Alumni News and Notes

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news & notes
ALUMNI

Alan Dershowitz Delivers Commencement Address
30 Named to Order of the Coif
Alumni Featured in New York Law Journal
Civil Divorce Drives a Wedge for Client’s Get
Alumni Team Scores Consumer Victory
Alumni Admitted to Supreme Court and Attend a D.C. Reception
Reunion Celebration
Alumni Support Capital Campaign with $100,000 Pledges
3L Challenge Looks to the Future
As Cardozo Likes It
Cardozo Gains CLE Provider Status
David Berg Foundation Supports Public Interest
Parents Attend Brunch
Attention Classes of 1982, 1987, and 1992!
Alumni Association Welcomes Graduating Students
First Class of Heyman Scholars Graduate
Grad Leads the Way to CLE On-Line
BALLSA Reunion Dinner
Carving Up Info

Alan Dershowitz Delivers Commencement Address

The Class of 2001 celebrated Cardozo’s 23rd commencement in Avery Fisher Hall of Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts. Alan Dershowitz, Felix Frankfurter Professor at Harvard Law School, delivered the keynote address, urging graduates to be wary of the treacherous ethical conflicts they will face as lawyers. He asked them to deliberately choose a moral system for guidance. A festive mood prevailed as 298 men and women received J.D. degrees and 46 received LL.M. degrees.
Many students were honored for distinction in academics and contributions to journals, the community, and various fields of law.
Jocelyn Laura Santo, who was the only member of the class to graduate summa cum laude, received the Louis D. Brandeis Award for best academic record over three years; LL.M. graduate Andreas Karl Aschenbrenner received the Louis Henkin Award, also for superior scholarship. Melissa M. Mathis was given the Felix Frankfurter Award for outstanding academic maturity, responsibility, diligence, and judgment; the Samuel Belkin Award for scholastic achievement coupled with exceptional contributions to the Law School was given to Alan Gotthelf.
Several professors were honored as well. The Law School gave Dean Stewart Sterk the Monrad G. Paulsen Award for devoted service to the vitality, ideals, and purposes of legal education. Each year, the graduates select their favorite members of the faculty and administration. Andrew Leftt, SBA president, presented the awards to this year’s winners: Larry Cunningham ’88, Eva Hanks, and Gary Galperin ’80, adjunct professor. Lynn Wishart was recognized for the most outstanding assistance to students. The Anita Walton Award for best administrator was given to Isabel Balson, registrar.

Andrew Leftt, SBA president, presented the faculty awards:


Larry Cunningham, Best Professor	Eva Hanks, Best First-Year Professor	Gary Galperin, Best Adjunct Professor

Cardozo Chairman Earle I. Mack	Student speaker Scott McCoy	YU President Norman Lamm

Jocelyn Laura Santo received the Louis D. Brandeis Award	Alan Gotthelf, Samuel Belkin Award winner, and Adam Grant, SBA leader	Annita Swait, LL.M. graduate

Michael Turner and Vivian Walton	Mark Mukasey ’93 hoods Beth From	NYU President Jay Oliva hoods Daniel Regan

	Jennifer Deitch and Robert Davis

Alumni Featured in New York Law Journal
Proud to Practice Personal Injury Law
People always told Chuck Silverstein ’84 he would be a good lawyer. It appears that after 17 years of practice he has proved them right. A former musician and bartender, Chuck is now a successful medical malpractice plaintiff’s attorney, with more than a dozen seven-figure settlements and verdicts under his belt. He obtained his first part-time job during law school through the placement office, and after graduation joined the law firm of Kramer Dillof Tessel Duffy and Moore, where he became known for such stunts as bringing a piano into a courtroom. Today, after 11 years as a solo practitioner, Chuck has the luxury of choosing his cases carefully, accepting only a few per year.
How does Chuck Silverstein select a case? He says it has to be something significant, either in magnitude, in a point of law, or where some injustice clearly has been done. Chuck has represented some unlikely clients including a heroin abuser and a man who lost his winning lottery ticket, as well as other newsworthy cases that appeared on the cover of the New York Law Journal.
Chuck thinks about the negative public image of personal injury attorneys every day. He found that the best response is to establish yourself as a credible attorney and to not accept frivolous cases. Chuck is clearly proud of the practice he’s built, and proud to know that some of his cases have been used as examples at seminars discussing issues such as how to handle liens and the use of expert witnesses. After years of solo practice, Chuck will soon have a partner, Michael Bast, who has been working with him for about seven years.
Chuck reminisces about Cardozo, particularly with regard to his number one status at the old pinball machine and number two status in Ms. Pac Man. He also remembers well a number of faculty members, including Professors Jacobson, Shupack, and Zelinksy. Chuck is a regular participant in Cardozo’s ITAP program.

