Record
Representative matters
Selected matters. Each links to a public source where one is available. Results depend on the facts and law of each case.
Government and civil rights
S.D.N.Y. No. 19-cv-2216 · 2 F.4th 82 (2d Cir. 2021)
Dorce v. City of New York
Class action challenging the Third Party Transfer program. The Second Circuit reversed dismissal in relevant part. On October 21, 2026, the court granted preliminary approval of a proposed $60 million settlement for the Round 10 class; a final approval hearing is set for May 5, 2027. I filed the complaint in March 2019 with Yolande I. Nicholson and opposed the first motions to dismiss (ECF 45); on appeal I was counsel for all three named plaintiffs. Valli Kane & Vagnini, with Yolande I. Nicholson as of counsel, is the only firm that has represented all three named plaintiffs continuously since filing. Co-counsel: Ropes & Gray LLP, White & Case LLP.
Why it mattered: The 2021 decision revived takings claims against a City program that kept owners’ equity, and the petitioners in Tyler v. Hennepin County cited a 2022 Dorce ruling in asking the Supreme Court to decide whether keeping that surplus is a taking, and the Court held unanimously that it is, 598 U.S. 631 (2023).
E.D.N.Y. No. 23-cv-3108
Charles v. City of New York
ADA, Rehabilitation Act and New York human rights claims by twelve residents with disabilities over the Open Streets program. Motion to dismiss denied, March 2026.
Why it mattered: The court held that the ability of residents on “limited local access” open streets to reach their homes by car is itself a benefit of the Open Streets program, so barriers that disabled residents cannot move can deny them that benefit under Title II of the ADA; it denied the City’s motion in full, while dismissing the federal claims against the volunteer groups that help run the program.
Sup. Ct. Kings County No. 513966/19 · 2024 NY Slip Op 05082 (2d Dep't 2024)
374-76 Prospect Place Tenants Ass'n v. City of New York
Claims by a tenants association in the City's Tenant Interim Lease program, which is meant to lead to tenant ownership as a low-income cooperative, after the City announced plans to move the building into a different City program. The Second Department affirmed, with costs, the denial of the City's motion to dismiss, holding that the City had not refuted the association's allegation that its participation in the program created a fiduciary relationship with the City, and sustaining the breach of contract and promissory estoppel claims. I argued the appeal for the association.
Why it mattered: Tenants who had run a City-owned building since 2001 in a program whose stated goal was their ownership may pursue the City on that promise, because the City’s documents did not defeat their contract, promissory estoppel and fiduciary-duty claims.
App. Div. 2d Dep't No. 2023-05048 · case page
Fanfair v. Knipel
Class petition alleging that the Kings County foreclosure part and the Office of Court Administration were not deciding unrepresented homeowners’ deemed requests for appointed counsel under CPLR 3408. Settled March 2024; the court system agreed to decide eligibility for counsel before settlement conferences. Public-interest case. Co-counsel: New York Civil Liberties Union, Yolande I. Nicholson, P.C., Mehri & Skalet PLLC.
Why it mattered: Under the settlement agreement, Kings County judges are to decide every unrepresented homeowner’s deemed request for counsel on the record, the Office of Court Administration agreed to adopt statewide rules or procedures, and the court system reports quarterly for three years on how often counsel is appointed.
Pay discrimination
S.D.N.Y. No. 20-cv-3389 · settlement documents
Chalmers v. City of New York
Race-based pay class action for FDNY Fire Protection Inspectors. Class certified 2022. $29.9 million settlement approved 2025. Co-class counsel with Mehri & Skalet PLLC.
Why it mattered: The claim compared two job titles in two City agencies, fire protection inspectors at the FDNY and construction inspectors at the Department of Buildings, and the settlement’s back-pay awards count toward the inspectors’ City pensions (court-approved class notice).
S.D.N.Y. No. 24-cv-5790
Alshami v. State of New York
Putative Title VII class action alleging race-based pay disparities between CUNY campus peace officers and SUNY police officers. Pending.
Wage and hour
Sup. Ct. Kings County · 224 A.D.3d 763; 224 A.D.3d 765 (2d Dep't 2024)
Okeke v. Interfaith Medical Center
Class claims by hospital workers for pay withheld from their shifts and for meal-break deductions under Labor Law § 193, wage-statement claims under § 195, and an age claim under the New York City Human Rights Law. The Second Department affirmed both orders denying the hospital’s motions to dismiss. I argued for the plaintiffs on appeal.
