Attorney Susan Pernick's Legal Cases

Litigation

Perillo v Standard Equipment Co.

Jan 01, 2001

OUTCOME: Very favorable settlement for my client

My client was a young lady who was employed as a bank teller. During the course of her work, her hair became entangled in a coin rolling machine, which tore out a significant portion of her scalp. ... Because she was a bank employee, she couldn't sue the bank. Upon investigation, I determined that the machine had been manufactured in the mid 1920's, and the company was still in business. The issue was not whether the machine was up to safety standards at the time of the injury (in the early 2000s), but whether it met safety standards at the time it was made - in 1926. I tracked down a historical engineer, who was able to testify, based upon voluminous research, that the safety standards in effect for coin rolling machines in the 1920s required the installation of a hair guard. Accordingly, the machine was defective even when it was made in 1926, and the manufacturer was liable for my client's injuries. The manufacturer never put in a defense. After hearing my expert, the defendant requested a conference, and offered a substantial settlement. After negotiations, my client received an excellent settlement, with which she was extremely pleased.

Litigation

Walker v Peters

Jan 01, 1990

OUTCOME: Client obtained full recovery of all sums stolen, exceeding $1,500,000

Renowned actress was defrauded out of her retirement funds by her former business manager. Her prior NY attorney stole whatever money he collected from the manager on her behalf. I made a successful c ... laim for recovery on her behalf to the Client Security Fund. The manager used her money, in part, to lease a penthouse in NY that was expected to "go co-op." Literally, the night before title was to transfer to the business manager (and then to my client under a plea bargain) the roof of the co-op caved in. I sued the insurance company, which declined coverage. I uncovered a technical mistake made by the insurance carrier which obligated it to pay the claim in full, and my client fully recovered all of the money due to her. She wrote me fan mail!

Litigation

Long Island Trust Co. v. Rosenberg

Jan 01, 1981

OUTCOME: Client employer prevailed

Plaintiff judgment creditor served employer of judgment debtor with an information subpoena, which it served by mail. Employer defaulted in responding to subpoena, and judgment creditor moved to hold ... it in contempt for failure to comply. The Court held that because the employer was not a party to the underlying action, service by mail upon it was not sufficient to give the court jurisdiction over it, and the subpoena had not properly been served. The court held (in new law) that a third party can only be brought before the court, even in a supplementary proceeding, by obtaining personal jurisdiction. The petition for contempt was denied.

Class action

In re Sugar Antitrust Litigation

N/A

OUTCOME: Settlement

NYS and other states sued the sugar industry for price-fixing. NYS's departments and political subdivisions (cities, towns) use sugar for schools, prisons, hospitals, official buildings, and other mun ... icipal and State sites. Price-fixing raises the price to taxpayers. By suing parens patriae (on behalf of the taxpayers), the State benefitted all of the citizens of NYS in endind the price-fixing and bringing down the cost of sugar.

Class action

In re Master Key Lock System Price-Fixing

N/A

OUTCOME: Settlement

NYS and other states sued the master key lock industry for price-fixing. NYS's departments and political subdivisions (cities, towns) use master-key locks for schools, prisons, hospitals, official bui ... ldings, and other municipal and State sites. Price-fixing raises the price to taxpayers. By suing parens patriae (on behalf of the taxpayers), the State benefitted all of the citizens of NYS in endind the price-fixing and bringing down the cost of these lock systems.

Litigation

Sherman Act Price-Fixing Cases

N/A

OUTCOME: Alll of the cases were favorably settled for the plaintiffs.

Represented New York State and its political subdivisions (cities, counties, towns, local political subdivions as purchasers of certain commodities -- broiler chickens, sugar, master key lock systems, ... and the lake -- in suits against the manufacturers and distributors of these products for fixing the prices they charged to the states and their political subdivisions. I traveled around the country to the states where these cases were pending (each case, with many, many participants -- virtually all of the states filed in their states) and the cases were transferred to one federal district court because the issues, except for the amount of damages were the same

Susan Pernick's Legal Cases (6)

Perillo v Standard Equipment Co.

Walker v Peters

Long Island Trust Co. v. Rosenberg

In re Sugar Antitrust Litigation

In re Master Key Lock System Price-Fixing

Sherman Act Price-Fixing Cases