Abrams Fensterman firm eyed by AG for collection practices

Daily Point

Fensterman firm’s many entanglements

Consider it a legal story with a bit of New York political backdrop. Attorney General Letitia James is investigating the actions of the Lake Success law firm whose founder and managing partner, Howard Fensterman, has cordial ties to Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman and many other political figures.

The civil probe of Abrams Fensterman LLP involves the firm’s “potentially illegal” debt collection practices, court papers show. The firm has sued friends and relatives of nursing home residents to collect on bills owed. Those “third parties” signed “admission agreements” when the clients went into the homes. But the AG argues the agreements “do not make the third parties personally liable for residents’ debts.” The firm has sought to quash a subpoena from James and that’s how the probe became public this week.

Abrams Fensterman has for years been in the middle of litigation involving county health facilities such as the troubled Cold Spring Hills Center for Nursing & Rehabilitation. In a recent but unrelated dispute James’ office asked to remove a court-appointed independent health monitor, Lisa Wickens-Alteri. Recently her consulting firm was purchased in part by Fensterman’s firm, which represents some of the owners in its bankruptcy court proceeding.

With health care a big part of the firm’s dealings, Abrams Fensterman has represented the Nassau University Medical Center since Blakeman put the now-ousted Meg Ryan in charge of the county’s public mission hospital. Those fees would be on top of $765,610 for legal representation that the firm has been paid by the county for other matters since 2022 when Blakeman took office. Blakeman was a partner at the firm until 2013.

On behalf of the firm, a comment was provided by longtime New York City political consultant Hank Sheinkopf. “We are hoping to quickly meet with appropriate officials to discuss resolution of this matter upon which we have a general disagreement,” he said in a statement. The Fensterman firm has attorneys on both sides of the partisan divide; Fensterman and lawyer Frank Carone have advised and funded New York City Mayor Eric Adams, and longtime Nassau Assemb. Tom Alfano is a partner there.

Attorneys in the firm have long had a direct hand in Brooklyn Democratic politics, including the ex-county chairman Frank Seddio who is retired and no longer affiliated with Abrams Fensterman. It was from the borough’s politics that James emerged, first in the City Council and later as public advocate, before she became attorney general.

On Long Island, Fensterman has represented nursing home businessman Benjamin Landa from Woodmere. Last year, James’ office announced that Landa, who had a previous interest in the Cold Spring property, would be required to pay $500,000 of $2 million in restitution ordered by the court. Alleged understaffing was deemed to have harmed patients.

A son of Landa, Sheya Landa, has an X account in which he broadcasts his connections and fealty to Blakeman, with photos of himself with the county executive and with national Republicans. As of two years ago the younger Landa was reported by Blakeman spokesman Chris Boyle to be making $35 per hour as a press assistant.

But Landa’s X account and LinkedIn profile both currently show him to be a “senior advisor” to Blakeman. When asked, however, if Landa is still on the county payroll, Boyle said Thursday that he is not. No further information was immediately available.

Both Landa and Fensterman have been campaign donors to Blakeman.

— Dan Janison dan.janison@newsday.com

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