Allegations Against Lawyer Mark Kasowitz in Columbia University Settlement

A major attorney, known for advocating for Jewish college students since the events of October 7, has reportedly secured a striking $6.4 million settlement with Columbia University, but a troubling lawsuit suggests he may have exploited his clients in the process.

Mark Kasowitz’s firm represented 43 Jewish and Israeli students who assert that Columbia failed to protect them during intense anti-Israel protests following the October 7 terrorist attacks on Israel. The students initially felt optimistic about being represented by Kasowitz, a seasoned Manhattan lawyer who became a key figure in the national fight against anti-Semitism on campuses.

“When Kasowitz was riding his white horse and saying, ‘Hey, we’re going to fix this and make it right,’ I was like, ‘Oh yeah,'” shared Miles Rubin, a 31-year-old Columbia grad and former Israeli Defense Force reservist whose friend died in the Hamas attack.

Earlier this year, Kasowitz’s firm struck a sizable, confidential settlement with Columbia University regarding the students’ claims, according to a lawsuit filed recently in Manhattan Supreme Court.

However, the lawsuit alleges that Kasowitz subsequently withheld information about the claims made in the legal process, further asserting that his earnings from the settlement exceeded $6.4 million—more than half of the total amount. The plaintiffs contend that Kasowitz allocated the remaining settlement funds via a confidential, non-appealable method and intimidated students into signing agreements by suggesting they would lose representation if they didn’t.

“The plaintiffs, all young students who had already endured horrific anti-Semitic harassment on campus during the historic unrest following the Oct. 7 Hamas attack, never expected to be taken advantage of by the lawyers they trusted to protect them,” the new lawsuit states.

Rubin expressed his shock, stating, “Little did I know he was lining his own pockets while touting himself as a hero. It’s crazy. You can’t even make it up.”

Students were allegedly misled into thinking their legal fees would be covered by a third party, and they were given only five days during the Christmas break to sign a full release of claims.

The complaint reveals a lack of clarity regarding settlement distributions, with some students receiving amounts that ranged dramatically, from $34,000 to $300,000, without a chance to contest the allocation.

Additionally, the lawsuit questions Kasowitz’s billing records, claiming that he refused requests for detailed invoices, providing only a summary that outlined over 7,700 hours of legal work at a rate of $2,500 per hour. The plaintiffs allege that no invoices backing the substantial fees were ever submitted.

Complaint filings also indicate that the Columbia case was settled without depositions or formal discovery, raising suspicions about inflated time claims and fees.

Noah Miller, a student set to graduate from Columbia’s architecture program, described feeling like a pawn in Kasowitz’s scheme. “I was lied to throughout the entire process,” Miller stated, reflecting on the law firm’s assurances regarding legal expenses.

Susan Chana Lusk, the attorney representing the students in the lawsuit, asserted that the students were misled from the start. “The vassals said there would be no legal fees. Then they signed all the claims before they even knew what they were getting,” she noted.

Lusk criticized the exorbitant billing, suggesting that courts would likely not uphold such high fees for civil rights cases.

Kasowitz rose to prominence as a leading legal advocate for Jewish students post-October 7, pursuing legal actions against several prestigious universities for alleged tolerance of anti-Semitism.

The Kasowitz Law Firm refuted the lawsuit’s claims as untrue, emphasizing the benefits secured for Jewish and Israeli students as a result of the settlement.

This isn’t the first time Kasowitz’s practices have come under scrutiny. His former partner, Eric Hirschman, previously accused him of financial misconduct, while an insurance company had alleged fraudulent billing practices against his firm.

Kasowitz has denied any wrongdoing and has launched a separate lawsuit against the insurance company for unpaid legal fees.