I spent all of last week in Family Court engaged in a particularly difficult custody trial. As the name implies, Family Court involves family disputes, custody, child support, and neglect and abuse proceedings. Most proceedings in Family Court-other than adoptions-are generally emotional gut wrenching cases.     During a break in my trial, I was sitting in the hallway working on testimony. I paused to look up for a moment and, sitting across from me I saw a woman crying....

With everything that was going on in the news last week, I thought I'd use my blog to relay an act of kindness that I experienced.   I was on the train going into New York City last week when I first noticed it, I didn’t have a pen. I can blame the new handbag that I was carrying but that’s a blog for another day. I politely asked the person sitting next to me whether she had a pen that I could borrow. After searching her handbag-which was twice the size of mine-she realize...

  This is a blog that I have been waiting over a year to write. A little more than a year ago, I decided that it would be best for me to terminate my law partnership, sell the office condominium that my partner and I own, and reset my career path. At that time, I was uncertain as to how that new career path would look.     What astounded me most during this past year of decision making and change was the tremendous support I received from so many Gotham members. There were ...

  We had an interesting- and long-conversation over dinner last night. My stepson, who is in his third year of law school but already has a job offer from a large, prestigious New York law firm, was contemplating getting a new credit card. He was torn between three options, one that would give him hotel points, one card associated with an airline that would give him flight miles as well as a free checked bag on every flight, or one that gave him cash back. It was a long and i...

  We spent Labor Day weekend in Philadelphia. My cousin’s daughter was married Sunday night so we spent the weekend with family. No better way to spend Labor Day weekend!!     A few weeks ago, I received a small package in the mail from the bride. In the package was a pen and a small note. On the note she wrote, “All my life I grew up seeing your parents’ signatures on my parents’ Ketubah [Jewish marriage contract]. Please do me the honor of continuing the tradition and sig...

  This blog is about coffee. And, perhaps, a bit about tea. Although, for me that’s a nighttime beverage. In this blog, I’m wondering how people get their early morning beverage.     I’m a Keurig user. With a simple press of a button, I get my morning coffee within moments. If I have to be in court or at an early Gotham meeting, I brew it into a disposable coffee cup. If I’m going to the office it goes into my reusable hot cup.     I generally buy my k-cups at Costco. I...

  There has been a lot going on with me this summer. We have been in the process of raising our home due to the effects of Super Storm Sandy. During the construction we had been living in a rental house and just moved back home last week. The process of moving back home after living somewhere else for a year has been daunting     In addition, I am in the process of, hopefully, selling my office condo and reconfiguring my law firm. More about that in another blog.     La...

  Do you find yourself, once in a while, daydreaming at your desk?   This week I was working on a long difficult document and I really needed a bit of an intellectual break. So, for a few minutes I took a mental break and planned my dream trip. For me, that trip would be to Paris. While I was in Paris for one day while on a cruise, I would love to spend more time there. For a few moments, at my desk, I thought about walking the Champs Elysee, eating in small French bistro...

  Before the internet and cell phones there were two ways to wish someone a happy birthday. You either called them or mailed them a birthday card. With people you are close to, you probably would have done both. With cell phones and social media, our choices are much more expansive.     Currently, in addition to mailing cards and calling, one can text, post on Facebook or Instagram. And for those who are really social media savvy, you can send a Snap story (admittedly I h...

  I have to thank Corey Bearak for the following blog topic. He sent me an article from the NY Times. Essentially the article began as follows:     The share of women who earn more than their husbands, while still relatively small, is growing. When women do earn more, both husbands and wives seem uncomfortable — to the point of lying about it.   That’s the finding of a new paper from the Census Bureau, which compared what respondents told census surveyors about their earni...