Adam Leitman Bailey
Encyclopedia
Adam Leitman Bailey is an American lawyer who practices residential and commercial real estate law in New York and New Jersey as senior partner and founder of Adam Leitman Bailey, P.C. in New York City. The firm has engaged in several notable cases before various courts and trial venues.
In 2011, Bailey wrote the New York Times best seller Finding The Uncommon Deal: A Top New York Lawyer Explains How to Buy a Home for the Lowest Possible Price.
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In July 2011, Bailey prevailed in New York Supreme Court
, allowing Park51 to build its proposed community center, over the objections of a Former firefighter, Timothy Brown, who had sought to overturn a decision by the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission
denying landmark status to the 150–year-old building that Park 51's developers wanted to demolish to make room for the community center. In the decision issued in July 2011, Justice Paul G. Feinman in Manhattan wrote that the objects were from “an individual with a strong interest in preservation of the building,” but did not possess any special legal standing on its fate. The decision removed one of the last legal challenges to the project.
The owner of Crave Ceviche Bar sued the owner of his building on 2nd Avenue because of their plans to demolish the building due to damage from the crane. The building owner claimed that the damage was irreparable and must be demolished in order to rebuild. Bailey, who was hired by the owner to represent him, eventually reached a settlement of over $1 million, allowing the owner to continue business by giving him the chance to open in a different location. The plans for demolition continued once the the settlement was reached and the tenant vacated the premesis.
. A federal judge eventually demanded the deposit be returned to the couple in full, plus interest. According to American Bar Association Journal, Bailey was quoted by the Times saying that the decision "allows every buyer in a newly constructed condominium which has sold more than 100 units within the last few years to obtain a refund of their downpayment".
. The focal point of these battles became the largest building in square feet in the Harlem Community. Bailey proposed legislation requiring the owner to give the building back to the community. After many hearings and support from local politicians including Charlie Rangel, the legislation became a way for Harlem residents to be sure their culture is being preserved. He prevailed in a two hour oral argument getting an injunction to prevent the demolition of the building, which continued until a final settlement was reached a year later. The developer settled for over $1 million and allowed the tenants to continue their residencies in addition to the large payment. The building still stands as of July 2011.
. His grandfather was a taxi driver in New York City. he moved to California at the age of five and later moved back to the East Coast, to New Milford, New Jersey
, at the age of 14. He graduated from New Milford High School (New Jersey). He then attended Rutgers University
and Syracuse University College of Law
, graduating with honors from both universities.
In 2011, Bailey wrote the New York Times best seller Finding The Uncommon Deal: A Top New York Lawyer Explains How to Buy a Home for the Lowest Possible Price.
Park51 Ground Zero mosque
Park51 is a planned Muslim community center, which would include a mosque, located near the site of the World Trade CenterWorld Trade Center
The original World Trade Center was a complex with seven buildings featuring landmark twin towers in Lower Manhattan, New York City, United States. The complex opened on April 4, 1973, and was destroyed in 2001 during the September 11 attacks. The site is currently being rebuilt with five new...
.
In July 2011, Bailey prevailed in New York Supreme Court
New York Supreme Court
The Supreme Court of the State of New York is the trial-level court of general jurisdiction in thestate court system of New York, United States. There is a supreme court in each of New York State's 62 counties, although some smaller counties share judges with neighboring counties...
, allowing Park51 to build its proposed community center, over the objections of a Former firefighter, Timothy Brown, who had sought to overturn a decision by the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission
New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission
The New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission is the New York City agency charged with administering the city's Landmarks Preservation Law. The Commission was created in April 1965 by Mayor Robert F. Wagner following the destruction of Pennsylvania Station the previous year to make way for...
denying landmark status to the 150–year-old building that Park 51's developers wanted to demolish to make room for the community center. In the decision issued in July 2011, Justice Paul G. Feinman in Manhattan wrote that the objects were from “an individual with a strong interest in preservation of the building,” but did not possess any special legal standing on its fate. The decision removed one of the last legal challenges to the project.
