Rickner PLLC is hiring.

Rickner PLLC is looking to hire an associate, ideally with 2-5 years of litigation experience. We are a boutique civil rights firm, litigating at the forefront of some of the most important social justice issues in New York. The firm is counsel in putative class actions regarding racist marijuana policing in New York City, the devastating abuse of protestors during the George Floyd protest at Mott Haven, and the terrifying conditions on Rikers Island. We also represent people who were wrongfully convicted, abused by police, or injured in New York’s jails and prisons. And the firm is regularly sought out by other civil rights firms to handle trials and appeals in difficult and novel cases, both in state and federal court.

The firm is committed to building associates’ skills by providing opportunities to argue in court, question witnesses, and interact directly with clients. The associate will have an opportunity to work on every aspect of a civil rights case from investigation through trial. The firm also allows associates to follow their own interests by bringing in their own civil rights cases, whether paying or pro bono (within reason), as long as the case fits in with the firm’s broad mission to protect people from government abuse and misconduct, or discrimination at the hands of private actors. We have a busy practice, with fascinating cases, and we need help, but we also want to the position to give a promising candidate room to build their skills and grow as a civil rights litigator.

We recognize that most litigators will have little to no experience with 42 U.S.C. § 1983 cases, the Federal Tort Claims Act, and other related civil rights statutes and common law causes of action. So we are willing to look at any candidates with a proven commitment to social justice and solid litigation skills. Certainly, experience with civil rights litigation is preferred, but our focus is on hiring someone with real, substantive state and federal court litigation experience.

The salary will be between $85,000 to $110,000, depending on experience, plus benefits. There is a year-end discretionary bonus, based on firm profits, and a bonus for any case you bring in that resolves successfully. We offer three weeks of vacation to start (i.e. 15 days), and you will actually be able to use them. We also allowing teleworking, in moderation.

We are committed to diversity and inclusion and particularly encourage applications from qualified individuals with diverse backgrounds and experiences, including those typically underrepresented in the legal profession. We welcome inquiries from all qualified individuals without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, or caregiver/family status.

There is no deadline to apply, but we encourage interested candidates to apply soon, because we plan on reviewing applications until we find the right candidate. Please send your cover letter, resume, law school transcript, and a writing sample that is entirely or substantially your own work, to rob@ricknerpllc.com.

Rickner PLLC and Beldock Levine & Hoffman, LLP File Class Action Over Unconstitutional Conditions at Riker's Island

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

New York, NY

November 2, 2021

CONTACT:

David Rankin, 212-277-5825

drankin@blhny.com

Robert Rickner, 212-300-6506

rob@ricknerpllc.com

Beldock Levine & Hoffman, LLP, Rickner PLLC, and the Law Office of Christopher H. Fitzgerald announce the filing of a class action lawsuit against the City of New York for their violation of the rights of individuals housed at Riker’s Island.

Even Department of Correction Commissioner Vincent Schiraldi recently admitted that Riker’s is an absolute “humanitarian crisis.” He confirmed reports that “the inmates are in control” of entire sections of the jails and “there were times when no one was on posts so the incarcerated people are there by themselves.” According to Schiraldi, the reason for these shocking conditions is that “we [the DOC] don’t have enough staff.”

Lead Plaintiff Jerelle Dunn proclaimed: “It is unfortunate that the conditions on Riker’s Island, a New York City jail, mimic those that we have read about in Guantánamo Bay. During my month of incarceration, I was stripped of my constitutional rights and forced to live in the most inhumane conditions.”

“Rikers should be closed down. It's no place for a human being. Not even animals should be locked in a cage and ignored,” said Samuel Semple, one of the lawsuit’s lead plaintiffs.

“If we are going to have jails, they must be safe. People are living under horrific conditions on the island. It is unacceptable and they need to be apologized to.” David B. Rankin, partner at Beldock Levine & Hoffman LLP. “It’s mind blowing, staffing assignments are made on index cards, in 2021!”

“It’s hard to imagine the conditions these people are living under, it is time for the people who have endured such cruel and unusual punishment be compensated for their suffering.” said Jonathan C. Moore, partner at Beldock Levine & Hoffman LLP, the firm who represented Eric Garner, members of the Exonerated 5, and co-counseled Floyd, the stop-and-frisk litigation. Mr. Moore was lead counsel on the 2004 Republican National Convention class action, MacNamara, et al., v. City of New York, et al..

“Dozens of human beings stuffed into filthy, bug-infested cages with no working toilet, deprived of adequate water, food, and essential medication, and forced to sleep sitting down on hard metal benches – these are the unjustifiable conditions on Riker’s Island.” Deema Azizi, Associate at Beldock Levine & Hoffman LLP. “In a civilized society, these conditions are inexcusable.”

“The City of New York and Mayor de Blasio have known that Riker's Island has been plagued by staffing problems and mismanagement for years but did nothing, and now thousands of people are needlessly suffering in inhumane conditions.” Rob Rickner, founder of Rickner PLLC. “This is the inevitable result of years of neglect.”

“The City has long taken the position that more guards mean safer jails, but this has never been the case,” said Stephanie Panousieris, associate at Rickner PLLC. “Instead of properly training guards or holding staff accountable for wrongdoing and absenteeism, or simply taking minimal efforts to keeps conditions on the Island habitable, the City continues to ignore the root causes of Riker’s unconstitutionality—severe mismanagement and poor leadership at every level.”

"Eight years ago, the current mayor was elected on the purported promise of reforming law enforcement. While this administration’s failure to enact meaningful police reform is well documented, few realize its dereliction in appointing competent leadership to the DOC. This failure, coupled with the systemic efforts to set bail on the poorest among us, has inevitably led to the atrocity that is Riker’s Island today." Christopher Fitzgerald

"For years as a former Public Defender and Criminal Defense Attorney, I have personally seen the pain and suffering that the neglectful deplorable conditions have caused. This suit has to be filed because enough is enough." Masai I. Lord

Daily News Article About Rickner PLLC Inmate Assault Lawsuit

The Daily News published an article about a recent case filed by Rickner PLLC. The Bureau of Prisons failed to protect an inmate in federal prison from a brutal assault by another inmate, despite knowing that the assailant was a violent criminal with untreated mental health issues.

The United States of America must protect inmates in its prisons, and we are proud to have the opportunity to litigate this important civil rights issue.

Prison staff did nothing as MS-13 member pummeled inmate: suit

Rob Rickner Quoted on Internet Privacy

Rob Rickner serves as the general counsel of Gibberfish, a Vermont-based nonprofit that provides secure web-based software to other non-profits, activists, and public service organizations. Gibberfish was recently the focus of an article in Seven Days, a weekly Vermont paper.

The article is here. 

The article is largely positive. But there were some well reasoned criticisms from other security experts. So we wrote a blog post addressing them.