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Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Attorney for Department Disciplinary Committee Sues Court System

Attorney for Department Disciplinary Committee Sues Court System
The New York Law Journal by John Caher  -  May 16, 2012

An attorney for the Appellate Division, First Department's disciplinary committee alleges in a federal lawsuit that she was sexually harassed by two now-retired officials at the watchdog agency while a third retaliated against her for complaining.  Nicole Corrado also suggests that after she lodged a complaint officials retaliated by targeting her attorney in an unrelated property matter. She claims that the committee launched an investigation into allegations of bribery and forgery against her attorney, and then suddenly dropped the matter when he abandoned her case.  Additionally, Corrado claims she was punished for supporting a lawsuit brought against the court system by a colleague.  Corrado v. New York State Unified Court System, 12-cv-1748, filed in the Eastern District on April 10, alleges violations of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.  Corrado, who has served as a principal attorney at the disciplinary committee since 2006, claims she endured years of harassment by her supervisor, Andral Bratton, and that the committee's chief investigator, Vincent Raniere, touched her inappropriately and forcibly kissed her on several occasions.  According to the complaint, when Corrado reported the "pattern of sexual harassment" by Bratton and Raniere in 2008, the court system referred the matter to its inspector general. However, only the allegations against Bratton were investigated, the complaint claims. The complaint states that Bratton admitted during the Office of the Inspector General probe that he was "smitten" with Corrado and crossed "an emotional boundary." Bratton was transferred to another unit at the same salary and Corrado was simply told to "avoid" him, according to the complaint.  Corrado alleges that while her sexual harassment complaint was pending, she retained an attorney to represent her in an unrelated action involving a property dispute. She claims the disciplinary committee instigated an investigation into that attorney—who is not named in her complaint—involving allegations of bribery and forgery.  Corrado contends that after the attorney withdrew from her case and her claim was dismissed, all of the ethical charges against her lawyer were dropped. She claims that because of her attorney's abrupt withdrawal, her civil case was dismissed and she was "ultimately forced to settle her case for a fraction of its value."  Bennitta Joseph of Borrelli & Associates in Great Neck, who is representing Corrado in the civil rights claim, declined to identify the allegedly intimidated attorney who represented her client in Corrado v. East End Pool &  Hot Tub.  Corrado also claims in her complaint that she was retaliated against for supporting the claim of a colleague who accused the agency of racial discrimination.

The complaint does not identify that employee, but Joseph confirmed in an interview that it was Christine Anderson, a former staff attorney who alleged she was wrongfully discharged in June 2007 on a pretext of insubordination after she revealed that the panel was protecting well-connected attorneys. A jury rejected her claims, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit affirmed the verdict (NYLJ, Oct. 30, 2009). Corrado contends that after she agreed to corroborate Anderson's allegations of "racial discrimination and other improper conduct" by the disciplinary committee, Alan Friedberg, the committee's chief counsel, threatened her and gave her an unreasonable workload. Additionally, Corrado says Bratton threatened her.  In light of Corrado's complaint, Anderson has asked the Second Circuit to reinstate her claim. Anderson contends in her petition that Corrado, who testified on her behalf at a deposition but not at trial, "was threatened and chilled into not testifying" at her trial, constituting a "manifest attack on our system of law and a clear denial of appellant's right to a fair trial."  Corrado claims that because of the anxiety and stress from the harassment she endured at the disciplinary committee she took a two-year unpaid leave of absence between 2009 and 2011, returning only after Bratton, Raniere and Friedberg had left. According to the Office of Court Administration, all three took advantage of an early retirement incentive in the fall of 2010.  "She feels like she has to do something," Joseph said. "She took a two-year leave of absence because the environment had become so toxic, and then once all the offending parties left, she came back."  Raniere said the allegations are false. "I didn't do a damned thing," he said.  Friedberg declined to comment. Bratton could not be reached.  David Bookstaver, a spokesman for the Office of Court Administration, declined to respond, noting that the court system does not comment on pending litigation.  John Caher can be contacted at jcaher@alm.com.

28 comments:

Another DDC victim said...

