Against Municipalities
Wagschal v. Cardone, 215 A.D.3d 753 (2d Dept. 2023): successfully overturned the rejection of a petition proposing the formation of the Village of Seven Springs; affirmed on appeal.
Wagschal v. Szegedin, 215 A.D.3d 755 (2d Dept. 2023): successfully established the priority of the Seven Springs incorporation petition over a competing municipal annexation; affirmed on appeal.
Village of South Blooming Grove v. Village of Kiryas Joel Board of Trustees, 175 A.D.3d 1413 (2d Dept. 2019) obtained dismissal of an appeal challenging annexation of territory into Kiryas Joel.
Preserve Hudson Valley v. Town Board of Monroe (Sup Ct. Orange Co. 2016): representing annexation petitioners, successfully defended annexation of territory into the Village of Kiryas Joel.
Commandeer Realty Associates, Inc. et al v. Allegro, 49 Misc.3d 891 (Sup. Ct. Orange Co. 2015):successfully enjoined a competing municipal annexation in a precedent-setting decision establishing the prior jurisdiction doctrine in New York.
On Behalf of Municipalities
Trujillo v. City of Albuquerque, 125 N.M. 721 (Sup. Ct. 1998): represented all New Mexico municipalities in successfully reversing the imposition of heightened scrutiny in evaluating the constitutionality of the damage limits of the New Mexico Tort Claims Act.
Cruz v. Deierlein, 84 N.Y.2d 890 (1994): successfully obtained a precedent-setting ruling in what is still the leading New York case governing the work of municipal charter revision commissions.
Marrujo v. New Mexico State Highway Transportation Dept, 118 N.M. 753 (Sup. Ct. 1994): represented the NM Municipal League and NM Self Insurers Fund as amicus curiae in successful defense of the constitutionality of the NM Tort Claims Act notice of claim requirements.
Dick v. City of Portales, 118 N.M. 541 (Sup. Ct. 1994): represented New Mexico Municipal League as amicus curiae concerning the power of municipalities over issuance of liquor licenses.
State ex rel. Haynes v. Bonem, 114 N.M. 627 (Sup. Ct. 1992): represented New Mexico Municipal League as amicus curiae in litigation successfully upholding home rule and municipal charter powers.
Mehiel v. County Board of Legislators of the County of Westchester, 175 A.D.2d 109 (2d Dept. 1991): retained on appeal and successfully obtained a reversal of lower court decision involving the County’s home rule powers as pertains to election redistricting.
Incorporated County of Los Alamos v. Montoya, 108 N.M. 361 (Ct. App. 1989): represented NM as amicus curiae defending municipal power to impose mandatory minimum sentences for DWI.
Snead v. Albuquerque, 663 F.Supp. 1084 (US Dist. Ct. N.M. 1987): represented NM Municipal League as amicus curiae regarding general obligation bond voting requirements.