Don is a litigation partner who heads our New York Commercial Litigation practice. For more than 30 years, Don has engaged primarily in commercial litigation and arbitration with an emphasis in the areas of real estate development and ownership, construction, co-op/condo disputes, representation of lenders and other creditors’ rights litigation, partnership and shareholder disputes, transactional disputes, insurance securities, trademark and unfair competition. Beyond Don’s wealth of experience as lead trial counsel and as appellate counsel in state and federal courts throughout the country, Don is expert in resolving disputes, whether through litigation, arbitration, mediation or negotiation.
Representative Matters
- In a leading case (Brown v. Cara, 420 F. 3d 148 (2d Cir. 2005)) concerning enforcement of preliminary agreements for real estate development, represented interests of property owner and real estate developer in defeating enforcement of a Memorandum of Understanding with another developer which created a joint venture to develop real property, enabling development of a 230-unit condominium by our client.
- Successfully represented successor-in-interest to purchaser of supermarket chain in obtaining substantial purchase price adjustment.
- Successfully defended commercial property owner against claims of fraud, mutual mistake, negligent misrepresentation and commercial impossibility in action for refund of downpayment in failed $50 million real estate sale.
- Successfully defended developer against multiple attempts by community organizations in federal and state courts to halt construction of a Manhattan affordable housing development.
- Successfully represented the interests of a real estate developer of a luxury condominium and the general contractor in an arbitration against claims for payment by a subcontractor, resulting in denial of any award for the subcontractor and a substantial award of damages for faulty construction in favor of our client.
Reported Decisions
- Sutton Apartments Corp. v. Bradhurst 100 Development LLC, 107 A.D. 3d 646 (1st Dep’t 2013)
- Carol v. Madison Plaza Associates, LLC, 95 A.D. 3d 735 (1st Dep’t 2012)
- In re Myrtle Owner LLC, 2011 WL 2991778 (Sup. Ct. 2011)
- American Home Assurance Co. v. BFC Construction Corp., 81 A.D. 3d 545 (1st Dep’t 2011)
- Angelo Holding Corp. v. U.S., 321 Fed. Appx. 28 (2d Cir. 2009)
- Linea Nuova, S.A. v. Slochowsky, 62 A.D. 3d 473 (1st Dep’t 2009)
- Conrad v. 105 Street Associates, LLC, 55 A.D. 3d 461 (1st Dep’t 2008), reversing, 2007 WL 3086031 (N.Y. Sup., Oct. 16, 2007)
- Aldoro, Inc. v. Gold Force Int’l. Ltd., 52 A.D. 3d 223 (1st Dep’t 2008)
- Wuhu Import & Export Corp. v. Capstone Capital, LLC, 39 A.D. 3d 314 (1st Dep’t 2007)
- 105 Street Associates, LLC v. Greenwich Ins. Co., 507 F. Supp. 2d 377 (S.D.N.Y. 2007)
- 105 Street Associates, LLC v. Greenwich Ins. Co., 2006 WL 3230292 (S.D.N.Y. Nov. 7, 2006)
- HGCD Retail Services, LLC v. 44-45 Broadway Realty Co., 37 A.D. 3d 43 (1st Dep’t 2006)
- Brown v. Cara, 420 F. 3d 148 (2d Cir. 2005), modifying 2004 WL 2283811 (E.D.N.Y. 2004)