March 2008 Manhattan construction crane collapse
Bailey represented the owner of a restaurant who received a multi-million dollar settlement as a result of a devastating crane collapse. The crane, owned by New York Crane & Equipment collapsed at 303 East 51st Street in Manhattan on March 15, 2008. Seven people were killed and 24 others were injured. It was a luffing-jib tower crane manufactured by Favco that was 200 feet (61 m) tall at the time of the collapse. The accident occurred when workers were attaching a new steel collar to anchor it to the building at the 18th floor, as part of an operation to extend the crane upwards. Investigators say the prime suspect is a $50 piece of nylon that broke while lifting a six ton piece of steel.The owner of Crave Ceviche Bar sued the owner of his building on 2nd Avenue because of their plans to demolish the building due to damage from the crane. The building owner claimed that the damage was irreparable and must be demolished in order to rebuild. Bailey, who was hired by the owner to represent him, eventually reached a settlement of over $1 million, allowing the owner to continue business by giving him the chance to open in a different location. The plans for demolition continued once the the settlement was reached and the tenant vacated the premesis.
Interstate Land Sales Full Disclosure Act of 1968 (ILSA)
This law had gone unnoticed for a number of years until a lawsuit was filed against the developers of the Brompton building at 86th and 3rd Avenue in New York City in 2010. A Greek shipping executive and his wife were attempting to take back their deposit and refuse to close on a $3.5 million condominium due to the downturn of the real estate market. Bailey and his team rediscovered this law and argued that the building at 86th and 3rd Avenue did not meet the requirements of the Interstate Land Sales Full Disclosure Act of 1968Interstate Land Sales Full Disclosure Act of 1968
The Interstate Land Sales Full Disclosure Act of 1968 was an act of Congress passed in 1968 to facilitate regulation of interstate land sales, to protects consumers from fraud and abuse in the sale or lease of land...
. A federal judge eventually demanded the deposit be returned to the couple in full, plus interest. According to American Bar Association Journal, Bailey was quoted by the Times saying that the decision "allows every buyer in a newly constructed condominium which has sold more than 100 units within the last few years to obtain a refund of their downpayment".
Sky View Parc condominiums
Bailey also dealt with a case involving the application of this law to Sky View Parc, a $1 billion condominium complex in Queens, where he won the largest residential condominium settlement in New York history. His use of that law assisted purchasers who bought units before the great crash to obtain their down payments back. The purchasers claimed that while having over 100 units, the complex did not comply with ILSA protocol because it failed to deliver disclosure reports to all the future tenants and to register with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The condominium must refund 75% of the $5 million in down payments to the buyers who ended up backing out of the $50 million project.Coalition to Save Harlem
Members of the community hired the firm to promote the Coalition to Save HarlemCoalition to Save Harlem
The Coalition to Save Harlem is a progressive movement of individuals and organizations who desire to reclaim, preserve and protect the community of the Village of Harlem....
. The focal point of these battles became the largest building in square feet in the Harlem Community. Bailey proposed legislation requiring the owner to give the building back to the community. After many hearings and support from local politicians including Charlie Rangel, the legislation became a way for Harlem residents to be sure their culture is being preserved. He prevailed in a two hour oral argument getting an injunction to prevent the demolition of the building, which continued until a final settlement was reached a year later. The developer settled for over $1 million and allowed the tenants to continue their residencies in addition to the large payment. The building still stands as of July 2011.
Community and charity work
Building Foundations, a charity he established , is dedicated to improving the lives of underprivileged children. They have presented scholarships to economically disadvantaged students of all ages, from high school to postgraduate to attend Syracuse University College of Law). In addition, Building Foundations is also actively involved in promoting research in finding a cure for Parkinson’s disease and neurological disorders in children.Personal life
Bailey was born in Bayside, QueensBayside, Queens
Bayside is a suburban neighborhood in the borough of Queens in New York, New York in the United States. Bayside is known as one of the most expensive areas to live in Queens, with well kept homes and landscaping...
. His grandfather was a taxi driver in New York City. he moved to California at the age of five and later moved back to the East Coast, to New Milford, New Jersey
New Milford, New Jersey
New Milford is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 16,341.New Milford was incorporated as a borough on March 11, 1922, from what remained of Palisades Township, based on the results of a referendum held on April 18,...
, at the age of 14. He graduated from New Milford High School (New Jersey). He then attended Rutgers University
Rutgers University
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey , is the largest institution for higher education in New Jersey, United States. It was originally chartered as Queen's College in 1766. It is the eighth-oldest college in the United States and one of the nine Colonial colleges founded before the American...
and Syracuse University College of Law
Syracuse University College of Law
Syracuse University College of Law , founded in 1895, is a Juris Doctor degree-granting law school of Syracuse University in Syracuse, New York. It is one of only four law schools in Upstate New York Syracuse University College of Law (SUCOL), founded in 1895, is a Juris Doctor degree-granting law...
, graduating with honors from both universities.