During a recent mayoral debate, Andrew Cuomo targeted rival candidate Brad Lander over a city lawsuit involving accusations of dog neutrality among other issues. Cuomo claimed that Lander had been linked to 15 lawsuits, a statement he later reiterated in a social media post.
However, it’s worth noting that apart from one case, Lander is only nominally named as a defendant in these lawsuits, many of which originated from counterclaims against the city council.
Unlike some allegations against Cuomo, there have been no accusations of personal misconduct directed at Lander.
The lawsuits associated with Lander span three mayoral administrations and include legal disputes involving smoking regulations by advocacy groups and issues stemming from an asbestos claim.
Cuomo’s representative, Rich Azzopardi, remarked that Cuomo pointed out Lander’s involvement in a lawsuit concerning a bill that Lander was pushing for in the state. Cuomo, who resigned as governor in August 2021 amid sexual harassment allegations, denies any wrongdoing.
“Lander seems to have amnesia,” Azzopardi commented, asserting that the lawsuit’s relevance was minimal and that Cuomo’s legal challenges are facing hurdles in court.
On the other hand, Lander’s spokesperson, Dora Pekek, criticized Cuomo’s track record, stating, “Lander was sued in the tobacco lobby to protect children from secondhand smoke, while Andrew Cuomo has faced multiple accusations of sexual abuse.” She claimed that he spent $60 million in taxpayer money attempting to address these scandals.
Pekek also suggested that Cuomo is distorting both candidates’ records, emphasizing the gravity of the charges against him.
Meanwhile, Lindsay Boylan, one of the first women to accuse Cuomo of sexual harassment, stated, “Cuomo lies daily to serve his own interests. That’s typical behavior for an abuser.”
Cuomo’s comments came in response to Lander, who had to manage over $60 million in taxpayer funds due to a lawsuit concerning sexual harassment and COVID-19 claims against him. However, Cuomo’s remarks quickly turned into a debate over the legal details of the cases he cited.
Cuomo stated, “He was sued 15 times; his disabled parents sued him, and he was sued by a homeless provider regarding safety issues.” Lander, in turn, denied the claims, shouting, “False, false!” throughout the debate.
The only significant legal matter raised against Lander was in relation to the city’s pension fund divestment from fossil fuels, which was upheld in a decision by the state court of appeals.
Most of the cases listed carry no direct connection to Lander’s role or the city council. One involved a challenge to former Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s smoking regulations, spearheaded by a group advocating for smokers’ rights.
Other lawsuits cover zoning disputes, pet sales regulations, and issues regarding emergency preparedness from disability activists.
When Cuomo referenced Lander being “sued by his disabled parents,” he was talking about lawsuits regarding the city’s education department.
As for the lawsuits involving “homeless providers,” Lander was mentioned in cases brought against the city’s Department of Homeless Services concerning similar COVID-19 and asbestos complaints.
A review of federal court records indicates that Lander has actually faced more than 15 lawsuits, totaling 19 as a civil defendant, while Cuomo records show 1,009 cases dating back to his federal government tenure.