Civil Divorce Drives a Wedge for Client’s Get
The world of matrimonial law is anything but routine to Jay Butterman ’89, a veteran of numerous controversial cases. Jay, along with his partner and fellow Cardozo graduate Deborah Kahn ’83, recently won Gindy v. Gindy, in which a Brooklyn judge ruled that a husband who refused to give his wife a Jewish religious divorce (Get) must provide lifetime support for his ex-wife. The decision, reported on the front page of the New York Law Journal on May 3, has a significant impact on the Orthodox Jewish community. Mr. Gindy will have to provide permanent maintenance payments to his ex-wife despite their short, childless marriage based on the fact that as a member of the Syrian Orthodox Jewish community in Brooklyn, she would never be able to remarry within her community without the Get. Jay hopes that this ruling will help Mrs. Gindy to obtain the Get, since her getting married again is the only way to end the husband’s obligations.
Jay has had other newsworthy cases recently, including an important ruling from the New York Court of Appeals involving the rights of children born out of wedlock, which was reported a day later in the May 4 New York Law Journal. The law firm Butterman, Kahn & Gardner LLP, which Jay founded in 1991, also handles entertainment law, real estate, general litigation, and business law and has received the highest rating in Martindale-Hubble. Jay “really liked law school” and acknowledges Cardozo’s “extraordinary faculty,” especially family law professor Bob Dobvish.

Alumni Team Scores Consumer Victory

(From left) Ron Geffner ’91, Martin Stankiewicz ’00, Dennis Hirsch ’97, and Jeffrey Goldberg ’95, all of Sadis & Goldberg.
Soon after Jeffrey C. Goldberg ’95 joined forces with solo practitioner Jack Sadis to form Sadis & Goldberg LLC, they extended partnerships to Cardozo graduate Ron Geffner ’91 and attorney Douglas Hirsch. Together, they have built a thriving general practice in midtown Manhattan. The full-service law firm recently hired two associates who also are Cardozo graduates: Dennis Hirsch ’97 and Martin Stankiewicz ’00. Ron attributes the firm’s success in part to the Cardozo team who “because of the education they received at Cardozo are, by and large, entreprenurial and think outside the box.” Sadis & Goldberg’s court victories were featured on the front page of the New York Law Journal twice; both articles highlighted the firm’s litigation department and its zealous advocacy and victories in the area of consumer warranty law.

Alumni Admitted to Supreme Court and Attend a D.C. Reception

On March 27, a group of alumni were admitted to the United States Supreme Court and then enjoyed a session of oral arguments where they could observe the nine justices in action. Prof. Michael Herz, a former Supreme Court clerk, made the motion for the group and shared some inside information about the Supreme Court at a breakfast that morning. Admitted alumni were (from left above) David Baskind ’96, Leslie Berman ’93, Stephanie Gayden ’93, Averlyn Archer ’93, Susan John ’93, Daniel Bernstein ’96, and Wayne Halper ’79 (not pictured).

The evening before the swearing-in, faculty and staff met with alumni at a reception at the law firm of Crowell & Moring, thanks to partner Cliff Elgarten ’79, who is pictured here (center) with Paul Epstein ’85 (left) and Dean Stewart Sterk. Next year, there will be a reception for D.C. metro alumni on March 19, 2002, followed the next day by a Supreme Court Admission. To be placed on the mailing list for either event, please contact Barbara Birch in the Office of Alumni Affairs at 212-790-0293, or by e-mail at birch@ymail.yu.edu. Space is very limited.

First Class of Heyman Scholars Graduate

Prof. Larry Cunningham, the first graduating class of Heyman Scholars, and current Heyman Scholars celebrated at a cocktail party held at Alger House in Greenwich Village. In a setting of Persian rugs and stained glass windows, some 60 guests toasted Ronnie and Samuel Heyman for their support of The Heyman Scholars Program, which provides outstanding students interested in corporate law with financial aid and academic and practical opportunities in the field of corporate governance.

