribution of interests in closely held corporations in a divorce. Courts also consider other factors in deciding how to distribute these assets.STATE LAWSSome states have laws that tell the courts how to treat closely held corporations in a divorce. For example,Florida, New York and North Carolina direct the court to consider the need to allow one spouse to retain an interest in a business free from any claim or interference by the other party.West Virginia law directs the court to give preference to the retention of ownership interests, and to award the larger…3 min
New York Magazine|December 2015BETTINA D. HINDINWith nearly 50 years of combined practice experience Hindin Deutsch is proud to be recognized as one of the most accomplished and experienced matrimonial litigation firms in New York. Recognized for their skill and expertise in the investigation and analysis of the complex financial issues that arise in matrimonial and family law matters, their track record in handling diverse transactional matters in all areas of domestic relations, LGBT law and family law—including pre-nuptial and post-nuptial agreements, divorce, separation, annulment, maintenance, child support, support modification, custody, visitation, relocation, paternity, equitable distribution, asset valuation and Assisted Reproductive Technology – is unparalleled. Recognized as “AV Preeminent Attorneys” and awarded the coveted designation of “SUPERLAWYERS,” Hindin Deutsch and their staff work diligently to achieve positive results for their clients. Though highly established as skilled…1 min
New York Magazine|December 2015GOLDSTEIN, RIKON, RIKON & HOUGHTON, P.C.Since 1923, the law firm of Goldstein, Rikon, Rikon & Houghton, P.C. has been at the forefront of protecting property owners’ constitutional rights, as the only law firm in New York State concentrating exclusively in the area of eminent domain and condemnation law. “Eminent domain cases represent a drastic operation of the law,” notes partner Michael Rikon, who is the New York State-designated eminent domain attorney for the Owners’ Counsel of America. “You really only get one opportunity to litigate these cases;
New York Magazine|December 2015INJURED AT WORK: WORKERS COMP OR LAWSUIT?Some workplaces are dangerous places. Each year,nearly 3 million workplace-related injuries and illnesses are reported. Workers who are most-often injured are laborers; nursing aides,orderlies and attendants; janitors and cleaners; heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers; and police and sheriff ’s officers.Usually, such injuries and illnesses are covered by the employer’s workers compensation insurance. At other times, an injured employee can file a lawsuit.THE WORKERS COMPENSATION SYSTEMWorkers compensation is designed to protect employees who are injured at work and to protect employers from the need to defend against worker-injury lawsuits. Employees receive payments for medical and other costs for a work-related injury or illness without having to sue their employers. Workers compensation is paid for by employers and administered by the states.Even if a worker is injured due to negligence on the…3 min
New York Magazine|December 2015GARR SILPE, P.C.Garr Silpe, PC is regarded as one of the premier matrimonial law firms in the country by lawyers and judges alike. We possess extensive experience in all respects of matrimonial and family law. Led by Ira Garr and Steve Silpe, our attorneys provide sophisticated client services in divorce, child custody, child support, equitable distribution of property, paternity agreements, prenuptial and post-nuptial agreements, matters involving same sex marriage, litigation of all matrimonial and family law matters as well as mediation. We also specialize in matrimonial appeals, often handling these matters for other law firms.Our firm represents many high net worth individuals and celebrities in highly contested, litigated, and non-litigated matters.Garr Silpe, PC is proud to have been listed in U.S. News and World Report Best Lawyers “Best Law Firms in America”.…1 min
New York Magazine|December 2015Top Ten Stand-up Specials and Albums1. Tig Notaro, Boyish Girl InterruptedHer mastery of pacing now feels quietly revolutionary.2. John Mulaney, The Comeback KidMulaney has become a looser performer, which helps his material—about tried-and-true topics like getting married—feel fresh.3. Kyle Kinane, I Liked His Old Stuff BetterNo longer simply a misanthrope, Kinane has evolved into a lowbrow idealist.4. Nate Bargatze, Full Time MagicBargatze proves himself a master at making big things out of something small and small things out of something big.5. Ron Funches, The Funches of UsLighthearted absurdity with a dash of provocation.6. Jen Kirkman, I’m Gonna Die Alone (And I Feel Fine)Male privilege is the frequent target of this special, which includes a sadly funny bit about a dude who didn't know what a lime was.7. Eugene Mirman, Vegan on His Way to the…1 min
New York Magazine|December 2015SUING YOUR LAWYERSometimes lawyers make mistakes.If your attorney really screws up your case, you may consider suing for legal malpractice.BEFORE YOU SUEIf your lawyer didn’t represent you properly, and you were harmed in the process, your lawyer might be liable to you for your loss. But before you pursue a lawsuit against your attorney, try these alternatives:Discuss fee disputes with your attorney or engage in fee arbitrationReport potential ethics violations to your state bar associationHire another lawyer to repair the damage to an ongoing caseIf none of these alternatives brings satisfaction, you may want to consider a legal malpractice claim against your attorney.This type of case is difficult to prove, so you’ll want to thoroughly investigate your chances of success before proceeding.TYPES OF LEGAL MALPRACTICE CLAIMSEvery case is different, but legal malpractice…3 min