- Bazinet v. Kluge, 14 A.D. 3d 324 (1st Dep’t 2005)
- Curtis, Mallet-Prevost, Colt & Mosle, LLP v. Garza-Morales, 308 A.D. 2d 261 (1st Dep’t 2003)
- Westinghouse Credit Corp. v. D’Urso, 278 F. 3d 138 (2d Cir. 2002)
- Jacques v. Richal Enterprises Inc., 300 A.D. 2d 45 (1st Dep’t 2002)
- Silkwood v. Butler, 297 A.D. 2d 669 (1st Dep’t 2002)
- In re Rosen, 296 A.D. 2d 504 (2d Dep’t 2002)
- Middle Market Financial Corp. v. D’Orazio, 1998 WL 397867 (S.D.N.Y. July 15, 1998); 1998 WL 85303 (S.D.N.Y. Feb. 26, 1998)
- Sommers v. West, 1998 WL 9048 (S.D.N.Y. Jan. 9, 1998); 1997 WL 772783 (S.D.N.Y. 1997)
- New York City Coalition for Pres. of Gardens v. Guiliani, 246 A.D. 2d 399 (1st Dep’t 1998)
- Mainetti & Mainetti v. Brier, 243 A.D. 2d 870 (3d Dep’t 1997)
- Bungay v. Joy Power Products, Inc., 243 A.D. 2d 527 (2d Dep’t 1997)
- Nordbanken AB v. Old Road Development Company, 236 A.D. 2d 595 (2d Dep’t 1997)
- Pkfinans Intern. Corp. v. IBJ Schroder Leasing Corp., 1996 WL 675772 (S.D.N.Y. Nov. 21, 1996); 1996 WL 591213 (S.D.N.Y. Oct. 15, 1996); 1996 WL 525862 (S.D.N.Y. Sept. 17, 1996)
- Riddell Sports, Inc. v. Brooks, 1995 WL 20260 (S.D.N.Y., Jan. 19, 1995)
- Chaplin v. Leisure Publications Plus, 207 A.D. 2d 855 (2d Dep’t 1994)
- Rejent v. Liberation Publications, Inc., 197 A.D. 2d 240 (1st Dep’t 1994)
- Knoll North America, Inc. v. IBF Group, Inc., 158 Misc. 2d 227, (Sup. Ct. 1993)
- U.S. Fire Ins. Co. v. PKFinans Int’l Corp., 904 F. 2d 169 (2d Cir. 1990)
- Polur v. Raffe, 912 F. 2d 52 (2d Cir. 1990)
- Evans v. Ocwen Financial Corp., 1990 WL 104028 (S.D.N.Y., July 19, 1990)
- Polur v. Raffe, 727 F. Supp. 810 (S.D.N.Y. July 14, 1989)
- Peldman v. Podolsky, 148 A.D. 2d 686 (2d Dep’t 1989)
- Sassower v. Sansverie, 885 F. 2d 9 (2d Cir. 1989)
- Westinghouse Elec. Corp. v. Big Apple Indus. Buildings, Inc., 1988 WL 30188 (S.D.N.Y., Mar. 28, 1988)
- Record Club of America, Inc. v. Credit Services, Inc., 697 F. Supp. 1280 (S.D.N.Y. 1988)
- Record Club of America, Inc. v. Credit Services, Inc., 117 F.R.D. 359 (S.D.N.Y. 1987)
- Lawling v. Long Island R.R. Co., 1988 WL 20844 (E.D.N.Y. Feb. 24, 1988)
- Raffe on Behalf of Puccini Clothes, Ltd. v. John Doe, 1986 WL 10708 (S.D.N.Y. 1986)
- Ehmer v. Modernismo Publications Ltd., 134 A.D. 2d 562 (2d Dep’t 1987)
- Sassower v. Sheriff of Westchester County, 128 A.D. 2d 602 (2d Dep’t 1987)
- Sassower v. Sheriff of Westchester County, 824 F. 2d 184 (2d Cir. 1987)
- Ehmer v. Modernismo Publications Ltd., 120 A.D. 2d 483 (2d Dep’t 1986)
- Raffe on Behalf of Puccini Clothes, Ltd. v. John Doe, 619 F. Supp. 891 (S.D.N.Y.1985)
- State Div. of Human Rights v. Ozone Industries, Inc., 610 F. Supp. 438 (S.D.N.Y. 1985)
- Equitable Life Ins. Co. of Iowa v. Surburban Medical Associates, 104 A.D. 2d 846 (2d Dep’t 1984)
- Butler, Fitzgerald & Potter v. Westinghouse Elec. Corp., 571 F. Supp. 1258 (S.D.N.Y. 1983)
- Project Five, Inc. v. Weiss, 80 A.D. 2d 829 (2d Dep’t 1981)
- Factors Etc., Inc. v. Pro Arts, Inc., 652 F. 2d 278 (2d Cir. 1981)
- Factors Etc., Inc. v. Pro Arts, Inc., 496 F. Supp. 1090 (S.D.N.Y. July 29, 1980)