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Williamsburg, NY - Housing Authority Hires One of the Nation's Largest Law Firms in Elevator-Death Inquiry |
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Williamsburg, NY - The New York City Housing Authority has hired ReedSmith L.L.P., one of the nation's largest law firms, to represent it in the Brooklyn district attorney's inquiry into the death of a 5-year-old boy who fell down an elevator shaft in a public housing complex last week.
The accident has put renewed scrutiny on the Housing Authority over the safety and maintenance of its 3,337 elevators, which have drawn frequent complaints from public housing residents.
The Housing Authority said it had turned to outside counsel to help it respond to subpoenas and other matters involved in the criminal investigation.
A spokesman for the authority said that on counsel's advice, it would also stop responding to requests from the news media for information and data related to the safety and inspections of its elevators.
"As a result of this action, absolute priority is being given to the D.A.'s inquiry," the spokesman, Howard Marder, said in an e-mail message. "Accordingly, based on counsel's advice, it is premature and not appropriate to supply to news sources piecemeal information relating to this incident, including any systemwide information that may prejudice the inquiry."
The boy, Jacob Neuman, died on Aug. 19 while trying to escape from a jammed elevator in the Taylor-Wythe housing complex in South Williamsburg.
Residents of the 12-story building say the elevators have been a source of frustration for years, often stalling between floors. The elevators were to be overhauled in 2004, but the work was deferred twice because of budget cuts.
The elevators appear to have been overdue for an inspection. City law requires elevators to be inspected about every six months, but the last inspection on record was Oct. 3, 2007.
The district attorney's office has subpoenaed safety and inspection records for the elevator. The Housing Authority has not yet turned over the records, said one official, who was not authorized to publicly discuss the case and therefore spoke on condition of anonymity.
The Housing Authority, which employs about 100 lawyers and 100 support-staff members to handle litigation, would not say how much it was paying ReedSmith.
It is not unusual for government agencies to hire private counsel in criminal inquiries. But the move comes as the authority, the largest public housing authority in the country, is dealing with a financial crisis. Its budget deficit this year is $170 million and expected to climb to $207 million in 2012.
Authority officials blame dwindling financial support from Washington for the shortfall.
The agency has threatened to shut hundreds of community centers and resident programs to close its budget gap.
A spokeswoman for ReedSmith declined to comment.
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Read Comments (15) — Post Yours »
1
Aug 30, 2008 at 10:32 PM boroparker Says:
HERE WE GO - FOR THAT THE CITY HAS AGAIN MONEY. LET THEM SPEND THE MONEY TO FIX THE BROKEN ELEVATORS AND NOT SPEND IT FOR LEGAL EXPENSES.
2
Aug 30, 2008 at 11:26 PM Williamsburger Says:
sounds very fishi to me that they have to hire such a big expensive law firm. something major is behind it.
3
Aug 31, 2008 at 12:01 AM elavator Says:
they are worry that now will swim up the whole carruption in the housing........!!!!! good for them.
4
Aug 31, 2008 at 12:34 AM monroer Says:
Evry time I see the news about the boy my heart is getting broken for the famlei
My hasem send them condolonsies
The new yer should bring us opnley goods
5
Aug 31, 2008 at 12:40 AM political analyst Says:
the city faces a huge liability, they need to do what's in their best interests which is to protect themselves. a good lawyer is well worth the price. nyc is a large organization which in the private sector would be considered a fortune 500 company. it's not unusual for a large company to seek outside counsel when facing a serious problem.
I think in this case the city hired outside counsel more to protect individuals in the housing dept from criminal prosecution rather that monetary losses. awards aren't that high (relatively)when small children are involved,especially in a death r'l. i see a few million tops, nothing in the $100 million range. I think people are scared of going to jail.
6
Aug 31, 2008 at 01:59 AM moishe Zichmich Says:
Palitical analyst you are right but why then keep 100 lawyers on the payroll?
7
Aug 31, 2008 at 03:14 AM Thinking aloud Says:
Those lawyers probably don't have criminal defense expierience. Innocent people don't hire the most expensive lawyers to get them off.
8
Aug 31, 2008 at 08:40 AM zocher Says:
it must be that there is big trouble going on there.
9
Aug 31, 2008 at 08:45 AM Anonymous Says:
Yeah, children aren't worth much, are they? Especially frum kids. Sickening!
10
Aug 31, 2008 at 09:55 AM Anonymous Says:
cant wait to hear how much $$ the city pays them to try to save on paying the family.
admit it bloomberg, ur housing dept stinks, u are not overseeing things properly.
you are too busy with waterfalls and bike lanes
11
Aug 31, 2008 at 12:15 PM tzaddik ben Torah Says:
Instead of spending OUR money on Quack/crack lawyers/liars,let them repair the elevators today and help out the family to recover,if possible,from this tragedy.
12
Aug 31, 2008 at 01:32 PM Anonymous Says:
ReedSmith L.L.P IS GOING TO MILK THIS CASE FOR AS MUCH MONEY AS POSSIBLE TAXPAYERS SHOULD PROTEST THIS INSANE RETAINER -THEY ARE NOT EVEN CRIMINLA LAWYERS!
WHERE IS THE MAYOR?
PROBABLY COUNTING HIS MONEY WHAT A WASTE!
13
Aug 31, 2008 at 01:34 PM aronis says Says:
they should give the money to the family
lawyers are such a waste---how many elevatoers can they fix with this money
and yes they should go to jail
14
Aug 31, 2008 at 10:53 PM Anonymous Says:
I wonder who authorzed them to do so. Is htis something they can do on their own or does the Mayor's office or corporation counsel (City's law office) approve this
15
Sep 01, 2008 at 11:07 AM Yossel Says:
the famley will berly get any money and let me tell you what will happen
they will give them a option we could pay you for your loss but allot of people who are living here for free and scamming our books will go to jail
or sit quite and move on and evryone will be happy
thats what you get when you $750 a hour
good luck