Earth to 1st Department Presiding Judge Gonzalez- you must take decisive action regarding the failings of the DDC. Continuing the cover-up of crimes and not CORRECTING the misdeeds is UNACCEPTABLE. Yes, things are much better under Jorge Depico.... but they really couldn't have gotten worse under Cahill, Friedberg and Sherry Cohen. But JUSTICE DEMANDS CORRECTION, Judge Gonzalez, and you know it. If you can't do it, please resign as PJ.

Anonymous said...

A federal lawsuit in the Second Circuit's courts requires belief in the tooth fairy or the proper connections and payments. Contact Chuck Schumer for advice.

Anonymous said...

Oh yes, I know first-hand of the rampant corruption at the DDC...tampering with evidence, whitewashing complaints, letting sexual offenders get off with a slap on the wrist, as long as they're "POLITICALLY CONNECTED" they get a free pass..UGH,why aren't the FEDS doing something about these criminals PLEAZZZEEEEE!!!!

Anonymous said...

Tampering with evidence is a CRIME, allowing Lawyers to get away with sexual abuse, is a CRIME, allowing complaints against Prosecutors, without investigating, is a CRIME, harrassing witnesses is a CRIME, taking money to protect "POLITICALLY CONNECTED" attorneys, is a CRIME, whitewashing complaints against attorneys, is a CRIME!!!!!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

Tampering with evidence is a CRIME, allowing Lawyers to get away with sex abuse, is a CRIME, allowing complaints against Prosecutors, without investigating, is a CRIME, harrassing witnesses is a CRIME, taking money to protect "POLITICALLY CONNECTED" attorneys, is a CRIME, whitewashing complaints against attorneys, is a CRIME!!!!!!!!!!

Searching For Rule Of Law In America said...

haven't we all seen this movie before (Anderson v. State of NY)...

we've gotta do more than just express our disgust and opinions...

i know that there are many who are reading this blog that still have legitimate causes of action that have, in one way or another, been affected by the actions, or by similar actions that are at the heart of this Complaint...

you must assess your own matter and find an effective means of bringing it to the attention of the highest judicial or legislative body available... and within your filings, give ample mention of this current action... and others that show how the Constitution of the US and of the State are being routinely disregarded and violated by those in positions of apparent authority...

you must stand up and fight... whatever you stand to lose pales in comparison of what you will surely lose if you remain silent...

this action needs your support...

--Michael A. Hense is Searching For Rule Of Law In America

hey mo said...

Where are the 3 stooges (Cahill, Friedberg and Cohen) now?

Searching For Rule Of Law In America said...

just tweeted this... recommended it on Google...

and in response to tweet from #SecClinton dialog with CivilSociety, i replied with this... .@StateDept "Rule of Law".. i keep hearing this phrase.. #SecClinton PLEASE, HELP US HERE IN NY http://blackwallofsilencepart1.blogspot.com/ exposecorruptcourts.blogspot.com

get on twitter now and let em hear from you...

--Michael A. Hense is Searching For Rule Of Law In America

Anonymous said...

The DDC 'watch dogs' have been acting like dirty dogs, not overseers of 'ethics'

insider said...

GO TO WASHINGTON !!!

NO ONE FROM NEW YORK CAN HELP WITH THE CORRUPTION !!!!!!

Anonymous said...

SHUT DOWN the DDC's..clean house..gather up the paddy wagon's ..load up the truck ..next stop.. JAIL!

Anonymous said...

I heard that after Alan Friedberg was forced out of the DDC because he was corrupt, his buddy Tembeckjian hired him at the CJC. Pretty funny, you can't make this stuff up. So now the wimp Friedberg is checking on the ethics of the judges at the Commission on Judicial Conduct. This is all so crazy.

hear one, hear all..... said...

So Andral got pulled out of the DDC and they (the other OCA sexual deviants) hid him at the 1st Dept courthouse. That's how your court system handles sexual abuse in the workplace, my peoples.

Related Case said...

Cahill took my documented complaint home to burn in his fireplace. It kept him warm and everything disappeared (there is No Record) and his friends who he protected made sure he had a good Christmas.

Anonymous said...

WOW said...look at the case in the Matter of Steven S. Greenberg!"