New York Magazine|December 2015No. 29 Because this teenager discovered the genetic mutation that gave her the liver cancer she beat at 12.“WHEN I TURNED 12 , I found out that I had a rare liver cancer called fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma. I remember I couldn’t pronounce the name, no matter how many times I tried. I was in the hospital bed, just reading the name over and over again. My doctors caught it early, but even when it was gone it wasn’t really over. Every time I looked in the mirror it was like, Oh, look, my stomach has a huge scar.When I got to high school, I started working at a lab in Mount Sinai, and during one of my regular checkups, I asked my surgeon why no one had ever done a gene-sequencing of fibrolamellar. He said, “You should.” When I was 17, the study was accepted in Science. Now…1 min
New York Magazine|December 2015STEVEN L. KESSLERForfeiture authority Steven L. Kessler maintains a national AV rated white-collar practice in New York. He litigates cases of first impression and national significance before federal and state trial and appellate courts nationwide.Mr. Kessler is a member of the Joint Rules Committee for the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York. The author of two highly acclaimed treatises on forfeiture, Mr. Kessler is widely quoted and cited in court opinions and media of legal and general circulation including NBC Nightly News, The New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, Forbes magazine and the New York Law Journal. He is a prolific writer and frequent CLE lecturer and continues to testify before legislative committees on forfeiture-related issues.Following his graduation from Cornell Law School, Mr. Kessler was head of the Asset Forfeiture…1 min
New York Magazine|December 2015FILING A TOXIC MOLD LAWSUITFinding toxic mold in your home may lead to a lawsuit, especially if clean up wasn’t done properly, or in a timely basis by licensed professionals. You may even consider suing your landlord, previous owner, construction company or insurance company who hasn’t held up their end of the insurance policy terms.WHAT IS TOXIC MOLD?Molds are found everywhere - outdoor and indoors. Common indoor molds include Alternaria, Aspergillus, Cladosporium, and Penicillium. Although most are harmless, two types of household molds - Stachybotrys and Memnoniella - are toxic and can pose health risks to humans.Stachybotrys chartarum, or “black mold ,” is the fungus associated with “toxic mold syndrome .” It grows in damp places on materials that contain wood, carpet, cardboard, wallpaper, wet leaves, hay, and straw.WHAT ARE THE RISKS OF BEING…3 min
New York Magazine|December 2015RICHARD H. ROSENBERGRichard Harris Rosenberg’s expertise in criminal defense has driven successful representation of his clients for more than 30 years in federal and state courts. Long recognized by his peers as a preeminent advocate, Mr. Rosenberg’s experience and commitment have enabled him to achieve positive results in an array of complex criminal prosecutions. These cases have involved mail and wire fraud, misuse of office by public officials, health care and securities fraud, money laundering, narcotics importation and distribution, Hobbs Act stings, racketeering, material support of terrorism and weapon related offenses.Mr. Rosenberg attributes his success to vigorous preparation, thoroughness, advocacy and a keen understanding of the dynamics of the criminal justice system. Mr. Rosenberg earned his B.S. degree from N.Y.U. and his Juris Doctor from St. John’s University School of Law. Earlier…1 min
New York Magazine|December 2015No. 16 Because this gallery gets stuck in traffic.LAST YEAR, when the artistgallerist Jared Madere decided to move out of his Bed-Stuy apartment, two ideas came to mind. One was to head far out—to, say, Coney Island. The other was to move into a large truck. “For $2,300, I’m a homeowner!” says Madere, who is 29, as he joyfully recalls the moment he bought the RV (off Craigslist) that he and his gallery, Bed-Stuy Love Affair, called home for much of the past year. “I had never been in an RV in my life.”Madere’s plan was to move a show of work by Jacob Cruzen and Joseph Geagan from the apartment to the RV and drive down to Miami for Art Basel. He spent a solid month outfitting the ramshackle vehicle, painting it black, ripping out the interior,…1 min
New York Magazine|December 2015WHO’S IN CONTROL DURING YOUR DIVORCE? YOU AREWhen you know and accept your divorce is a reality, you may tell yourself that you’ll do your best to stay in control, and get through it all. Most people make that same promise and succeed. Life goes on. You want to get through the process, hope your legal bill doesn’t get out of control and move ahead with your life.But there’s no question that some people do make mistakes in divorce - big mistakes. And unfortunately, because of the nature of divorce, we often have to live with those mistakes for years, sometimes even for the rest of our lives.It’s hard to keep it together, and it’s easy to lose sight of your goals as you move through your divorce. A divorce can wear anyone down - emotionally, physically…4 min
