Posted on 10/22/2009 7:58:24 AM PDT by Behind Liberal Lines
DeWitt, NY -- Bonnie Strunk, Faith Seidenberg and Dr. Robert Seidenberg have made local news for decades as crusaders for civil liberties.
The local chapter of the Civil Liberties Union has named an award for Faith Seidenberg. Her husband was the first male president of a local chapter of the National Organization for Women. Strunk, a one-time candidate for district attorney, has championed gay rights.
Now they’re in the news for a different reason. Strunk, Faith Seidenberg’s longtime law partner, is accused of stealing by using the identity of Seidenberg’s husband, Robert.
The Allegations: Strunk was charged in May with first-degree identity theft and third-degree grand larceny, accused of using Robert Seidenberg’s name, date of birth, social security number and former business address to open a Capital One Mastercard Platinum Account.
She is accused of stealing about $17,000 by using that account to pay veterinary bills in Georgia, PayPal accounts in California and for airline tickets on JetBlue Airways last September and October.
Prosecutor Patrick Quinn said Dr. Seidenberg’s health prevents him from leaving his home but has not affected his cognitive ability. Faith Seidenberg’s health issues involve a loss of memory, Quinn said.
The Defense: According to defense lawyer Laurin Haddad, Strunk contends she had “power of attorney” authority to make financial decisions for both Seidenbergs because of their medical conditions. Haddad also said Strunk and the Seidenbergs had such a close relationship over the past 30 years that there was little distinction between personal and business matters.
Bonnie Strunk is 61, of DeWitt, and a 1971 graduate of the Syracuse University College of Law.
* Ran unsuccessfully in 1976 as the Liberal Party candidate for Onondaga County District Attorney. * Winning lawyer in a landmark case in which New York’s consensual sodomy law was struck down as unconstitutional. * Was instrumental in persuading Syracuse to authorize flying the rainbow flag over City Hall for the first time in 2002 as part of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Pride Day. Helped write legislation that enabled gay people to sue over discrimination in Syracuse. * The state Supreme Court Appellate Division in Rochester censured Strunk in June 2008 for neglecting client matters, including negotiating a settlement of a lawsuit without the client’s knowledge. (A legal malpractice lawsuit is pending.) She also was found to have failed to respond to inquiries from an investigator for the Fifth Judicial District Lawyers Grievance Committee.
The appellate court noted Strunk suffered from depression and related symptoms that affected her work and that the serious health problems of her law partner had resulted in an “overwhelming” increase in her caseload.
The Rochester court recently ordered Strunk suspended from the practice of law pending a full investigation in the wake of her arrest in the identity theft case.
092204-SEIDENBERG-2-DL.JPGDr. Robert SeidenbergDr. Robert Seidenberg is 89, and a longtime psychiatrist and Upstate Medical Center professor.
* Elected the first male president of the Greater Syracuse Chapter of NOW in 1985. * Picketed the Hotel Syracuse for requiring women to be escorted by men to its bar and pressured local newspapers to integrate men’s and women’s help-wanted advertisements. * Advocated treating patients not with drugs but with encouragement to get involved in social activism. Complained of damage done to women and the medical profession by drug advertising that presented women as “chemically imperfect” and targeted them for tranquilizers. * Wrote of men not wanting women in leadership and decision-making positions (“Why More Women are Committing Suicide” magazine article), the stress the corporate system places on executives’ wives and the problem of uprooted families (“Dear Mr. Success: Consider Your Wife” and “Corporate Wives – Corporate Casualties?”). Co-wrote “Women Who Marry Houses: Panic and Protest in Agoraphobia” about women being taught from birth that they belong at home so they are afraid to go out to places where they are not treated as equals.
020102-Seidenberg-ac.JPGFaith SeidenbergFaith Seidenberg is 85 and a 1954 graduate of the Syracuse University College of Law.
* Challenged the male-only policy at the downtown YMCA Athletic Center’s basement quarters and a state law forbidding female cosmetologists from cutting men’s hair. * Represented female athletes from Syracuse, Cornell and Colgate universities in suing under Title IX (a 1972 federal law prohibiting gender discrimination in federally funded institutions) for more teams or better benefits for women’s sports. Colgate settled out of court and elevated the women’s club ice hockey team to varsity status. Cornell settled and reinstated varsity gymnastics and women’s fencing and later added softball, squash and equestrian teams for women. SU had the lawsuit dismissed, but added soccer, lacrosse and softball. * Sued after she and lawyer Karen DeCrow tried to order a drink at McSorley’s Old Ale House in Manhattan in 1969 and were denied service. Lawsuit resulted in a state law prohibiting sexual discrimination in public places. * Helped with the civil rights movement in Mississippi in 1964 and served as the lawyer for the local chapter of the Congress on Racial Equality (CORE) in protesting urban renewal that razed homes in Syracuse’s 15th Ward, home to many of the city’s black residents. * Served as the national NOW vice president for legal affairs and helped form local NOW chapters. Served on the national board of the American Civil Liberties Union and as president of the Central New York chapter. * Honored by the Central New York Chapter of the New York Civil Liberties Union in 2005 for lifetime work. An award was created bearing her name to recognize others for commitment to civil liberties and civil rights.
The law firm: The East Water Street offices of Seidenberg and Strunk shut down last fall about the time detectives began investigating the identity theft allegations. Haddad said Strunk found herself locked out and later discovered someone acting on Faith Seidenberg’s behalf had shredded many of the firm’s files. The Seidenberg/Strunk partnership has since dissolved, Haddad said. The Seidenbergs could not be reached despite several tries.
Status of case: Assistant District Attorney Mary Gorman said she is looking for a felony plea from Strunk to settle the case. Haddad said she is awaiting documents from the prosecution to assess the strengths or weaknesses of the case before entering negotiations. Chief Assistant District Attorney Patrick Quinn said the case appears to be headed to the grand jury. He said his office may seek court approval to videotape Dr. Seidenberg’s testimony for presentation to the grand jury.
if my name was Bonnie Strunk I’d probably want to steal someone else’s identity too...
Capitol One? What’s in your wallet?
Amazing.
As the libs lose control of the news we are seeing some incredible stories.
My heart could not handle a full blown period of Repentance on the part of the State Run Media to bring to light all the Krappola of the Libs...
And those are the type of people currently housed in OUR House...(the White House ).
Well then we shouldn’t have to worry about your heart, because the LameStreamMedia isn’t going to give up their rainbows and unicorns!
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