In disciplinary proceedings involving sexual misconduct, two-year suspensions have been imposed where the attorneys had sexual relations with their clients. Shorter periods of suspension are appropriate where an attorney has made sexually oriented or offensive comments" (Matter of Isaac, 76 AD3d 48, 52 [2010] [internal citations omitted]). Thus, for example, in Matter of Weinstock (241 AD2d 1 [1998]), an attorney was suspended for two years for exposing his private parts to a family court client on two occasions and engaging in oral sex with the client on at least one of the occasions. In Matter of Isaac (76 AD3d 48, supra), an attorney who made unwanted sexual advances toward a client was suspended for six months, with the court taking into consideration his age and his long and unblemished record practicing law [FN2]

Anonymous said...

"In Matter of Isaac (76 AD3d 48, supra), an attorney who made unwanted sexual advances toward a client was suspended for six months, with the court taking into consideration his age and his long and unblemished record practicing law [FN2]"

Are you kidding me "sexual advances" more like "FELONY LEVEL SEXUAL ABUSE", extortion, coercion, unlawful imprisonment, obstruction of justice, etc. what the heck are these people smoking!!!!!!

"with the court taking into consideration his age and his long and unblemished record practicing law".

I hardly think he had an "unblemished record"..it's more like he had the "RIGHT CONNECTIONS" in the right places!!

Anonymous said...

Wonder if DSK (French) was invited to the sex parties at the DDC? Think much more is to come of this story, stay tuned. The BUZZ is that there was a whole lot of sex going on at the DDC at the expense of the taxpayers. Nail all the punks and take their pensions .....

Anonymous said...

The corruption is so rampant. It has spread too the FBI,TIGTA
In Feb.2012. I sent to Crystal Cox copies of numerous letters that were replies to many complaints that I have made over the past 12 years to the disciplinary committee, the bar, attorney general etc.
Each of these complaints which were legitimate.Were dismissed on some vauge excuse. Each dismissal signed in the exact same handwriting as that of my former husband. Eho does not work for the courts legitimately.
He works behind the scenes in the Dennison building. Preparing the documents for funding and filing phony mortgages for all of the officials, county employees & attorneys. Proof is in the county center in Riverhead. Al opf these documents are in the handwriting of my estranged husband. Request that Crystal display the ones I sent her.

Anonymous said...

to 10:11

Why not just post everything online?

If regulators won't do anything, no harm letting everyone else see them.

Anonymous said...

This is interesting. There seems to be a major problem between the FBI and the NYPD. Yesterday there was a Senate hearing about the non-cooperation between the FBI and NYPD and Schumer had difficulty with the head of the FBI, Mueller.


"Schumer suggested Mueller’s failure to brief Kelly underscored a growing rift between the FBI and NYPD."


Is it possible that the FBI many be more receptive to listening to all the complaints of corruption in NY?


Maybe complaints need to go directly to Washington?

Searching For Rule Of Law In America said...

DIRECT TO WASHINGTON!!

exhaust whatever means you have statewide, then go straight to DC...

this has gotten outta hand and cannot be allowed to continue...

who are these people that they think they are above the law... that they can take away your properties, your rights, your very lives...

... that they can twist the law to protect their unethical, and illegal acts.

who the HELL do they think they are...

it's about about time you start getting MAD AS HELL... it's about time you say to yourself, I'M NOT GONNA TAKE IT ANY MORE!

--Michael A. Hense is Searching Searching For Rule Of Law In America.

Anonymous said...

there is nothing to suggest that DC is any better than anywhere else. and nothing to suggest the FBI is better than anything at the state. very likely both parts of the fbi and state are part of the problem. look what came out in the Anderson trial. this runs into the US Attorneaty's offices as well. all one needs to do in part anyway is understand that the US Attorney's get their jobs from the same set of politics that controls the state with the Governor and-or US Senators weighing in with the White House and obviously a lot of problems there too. this blog is an example of everything that DC has NOT done as the blog has gone on for over 4 years and still no significant actions within the State or Federal system within NY. that is not to say that the Blog has not been very helpful, it has for many people inside and outside of new york. and is not to say that there are not Talented and Committed individuals from DC and from other parts of the government that are working to correct the problems. but part of the problem is this has gone on for so long that too many entrenched individuals in key office positions so it could take a Decade to change anything and by the time that happens the problems have already resurfaced in other areas. Obama just came to Albany to get help from Andrew Cuomo. that should say alot about the likelihood of what DC will be doing anytime soon. would be great and fantastic to be entirely wrong in this post but the last 4 plus years say otherwise.

to be crystal clear, however, the blog has been extremely helpful and if nothing else, a place where stories and cases can be aired. question is whether all the info and sources from the blog will be available to help those trying to bring their own federal cases since the FBI and US Govt ( FBI chief law enforcement agency for Civil Rights ) do not do this on any significant basis especially involvSing the Courts thus creating the system that ALLOWS the State system to do whatever they want when they want and how they want regardless of rule or law or other.


hvr

Anonymous said...

