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  ICP has published a (double) book about a variety of Bronx-relevant topics -- a review in Commonweal magazine of Dec. 5, 2003, opines  that "Predatory Bender... is as vivid an account of life in the Bronx as you are likely to read" -- click here for sample chapters, here for an interactive map,  here for fast ordering and delivery, and here for other ordering information.  See also, "City Lit: Roman a Klepto [Review of ‘Predatory Bender’]," by Matt Pacenza, City Limits, Sept.-Oct. 2004. CBS MarketWatch of April 23, 2004, says the the novel has "some very funny moments," and that the non-fiction mixes "global statistics and first-person accounts." The Washington Post of March 15, 2004, calls Predatory Bender: America in the Aughts "the first novel about predatory lending;" the London Times of April 15, 2004, "A Novel Approach," said it "has a cast of colorful characters."   The Pittsburgh City Paper of Dec. 11, 2003, wrote that it "may, in fact, be the first great American lending malfeasance novel" including "low-level loan sharks, class-action lawyers, corporate bigwigs, hired muscle, corrupt politicians, Iraq War veterans, Wall Street analysts, reporters and one watchdog with a Web site."  And all in The Bronx!   Click here for that review; for more information, contact us.
2014: MRL on Beacon Reader

By Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon
BBC - Guardian UK - Honduras - ESPN

SDNY COURTHOUSE, Nov 15 – Pastor Nestor Victor, a sandwich maker, sued Sam's Deli of 7 East 170th Street in The Bronx for not paying overtime.   

  On November 13 U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York Judge Valerie E. Caproni held a proceeding. Inner City Press covered it. 

  Earlier, Judge Caproni had reminded the parties they cannot drop the suit without filing a settlement agreement or Department of Labor document.

 The question arose on November 13 there were really was a settlement, or cold feet. It was referred to the Magistrate Judge, Sarah L. Cave. The parties said they thought that had already happened.

On November 24 Magistrate Judge Cave held a proceeding. Inner City Press covered it; to her credit, Judge Cave kept it open throughout.

 Judge Cave, noting that one of the parties was still resisting signing, said she is loathe to pressure parties to settle. But, she said, if the skittish party would be willing to speak with her, he has nothing to worry about.

   It appears there will be another call; it is unclear if it would be public, or docketed. Elsewhere in SDNY on November 24, another proceeding described as about issues with a settlement agreement that had been reached was abruptly deemed closed. There is a lack of transparency to the press and public, some perhaps understandable. We'll continue on this.

The case is Nestor Victor et al v. Sams Deli Grocery Corp. et al., 19-cv-2965 (Caproni / Cave)

By Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon
BBC - Guardian UK - Honduras - The Source

SDNY COURTHOUSE, Nov 17–  Hafeez Shaheed was driving on Boston Road in The Bronx on December 12, 2015 when he was pulled over by police.

He was ordered out of his car, was tightly handcuffed and taken into detention in the 47th Police Precinct. He was denied medical treatment. The criminal court summons filed against him was dismissed and sealed on February 10, 2016. 

  In 2017, Hafeez Saheed sued the City of New York and the police officers.

On May 5, 2020, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York Judge Katherine Polk Failla in a public telephone conference which Inner City Press covered as it does others asked Hafeez Shaheed if he would be willing to settle for less than $100,000.

  Yes, he said.

 Judge Failla asked, Less than $50,000?

   Hafeez Saheed said No. 

   Melissa Wachs of the NYC Law Department, representing the City and Officers Kevin Kenny, Ou Wu and William Nakelski, said she did not have authority to go above or to $50,000.

  And so a tentative jury trial date of December 7, 2020 was set. Judge Failla genially said she has already had to postpone a June jury trial, so even December is not entirely sure.

  Now in November 2020, another conference was held in the case, and Inner City Press again covered it. Since May another conference was adjourned; the plaintiff's motion to file an amended complaint was denied. In August the trial was adjourned sine die. Now the talk is of May, June or July 2021. On November 17 it was said, see you in January.

BBC - Guardian UK - Honduras - ESPN

SDNY COURTHOUSE, Nov 5 – In a Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act case, Custom Pak Brokerage has sued Bronx-based JA Blurr Farms for non-payment for wholesale produce. 

 On November 5 U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York Judge Mary Kay Vyskocil held a default judgment hearing. Inner City Press covered it. 

 It emerged that counsel for Custom Pak has not propertly served the defendants.

Judge Vyskocil said she would issue an order, to be served on JA Blurr Farms and Shamar T. Hyatt of Katonah Avenue in The Bronx, to be responded to by November 1.

If not, a November 18 hearing will be canceled and default judgment entered.

By Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon
BBC - Guardian UK - Honduras - ESPN

SDNY COURTHOUSE, Nov 4 – Steven Bernstein was a physical education teach at Middle School 390 in The Bronx until November 26, 2018, when he was constructively terminated. He says it was due to his age, and he sued. 

On November 4 U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York Judge Lewis J. Liman held a proceeding. Inner City Press covered it. 

   Bernstein blames principal Robert Mercedes, who he says pushed out several white and black older teachers like 64 year old Linda White, George Swander, Myrna Kinkle, Meaghan Canavan, Susan Carr-Lagomarsini, Eileen Kojes, Darryl McKnight, Juanita Murray, Harriet Harewood, and Claire Scenney-Lundahl, all named in the complaint. 

 The parties propose to complete discovery by December 21, 2020, requesting a post-discovery state conference on that day.

By Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon
BBC - Decrypt - LightRead - Honduras - Source

SDNY COURTHOUSE, Oct 27 -- Near 751 East 161st Street in the South Bronx on June 21, 2000, Caprice Jones was shot and killed.  

  On January 30, 2020 - twenty years later - a sealed indictment was signed by U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York Magistrate Judge James L. Cott, for the arrest of Frank Lopez and Ralph Berry on capital murder charges for the death of Caprice Jones, in connection with both men's alleged crack sales.  

 On February 7 in Texas, Frank Lopez was arrested. And four full weeks later on March 4, Frank Lopez was presented and arraigned in SDNY Magistrates Court, with Inner City Press the only media present.  

  Lopez was brought in by U.S. Marshals; his assigned counsel said he has high blood pressure and acid reflux. He also displayed heavy tattoos.  

 Assistant US Attorney Domenic Gentile said the government sought detention, in which Lopez' assigned counsel consented without prejudice.

  Now on October 27, Judge Alison J. Nathan held a proceeding with Lopez and his co-defendant Ralph Berry on the line. Judge Nathan told AUSA Gentile to get Main Justice's capital decision within 30 days.

By Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon

SDNY COURTHOUSE, Oct 23 – While many even most cases in the Magistrates Court of the
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York are sealed, on June 13, 2019 then-US Attorney Geoffrey L. Berman announced the arrest and presentment of two middle aged men for murder for hire, and said they had already been presented in the Magistrates Court.