Regarding the article “Mysterious Virus,” by Kat Leslie, and suspicions of unethical conduct by Attorney Elizabeth Cassidy, running for Town Justice, there may be issues in the private sector as well.
Elizabeth Cassidy had been my lawyer since 2016. Last year, when I sold my home of 40 years in Warwick, Elizabeth represented me. She instructed me not to be present at the closing.
During the closing, she notified me that a third party appeared demanding a portion of the proceeds of the sale. She instructed me to authorize her to pay them. I refused it as much as the dispute between me and that 3rd party, who happened to be a colleague of Elizabeth, had nothing to do with me or the sale of my home. (It involved property owned by a corporation Elizabeth had formed for me in 2016.) Moreover, that dispute was on appeal.
In my absence from the closing, Elizabeth, the Buyer and the title company decided that the amount claimed by the 3rd party be retained by Elizabeth, my lawyer, acting as Escrow Agent, pending the outcome of the appeal.
Subsequently, in breach of her obligations as Fiduciary, as my attorney and in violation of the terms of the Escrow Agreement, Elizabeth obtained a court order to wire transfer the Escrow Funds to the 3rd party, her colleague, and did so without even consulting me.
Should someone who would violate the ethical obligations of an Escrow Agent, and to her client, even be considered for Town Justice?
Giora Neeman
Greenwood Lake, New York
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* The opinions expressed in this editorial reflect only
those of the contributing writer(s) and not necessarily
those of the Warwick Valley Dispatch management,
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