Harry Isaiah Black. Courtesy PhotoDemocracy in Focus: New York State Court of Appeals Year in Review
Harry Black, staff attorney with the State Democracy Research Initiative, reviews decisions from the the New York Court of Appeals’ last term including ‘Hoffmann’ (redistricting), ‘Stefanik’ (vote-by-mail), and ‘Amedure’ (absentee ballot law), and he also offers a preview to anticipated decisions on the horizon such as ‘Cuomo’ (constitutionality of NY’s ethics watchdog), ‘Fossella’ (noncitizen voting in local elections), and ‘Onondaga’ (constitutionality of even-year election law).
January 21, 2025 at 08:05 AM
10 minute read
This year was a notable one for the New York Court of Appeals. It marked Rowan Wilson’s first full term as chief judge following the resignation of his predecessor, Janet DiFiore. It also marked Caitlin Halligan’s first full term as an associate judge. And, beginning in late 2023 and continuing through 2024, the court issued several democracy decisions that will likely have lasting impacts for the state. In one case, the court ordered a redrawing of the state’s congressional map. In another, it allowed for early voting by mail. Finally, in a third case, it upheld a law designed to improve the canvassing of certain types of ballots.
Before turning to those decisions, the article provides an overview of the past term. It concludes by previewing significant democracy cases that are currently working their way through New York’s court system.
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Who Got The Work
J. Brugh Lower of Gibbons has entered an appearance for industrial equipment supplier Devco Corporation in a pending trademark infringement lawsuit. The suit, accusing the defendant of selling knock-off Graco products, was filed Dec. 18 in New Jersey District Court by Rivkin Radler on behalf of Graco Inc. and Graco Minnesota. The case, assigned to U.S. District Judge Zahid N. Quraishi, is 3:24-cv-11294, Graco Inc. et al v. Devco Corporation.
Who Got The Work
Rebecca Maller-Stein and Kent A. Yalowitz of Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer have entered their appearances for Hanaco Venture Capital and its executives, Lior Prosor and David Frankel, in a pending securities lawsuit. The action, filed on Dec. 24 in New York Southern District Court by Zell, Aron & Co. on behalf of Goldeneye Advisors, accuses the defendants of negligently and fraudulently managing the plaintiff's $1 million investment. The case, assigned to U.S. District Judge Vernon S. Broderick, is 1:24-cv-09918, Goldeneye Advisors, LLC v. Hanaco Venture Capital, Ltd. et al.
Who Got The Work
Attorneys from A&O Shearman has stepped in as defense counsel for Toronto-Dominion Bank and other defendants in a pending securities class action. The suit, filed Dec. 11 in New York Southern District Court by Bleichmar Fonti & Auld, accuses the defendants of concealing the bank's 'pervasive' deficiencies in regards to its compliance with the Bank Secrecy Act and the quality of its anti-money laundering controls. The case, assigned to U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian, is 1:24-cv-09445, Gonzalez v. The Toronto-Dominion Bank et al.
Who Got The Work
Crown Castle International, a Pennsylvania company providing shared communications infrastructure, has turned to Luke D. Wolf of Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani to fend off a pending breach-of-contract lawsuit. The court action, filed Nov. 25 in Michigan Eastern District Court by Hooper Hathaway PC on behalf of The Town Residences LLC, accuses Crown Castle of failing to transfer approximately $30,000 in utility payments from T-Mobile in breach of a roof-top lease and assignment agreement. The case, assigned to U.S. District Judge Susan K. Declercq, is 2:24-cv-13131, The Town Residences LLC v. T-Mobile US, Inc. et al.
Who Got The Work
Wilfred P. Coronato and Daniel M. Schwartz of McCarter & English have stepped in as defense counsel to Electrolux Home Products Inc. in a pending product liability lawsuit. The court action, filed Nov. 26 in New York Eastern District Court by Poulos Lopiccolo PC and Nagel Rice LLP on behalf of David Stern, alleges that the defendant's refrigerators’ drawers and shelving repeatedly break and fall apart within months after purchase. The case, assigned to U.S. District Judge Joan M. Azrack, is 2:24-cv-08204, Stern v. Electrolux Home Products, Inc.
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