Unfortunately OCA takes the position in these cases within their courthouses..there are others like this and some more serious..that the female victim of the male perverted employees... must be severely punished in multiple forms including taking their jobs and financially devastating them, while the male offenders are coveted, covered-up and never comtained.
The female court employees are barraged with retaliation by other employees and supervisors..mostly female.. an OCA tactic to assist them in circumventing the Title vii Civil Rights Act...shows that it is the victim who has trouble with female employees also..their typical defense...do not believe a " person who seems to have many problems" with ALL sexes in the workplace!
This trick by the courts, along with many others they like to employ..using minority females to engage in the hostility..allows Fed Ct the ability to dismiss these cases in summary judgment... as it will appear to those judges writing these false documents, that there are personality problems with the pltf and thereby her allegations cannot be believed and she cannot proceed to her right to a jury trial...insufficient.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Chuck Schumer are well aware of these cases and disgustingly " Cuomo" has defended the courts knowing they presented lies and cover-ups as featured in discovery.
Schumer just pretends they don't exist as he continues his protection of the old school male judiciary!
Remember if Andrew Cuomo runs for President..ladies and men..that he is part of the war on women and will continue that behavior as a top leader..so a NO vote for him in any catergory of politics!
Schumer... as we all know should not be allowed back..and women can make certain of that..this is an urgent call to all NYER;S....the WAR ON WOMEN IS REAL IN NY AND AMERICA.

Searching For Rule Of Law In America said...

you may be right... i've filed a complaint with the DOJ over a month ago, and as of my latest check on the status of the Complaint, i've been told "that it is not in our system yet"...

but what am i supposed to do... just give up...

airing our plight here does little if nothing else is done to hold these people accountable...

i make is no suggestion that the people in DC will even pay attention, much less be interested in righting these wrongs...

but it is the next step in a process... i've all but exhausted most of my state options in my matter... DC is the seat of the Democracy... the center of the Nation...

should my DOJ fails to act, then a suit against the United States will follow...

and if that fails, then i will, if i have to do it all by my self, pick up a flag and walk down to DC in a one man march in protest...

they've taken away everything i've worked for... they've taken my life... i've got nothing else for them to take... i've got nothing to lose...

the only way i'm guaranteed to lose is if i do nothing... the only way you are guaranteed to lose is if you do nothing...

--Michael A. Hense is Searching For Rule Of Law In America

Anonymous said...

The two ficilitors, read coverup minions of the First Dept., are Milt Williams and Leo Malonis and they are in league with the black shoe law firms in the rotten apple. The DDC IS NOT INDEPENDENT and that's the way the thugs like it so that they have control. Too many attorneys running things and that where the corruption comes in. Look at the facts in the Christine Anderson case, she laid it out and they did their best to bury it! And why was this case filed in the Eastern Dist. and not in the Southern Dist.? Is the Southern Dist so dirty and corrupt that the feds instructed her whereto file?

Anonymous said...

Tom Cahill and his playmates are dirty old men. The system has engaged in a criminal cover up. When are the feds coming? Or are they afraid since the corruption is so bad and the sad thing is they, the feds know it - where do we go to obtain JUSTICE?

Anonymous said...

The DDC should be closed down. An independent non-attorney orgaization to deal with the thousands of complaints must be set up. Then Justice will be served. Do you think the federal people will help?

Anonymous said...

He wasn't hiding. He was moved. You ask me Nicole was hiding. Leaving and not coming back till they are gone. And filing suits way after the incidents happened.

Blog Archive

See Video of Senator John L. Sampson's 1st Hearing on Court 'Ethics' Corruption

The first hearing, held in Albany on June 8, 2009 hearing is on two videos:


               Video of 1st Hearing on Court 'Ethics' Corruption
               The June 8, 2009 hearing is on two videos:
         
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               CLICK HERE TO SEE Part 2
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