Free Republic

The American Tort Reform Assn calls NYC's asbestos court the nation’s top “judicial hellhole”. Silver has been blocking tort-reform bills for decades. Silver's arrest centers on his no-show legal work for asbestos-profiteer, Weitz and Luxemberg, (as well as millions in bribes and kickbacks from fixing real-estate cases)..... judges with ties to Silver and his lifelong pal, Jonathan Lippman, the chief judge of the state Court of Appeals, presided over the cases. Silver was “of counsel” to Weitz & Luxemberg which earned unusual fast-track “red-carpet treatment” “better judges” and first dibs on jurors. Sherry Klein Heitler, the chief asbestos judge (at...

Sheldon Silver will become a virtual figure head on Monday, as he cedes iron control over legislative matters to five Democrats. Despite corruption charges, arrest, and arraignment, Silver is scheduled to vote on handing out nearly $95 million tax dollars in state grants and loans — despite allegations he funneled taxpayer money to a Columbia U cancer doctor as part of a long-running kickback scheme. Silver is one of three voting members of the Public Authorities Control Board---the upcoming Board's agenda includes a residential real-estate project in Silver's district. The 168-unit apartment building got $78.5 million worth of public financing...