Grad Leads the Way to CLE On-Line

Nathaniel Ginor ’00 is a member of the management team at the e-learning company LawyersEd (www.LawyersEd.com), the largest provider of online continuing legal education. “The LawyersEd goal is to allow lawyers to receive CLE credit at a time that’s convenient, in a subject that’s relevant, while saving time and money,” says Nathaniel. Seminar offerings include traditional selections such as “Jury Selection Techniques” and “Revised UCC Article 9,” and more current topics such as “Discovery and Disclosure of Electronic Mail in Federal Court,” by Cardozo’s own Prof. Charles Yablon. Seminars have been led by other Cardozo faculty members, including Stewart Sterk, Kyron Huigens, David Carlson, Myriam Gilles, Marci Hamilton, and Melanie Leslie.

BALLSA Reunion Dinner

Alumni returned to the Law School for a special dinner hosted by BALLSA, at which Loretta Lynch, United States Attorney, Eastern District of New York, was the featured speaker. (From left) Amy Vargas ’02, Noel Williams ’87, Arthur Rojas ’93, Andrew Leftt ’01, Adekunle Bankole ’01, Prof. Miriam Gilles, Vivian Walton ’01, and Prof. El Gates.

Carving Up Info
Alumni attended a panel in sports and news media that was convened at the First Amendment Center in midtown and cosponsored by Cardozo. “Carving Up Information Rights in News and Sports” featured Jeffrey Kessler, partner, Weil Gotshal & Manges; Bill Squadron, chief executive officer, Sportvision; Richard Kurnit, senior partner, Franfurt Garbus Kurnit Klein & Selz; and Felicity Barringer, reporter, The New York Times. Prof. Monroe Price moderated.

Alumni Association Welcomes Graduating Students

(From left) Colleen Samuels ’00, Jason Goldy ’00, Elana Waksal Posner ’97, Robert Wallack ’99, Tricia Pantzer ’98, Fay Leoussis ’79, Melissa Breitbart Sohn ’98, Josh Sohn ’97, and Vivien Naim ’87.
On April 25, the Alumni Association welcomed third-year students to the Association with a party that included alumni speakers offering advice about life after law school. Panelists were Jason Goldy ’00, associate at Weil Gotshal & Manges; Fay Leoussis ’79, chief of the tort division, Corporation Counsel for the City of New York; Elana Waksal Posner ’97, cofounder of iBeauty.com and attorney; and Robert Wallack ’99, Manhattan assistant district attorney. Other alumni were on hand to mingle with students.

Reunion Celebration

The Bear Ballroom at the Russian Tea Room was a glorious setting for the graduates of the Classes of 1980, 1981, 1985, 1986, 1990, 1991, 1995, and 1996, who celebrated their reunions on June 7. More than 300 alumni reminisced with classmates, faculty, and administrators while enjoying some Russian-style delicacies. Members of the reunion committee helped ensure the event’s success.


Alan Eisenstein ’90 and Prof. Peter Lushing.	Stacey Richman ’91, Deirdre Waldron-Power ’91, and Prof. Barry Scheck

Frances Kaminer-Pyle ’80, Carol Schneider-Levy ’80, and Debbie Insdorf ’80	Susan Panisch ’96 and Len Ritz ’96

Stephanie Kramer ’91 and Ivana Williams ’91	Joan Waks ’85, Rosemary Byrne ’80, and Ellen Cherrick ’80

Christopher A. Seeger ’90, Stephen A. Weiss ’90, and Odessa Gorman-Stapleton ’90.	Prof. Melanie Leslie ’91 and Joseph Fontak ’91

Alumni Support Capital Campaign with $100,000 Pledges

Prof. Richard Weisberg spoke in the home of Ronnie and Samuel Heyman on “Recent Events in Holocaust Restitution Litigation.”

Stephen A. Weiss ’90 and Cardozo Board member Eric M. Javits launched two prestigious giving societies in October at a well-attended cocktail party hosted by Samuel and Ronnie Heyman and featuring a talk by Prof. Richard Weisberg. Graduates who pledge gifts of $100,000 payable within five years are invited to join The Jacob Burns Pillars of Justice Society, named for Cardozo’s late chairman of the board. Mr. Weiss and his wife, Debra Weiss ’90, were the first to step forward. Others include James Schwalbe ’93, Evan Berger ’92, and Jonathan Kukin ’87, who made an additional pledge to support the Kukin Center for Conflict Resolution.
The Scales of Justice Society is designed for those who want to make a $100,000 gift but desire a more flexible time span to pay it. Mitchel A. Maidman ’88 and Adam S. Gottbetter ’92 are the first alumni to join this important initiative. (For more information on joining either giving society, please call Debbie Niederhoffer, Director of Development, at 212-790-0288.)

