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Chicago, IL - Lawyer Cursed by Same Name as Madoff, Thinking of Name Change |
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Ari Madoff is receiving unwanted attention due to the Bernard Madoff scandal. Ari is not related to Bernard Madoff.
The Chicago lawyer isn't related to accused stock swindler Bernie Madoff, but everyone - from folks in his synagogue to potential clients - assumes he is.
It's gotten so bad he's thinking about changing his name and the slogan of his law firm: "Madoff, the most trusted name in securities law."
"I used to be flattered when people asked me if I was related to the famous financier," he said. "Now that association only brings me troubles."
Ari Madoff, 29, is the grandson of Bernard Madoff - not the high-flying fund manager under house arrest in a Manhattan penthouse, but a former shoe salesman in a Canadian nursing home.
His mother is Shana Madoff, the same name as one of the Ponzi mastermind's nieces.
That caused problems for her recently when she tried to use a credit card and found out it was blocked for security reasons, her son said.
"The other day I walked into my synagogue and everyone turned around," he said.
"Some people asked if I was related to Bernard Madoff, but most people didn't dare to ask. Potential business clients will probably wonder, too."
Ari's sister has started using her childhood nickname to avoid guilt by association, and he might follow her.
At the very least, he needs new business cards.
"Let's just say that I will likely have to abandon some of the tag lines I was thinking of," he said, among them:
"Trust, Honesty, Integrity: That's the Madoff Way"
"Madoff: The #1 Name In Fiduciary Relationships"
"Madoff: Trust: Then, Now & Forever."
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Read Comments (21) — Post Yours »
1
Jan 08, 2009 at 11:39 AM Anonymous Says:
just imagine what its like for his grandfather
2
Jan 08, 2009 at 11:38 AM yanki Says:
Nebbech!
3
Jan 08, 2009 at 12:09 PM robroy560 Says:
What are the odds of this - so many of the same names?
He should change his name.
4
Jan 08, 2009 at 12:15 PM Hospice care Says:
“ just imagine what its like for his grandfather ”
Not such an intelligent statement he is in a nursing home in canada you think he really cares? Or even knows?
5
Jan 08, 2009 at 12:15 PM Anonymous Says:
This just proves that the whole securities industry is based of fluff.
When Bernie Madoff was supposively doing well then people would be impressed at the thought of him being his cousin. Now that we find out Bernie is a ganoff then he gets scorned at.
What a crazy world!!!!
6
Jan 08, 2009 at 12:04 PM Al Bundy Says:
“ Nebbech! ”
So let the guy sue Bernie for defamation of character, or something along those lines.....some lawyer will take it, BTG has very deep pockets (and an ugly wife)
7
Jan 08, 2009 at 12:17 PM Anonymous Says:
what would he change his name to, Mad-on? :)
8
Jan 08, 2009 at 12:01 PM Anonymous Says:
just announce it on your doors, phone and business cards: NO i am not realated to the other Madeoff. That should do him well.
9
Jan 08, 2009 at 12:00 PM Anonymous Says:
Ari,
I am sorry to hear you are going through this! may HKB"H Provide you with parnosoh, regardless of your name!
10
Jan 08, 2009 at 11:59 AM Anonymous Says:
yoish !
11
Jan 08, 2009 at 11:59 AM Anonymous Says:
you have nothing to be ashamed off
why not make a public statement stating
who you are
where you come from
any details possible re your origin
and a reminder to all those nice(?) people who are causing you any difficulty by believing others-that they are should be ashamed of themselves for following thneir evil inclination and for thereby transgressing motzi shem rah
12
Jan 08, 2009 at 12:31 PM Anonymous Says:
“ you have nothing to be ashamed off
why not make a public statement stating
who you are
where you come from
any details possible re your origin
and a reminder to all those nice(?) people who are causing you any difficulty by believing others-that they are should be ashamed of themselves for following thneir evil inclination and for thereby transgressing motzi shem rah ”
This is exactly the purpose of this article, he made a public statement that he's not related to "the other" madoff in any form.
13
Jan 08, 2009 at 01:11 PM Pretzelhead Says:
“ This just proves that the whole securities industry is based of fluff.
When Bernie Madoff was supposively doing well then people would be impressed at the thought of him being his cousin. Now that we find out Bernie is a ganoff then he gets scorned at.
What a crazy world!!!! ”
Excellent point. How do we know how much extra business over the past decade this Madoff received through 'name recognition" Can he truly say that for years he's been telling all his clients that He is Not THAT Madoff?
