Religious Liberty Law: Actively engaged in representing churches and religious organizations of many different faiths in a variety of different matters since 1987. He is also engaged in defending the right to practice one's religious faith without government interference and church land use issues. Some of this work has been as counsel to the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, a public interest law firm which is a leading defender of religious rights.
Several cases involving governmental interference in religious land use, representing a variety of different faiths.
A case in which a Church had been deprived of its tax-exemption due to an anonymous letter writing campaign.
Several cases involving court interference with church governance.
A case of a Native American high school student who had been locked in school detention for three months because he was wearing a headband symbolizing a particular religious training process he was undergoing.
An amicus curiae brief to the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit in a Native American religious freedom case. The brief was written on behalf of the Bureau of Catholic Indian Missions, the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, Clifton Kirkpatrick, Stated Clerk of the General Assembly, of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America, the Baptist Joint Committee on Public Affairs and the Council on American Islamic Relations.
Internal disputes involving church governance.
Church disputes with clergy.
Church-owned and -operated businesses, including bakeries, publishing, retail sales, construction and operation of real estate, homeless housing and job training.
Tax exemption
Non-profit incorporation
Bylaws and governance disputes
Employment contracts
Wage and hour law for religious employees
General non-profit corporate matters
Negotiations, Counseling, General Representation: Hospitals, medical groups, entertainment, internet, corporate, governmental entities, private and public corporate finance, directors and officers liability, corporate governance, non-profit corporations, physicians, medical societies, health maintenance organizations, health care finance, hospital construction corporations, international trade, covernment finance.
Other Matters of Note:
Alexander v. Rendell; Litigation in the Western District of Pennsylvania successfully protecting mentally handicapped persons from involuntary transfers by the state of Pennsylvania.
Tomas v. Gillespie; Successful copyright litigation on behalf of the estate of Dizzy Gillespie.
2000 - 2001
Adjunct Professor, Seton Hall Law School
1985-1987
Litigation: Trial, appellate and administrative work in federal and state courts, freedom of religion, employment and labor law, general liability, municipal liability, civil rights, Indian law, ERISA, corporate, medical licensure, securities, constitutional issues, Medicare payments, real estate, copyright.
1983-1985
Governmental Affairs: National Health Leadership Council, participated in drafting various legislation on such matters as Indian health care issues and municipal regulation. Testified before U.S. Senate Indian Affairs Committee.
1978-1983
VLADECK, WALDMAN, ELIAS & ENGELHARD, New York: Employment and labor law litigation, negotiations, arbitrations. Also served as Chairman of the Board of a hospital in bankruptcy reorganization.
1975-77
COMMITTEE OF INTERNS AND RESIDIENTS, New York. Deputy General Counsel: Employment and labor law litigation, negotiations and counseling of largest union of physicians and dentists in the U.S. Health care and hospital issues, including physician liability, government relations and labor law issues. Supervised a legal services program.
CITY OF MADISON EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES COMMISSION, Madison Wisconsin: General Counsel and Hearing Examiner, employment discrimination litigation. Presided over administrative hearings on employment discrimination charges, advised Commission, trained staff.
CITY OF MADISON EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES COMMISSION, Madison, Wisconsin: Project Director. Researched and wrote The Potential Impact of Seniority Based Layoffs on Affirmative Action in Public Employment for the Midwest Intergovernmental Equal Opportunities Council on a grant from the U.S. Civil Service Commission.
BAR ADMISSIONS
United States Supreme Court
U.S. Courts of Appeals: Second Circuit, Third Circuit, Seventh Circuit, District of Columbia Circuit.
U.S. District Courts: Western District of Pennsylvania, Eastern, Northern and Southern Districts of New York, Western District of Wisconsin.
New York State Supreme Court
EDUCATION
1976 University of Wisconsin Law School, J. D.
1973 University of Redlands, Redlands, California, B. A.
1972 University of Chile, Institute of Economics Santiago, Chile.
LANGUAGES
English and Spanish fluently
PUBLIC SERVICE
Various non-profit boards including corporation to develop homeless housing
Federal Bar Council Public Service Committee (1994-97)
Judicial Conference of the U.S. Courts for the Second Circuit Native American Advisory Task Force Committee on Race Ethnicity and Gender, 1995-1996
National Health Leadership Council- Secretary Treasurer, 1992