Judicial Offices
Associate Justice of the Appellate Division, Second Department
Appointed March 19, 2009 by Gov. David A. Patterson; retired January 5, 2022
Justice of the Supreme Court – 1999 to January 5, 2022
Dedicated Matrimonial Part – 1999 to 2000
Commercial Division – 2000 to 2009
Other Professional Experience
Adjunct Professor of Law, Hofstra University School of Law – Fall 2002 to present
Associate Counsel to the Speaker of the New York State Assembly- 1980 to 1981- Counsel to the Agriculture and Commerce and Industry Committees
Private practice of law:
Leonard B. Austin, P.C. – 1990 to 1998
Wolfson, Grossman &Austin – 1988 to 1990
Stillman, Herz&Austin – 1980 to 1988
Stillman &Austin – 1979 – 1980
Solo practice – 1978 to 1979
Assistant Law Librarian, Hofstra University School of Law – 1978 to 1979
Admission to the Bar
New York; Florida, United States Court of Appeals, Second Circuit; United States District Court for the Eastern, Southern and Northern Districts of New York. Also admitted pro hac vice in Texas, New Jersey and Pennsylvania and the United State Bankruptcy Courts for the Eastern District of Massachusetts and the District of North Carolina
Education
Hofstra University School of Law – J.D. – 1977
Georgetown University- B.A. – 1974
Jewish Theological Seminary- Summer 1973
Publications & Leading Cases
Publications:
NYSBA Family Law Review, View From the Bench, Fall/Winter 2001
Banking Law Journal, The Impact of New York Supreme Court’s Commercial Division on Bank Litigation, October, 2001.
Physicians Management Magazine, Divorce Battleground: What is Your Medical License Worth Today September 1989
Crains NY Business, Punish Illegal Peddlers, Not Innocent Parties; June 1, 1987
American Medical News, License Status in M.D. Divorces; (Two Parts) May 8 and15, 1987
Leading Cases:
Lipco Electrical Corp. v. ASG Consulting Corp., NYLJ p. 20, col. 3 (8/26/04)
Sodexho Management Inc. v. Nassau Health Corp., NYLJ p. 19 col. 3 (10/6/04), affd., 23 A.D.3d 370 (2nd Dept. 2005)
Yemini v. Goldberg, 12 Misc.3d 1141 (2006)
Brown v. DeGrace, 193 Misc.2d 391, affd., 298 A.D.2d 526 (2nd Dept. 2002)
Anonymous v. Peters, 189 Misc.2d 203 (2001)
Eredics v. Chase Manhattan Bank, 186 Misc.2d19 (2000), affd., 292 A.D.2d 338 (2nd Dept. 2002), affd., 98 N.Y.2d 606 (2003).
Beverage Marketing USA, Inc. v. South Beach Beverage Co., Inc., 15 Misc.3d 1124 (A) (2007), affd., 58 A.D.3d 657 (2nd Dept. 2009)
Cohen v. Nassau Educators Federal Credit Union, 12 Misc.3d 1164 (A), affd., 37 A.D.3d 751 (2nd Dept. 2007)
Wisell v. Indo-MedCommodities, Inc., 11 Misc.3d 1089 (A) (2006), on reargument, 14 Misc.3d 1209 (A) (2006)
Fuchs v. Wachovia Mortgage Corp., 9 Misc.3d 1129 (A) (2005), affd., 41 A.D.3d 424 (2nd Dept. 2007)
Tal Tours (1996)
Inc.v.Goldstein, 9 Misc.3d 1117 (A) (2005), affd., 34 A.D.3d 786 (2nd Dept. 2006)
Gallimore v. Wing, NYLJ, p. 24, col. 1 (9/25/02)