3L Challenge Looks to the Future
The 3L Challenge, inaugurated last year, is a class giving program in which students show their intent to become active alumni by making multiyear pledges to Cardozo. This year, students chose to designate the gift for a broad spectrum of programs, including the library, loan repayment program, Public Interest Summer Stipend, and the Online Journal of Conflict Resolution. The committee, spearheaded by Peggy Sweeney ’01, includes members of the class of ’01: Catherine Alin, Reuven Falik, Ryon Fleming, Sara Gershuni, Melanie Hayes, Kevin Heller, Rachel Hirschfeld, Alexandra Hochman, Sharon Beth Kristal, Simmi Prasad, Dennis Rimkunas, Lisa Tuntigian, and Rob Zanetti; Class of ’02: Cynthia Devasia, Rachel Posner, and Melissa Stewart; and from the Class of ’03: Deborah Ginsberg and Brian Kidd, and LL.M. candidates Shakeel Ahmad and Pilar Toro ’02.

As Cardozo Likes It

In February, alumni and friends attended Shakespeare’s As You Like It at the Storm Theatre. The 50-plus attendees filled the small Off-Broadway theater, making it truly a Cardozo event. After the performance, guests attended a wine and cheese reception with the cast. Lawrence Klein ’94 is shown here with Jennifer Piech, who starred in the show and was previously on Broadway in Titanic.

Cardozo Gains CLE Provider Status

A record number of alumni came back to Cardozo to obtain some needed continuing legal education credits; they found themselves experiencing nostalgia as they sat in a classroom to learn once again about New York Civil Procedure from Prof. Burt Lipshie. For the 100-plus attorneys, the event also turned into a minireunion. Now that Cardozo has been approved as a New York State CLE provider, many more programs will be offered by the Law School and the Alumni Association. The next event will be an ethics course taught in the fall.

David Berg Foundation Supports Public Interest
The newly established David Berg Foundation made a grant of $50,000 to support public interest stipends for Cardozo students. Twenty students have been named David Berg Fellows in Public Interest Law for 2001 and received $2,000 to $3,200, enabling them to take unpaid summer positions. They worked at such organizations as Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts, US Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York, Asian Pacific American Legal Center, South Brooklyn Legal Services Foreclosure Prevention Project, Cardozo’s Innocence Project, the Legal Aid Society, and South Brooklyn Legal Services.
The late David Berg served on Cardozo’s Board for 10 years beginning in the early 1980s. During his lifetime Mr. Berg supported numerous educational, cultural, and social nonprofit organizations. The Foundation continues his legacy.

Parents Attend Brunch

Jeffrey and Arlene Cohan with their daughters, Stacey ’02 and Joanna ’04
The first annual Cardozo Parents Day for all J.D. and LL.M. students and their families was held on a snowy January day. After a champagne brunch, guests toured the building and heard about plans for upgrading facilities and then attended miniclasses taught by members of the faculty.

Attention Classes of 1982, 1987, and 1992!
Committees are now forming to help organize your class reunions. Get involved and ensure a successful event for your class. Call 212-790-0293 to join (small time commitment).

30 Named to Order of the Coif
In a ceremony that took place just before commencement, 30 J.D. students received the Order of the Coif, the legal honor that is bestowed on those who finish in the top 10 percent of the class. Bonnie Steingart ’79, a member of the Cardozo Board of Directors, received an honorary Order of the Coif.

Dean Paul Verkuil with new members of Order of the Coif

Class of 2001:
Brooke Robyn Bass
Martin Earl Beeler
Karen Bekker
Theresa Marie Bevilacqua
Jennifer Nicole Deitch
David Todd Feuerstein
Aaron Edward Fredrickson
Daniel Steven Gordon
Alan Gotthelf
Adam Keith Grant
Jonathan E. Gross
Daniel Jeremy Haies
Jason Elliot Halper
Steven J. Horowitz
Rachel Brooke Jaffe
Albert N. Lung
Neeli Berger Margolis
Melissa M. Mathis
Julia Louise Mattson
Scott Daniel McCoy
Michelle Monique Miciotto-Kostun
Michael J. Parrish
Scott Jonathan Posner
Dennis Rimkunas
Michael Howard Rogers
Jocelyn Laura Santo
Kara Blair Schissler
Dmitriy Shleymovich
Marc H. Simon
Julie C. Young