If your last name was McDonald, and you opened a restaurant you might be happy that the customers thought that you were them,right. There is a snack company that has a lot of nice stuff (o-u, d) called "Snyders of Hanover", I don't know what its about but on the bag it says "Not affiliated with Snyders of Berlin"
14
Jan 08, 2009 at 01:35 PM Anonymous Says:
“ So let the guy sue Bernie for defamation of character, or something along those lines.....some lawyer will take it, BTG has very deep pockets (and an ugly wife) ”
Wow!! Great idea! Your superb grasp of the finer details of the legal system is impressive, and even as we speak there must be hordes of attorneys frothing at the mouth to get a bite at this golden opportunity.
15
Jan 08, 2009 at 02:02 PM Al Says:
“ Wow!! Great idea! Your superb grasp of the finer details of the legal system is impressive, and even as we speak there must be hordes of attorneys frothing at the mouth to get a bite at this golden opportunity. ”
Like I can't think of 10 equally frivolous lawsuits that have occured in the past 6 years.
16
Jan 08, 2009 at 01:49 PM mordy Says:
Go lions
A name is surely not a simple thing. As is well known that when a child is born the parent are giving a sort of Ruach Hakodesh to pick a persons name. This applies to the First name of a person and not his last name. In fact in the old days people were often called be their Fathers name like Ramabam and Ramban. That may be an idea for him to try as he wants to navigate away from his current name to another and yet remain honest.
Another point which is connected to another comment I just made is jus look at his first name. The name Ari which means Lion in English tells you a lot. As is known that a name tells on a person’s essence and even elements of his Neshama. Perhaps he was born to be able to overcome this challenge just as a lion has the ability to overcome many challenges.
As the Pirkei Avos writes “Gibor Keari “strong like a lion. May this give him the power to overcome this challenge and become even stronger then before
17
Jan 08, 2009 at 04:06 PM Anonymous Says:
“ Like I can't think of 10 equally frivolous lawsuits that have occured in the past 6 years. ”
There are certainly many silly lawsuits that are filed, because any person with basic motor and speech capabilities can file a lawsuit. I will let all the legal scholars without law degrees pontificate at length, but there are no grounds for defamation just because you happen to share a name with an unpopular person. But since you know of other frivolous lawsuits (the vast majority of which are unsuccessful), go ahead and lead your legal Dream Team into battle with your snappy rejoinder as its mantra; it is certain to be a smashing success with a crusty old judge.
18
Jan 08, 2009 at 04:47 PM Anonymous Says:
“ Go lions
A name is surely not a simple thing. As is well known that when a child is born the parent are giving a sort of Ruach Hakodesh to pick a persons name. This applies to the First name of a person and not his last name. In fact in the old days people were often called be their Fathers name like Ramabam and Ramban. That may be an idea for him to try as he wants to navigate away from his current name to another and yet remain honest.
Another point which is connected to another comment I just made is jus look at his first name. The name Ari which means Lion in English tells you a lot. As is known that a name tells on a person’s essence and even elements of his Neshama. Perhaps he was born to be able to overcome this challenge just as a lion has the ability to overcome many challenges.
As the Pirkei Avos writes “Gibor Keari “strong like a lion. May this give him the power to overcome this challenge and become even stronger then before
”
Great Peshat, Your a real Talmid Chuchim!
19
Jan 08, 2009 at 05:34 PM Anonymous Says:
Shmoo Gurim...
20
Jan 08, 2009 at 05:42 PM Anonymous Says:
“ Not such an intelligent statement he is in a nursing home in canada you think he really cares? Or even knows? ”
If he knows is irrelevant. The point here is that nurses and aids taking care of him might treat him differently because of his last name.
21
Jan 08, 2009 at 11:39 PM "As the World Turns" Says:
“ If he knows is irrelevant. The point here is that nurses and aids taking care of him might treat him differently because of his last name. ”
The aids don't know anything about names, they don't know a madoff from a mad dog, or mad cow disease. They are uninformed, the only thing they watch on TV is soap operas. All the "inmates" get the same treatment (rotten), they don't even have names, anymore (just room numbers) "hey did you get room 22's sponge bath yet?",
Please peddle your nonsense theory somewhere else, and I pray you never end up in a Nursing Home- because even if your name is Rockefeller, it ain't gonna mean a darn thing.