Why it mattered: The Second Department held that withholding a promised per-shift payment states a claim for an unlawful deduction from wages under Labor Law § 193, and that it was premature to strike the class allegations on a motion to dismiss. 224 A.D.3d at 764–765.
S.D.N.Y. · 2015–2017
Parking Production Assistant cases
FLSA and NYLL overtime actions against studios and networks, originated by James A. Vagnini; I was the lead attorney prosecuting them. Settlements include Hines v. CBS Corp. ($9.98 million); Warner Bros. and HBO ($8.0 million); Leach v. NBC Universal ($4.27 million); Sony/Columbia (up to $2.4 million); ABC/Marvel ($1.75 million); Paramount ($700,000); Amazon Studios ($517,595); Lions Gate ($349,462); Netflix ($225,000).
Why it mattered: The same overtime claim was brought against major studios and networks, and nine settlements followed.
S.D.N.Y. No. 25-cv-00123 · class certification order (2026)
Rodriguez v. Westech Security and Investigation Inc.
Security guards whose paychecks went unpaid or bounced before their employer abruptly closed its Throggs Neck office in September 2024. Federal and New York WARN Act, FLSA and New York Labor Law claims against the company and its CEO. Class certified March 2026, with the firm and Rissmiller PLLC appointed class counsel. Pending.
Why it mattered: The company never appeared, and the court certified the class before any default judgment, finding that workers paid about $18 an hour would have little incentive to sue one by one; the class covers both the bounced or missing paychecks and the lack of WARN Act notice.
S.D.N.Y. No. 24-cv-8701
Rosario v. My Device, Inc.
FLSA collective, New York Labor Law class and Section 1981 pay-discrimination claims by retail employees. In September 2026 the court granted in part plaintiffs’ motion for sanctions under Rule 37(e)(1) for the loss of electronically stored information. Pending. Co-counsel: Alex Rissmiller.
2026 NY Slip Op 03111 · 249 AD3d 544 (1st Dept 2026)
Alshami v. State of New York; Ayuso v. State of New York
FLSA overtime claims by CUNY security officers in the Court of Claims. The First Department reinstated both claims. Co-counsel: Mehri & Skalet PLLC.
Why it mattered: The First Department held that claims setting out each officer’s position, pay rates and weekly hours met the Court of Claims Act’s pleading requirement, and, in Ayuso, that an FLSA claim accrues with each paycheck, so a claim need not allege a single accrual date (the court affirmed the denials of leave to file late claims).
S.D.N.Y. No. 08-cv-9361
Indergit v. Rite Aid
FLSA and NYLL misclassification.
E.D. Pa. No. 01-cv-3894
Romero v. Allstate
ADEA claims for more than 2,000 terminated agents.
Housing
E.D.N.Y. No. 17-cv-563
421-a Tenants Ass'n v. 125 Court Street LLC
RICO claims that a landlord evaded rent stabilization while receiving 421-a tax benefits.
Civ. Ct. Kings County · 67 Misc 3d 28 (App Term, 2d Dep't 2019), affd 214 A.D.3d 723 (2d Dep't 2023)
125 Court Street LLC v. Nicholson
A landlord's case against a rent-stabilized tenant in a 421-a building. The Appellate Term vacated the settlement the landlord had obtained and dismissed the landlord's case, and the Second Department affirmed, holding that the tenant was induced to settle by the landlord's material misrepresentations about its compliance with the rent stabilization laws, and that a settlement requiring more than the legal regulated rent is void. I represented the tenant in Housing Court, which restored her to her apartment in March 2024. Resolved.
Why it mattered: The Second Department held that a settlement requiring more than the legal regulated rent purports to waive the tenant’s right to pay no more than the legal maximum rent, and is void for that reason (citing 9 NYCRR 2520.13).
Earlier career
At Bernstein Litowitz Berger & Grossmann: In re UnitedHealth Shareholders Derivative Litigation (D. Minn.); In re Merck & Co. Securities Litigation (D.N.J.); In re Pfizer Shareholder Derivative Litigation (S.D.N.Y.); ECOA auto-finance class actions.