Assistant Corporation Counsel, Tort Division, Early Intervention Unit – Pleadings Unit

The duties for this position will include, but are not limited to:
- Oversight and training of the Pleadings Group consisting of support professionals, including overseeing the preparation, drafting, and service of tort, no-fault, and declaratory judgment answers.
- Responsible for case assignments, approving time sheets, monitoring the daily workflow, and the preparation of staff evaluations for pleaders.
- Handle general pleading inquiries to and from City agencies and plaintiffs’ and co-defendants’ attorneys.
- Responsible for overseeing the preparation, drafting, and service of an average of 9,000 tort, no-fault, and declaratory judgment answers annually.
- Responsible for continuous staff training involving the application of the Civil Practice Law and Rules and the General Municipal law as it pertains to the preparation of pleadings.
- Monitor changes in New York City and New York State law that could impact the pleadings process.
- Personally prepare the most complex and time-sensitive answers involving pending default motions and representation of high-level employees and commissioners.
- Personally prepare most Individual Verification answers, all answers to crossclaims, and answers to counterclaims.
- Review sensitive and high-profile cases involving State and Federal Civil Rights claims. Identifies claims for possible insurance takeovers, GMVA, and ASA handling, and coordinates declaratory actions and motions with the Affirmative Litigation Division.
- Assist the Chief and Deputy Unit Chief of EIU in the training of the incoming class of attorneys.
- Collaborate with System Analysts in the furtherance of the refinement of the Hot Docs answer software program to help meet the growing needs of the Unit.
- Work closely with the Assistant Unit Chief and agency liaisons when needed to secure representation of City employees in the preparation and interposition of answers on their behalf.
- Primary liaison for H+H and Department of Buildings for all tort cases. Review actions served on these agencies and assist in determination as to whether cases are to be accepted or rejected.
- Assist in oversight of EIU’s Representation-Decision staff and answer-signing ACCs. Become familiar with topics from recent relevant appellate decisions and pleadings questions.
- Oversee the agency end of the 50-h Stipulation of Unavailability (SOU) program and prepare all answers when the SOU has been complied with.
- Analyze THEMIS and EIU pleadings statistics for bi-monthly THEMIS meeting.
- Training, coordinating, and evaluating the activities of the support professionals so as to maximize the staff’s full potential.
- Chair weekly Pleadings’ Unit meetings to discuss relevant issues that arise, stay abreast of important case law that could impact the pleadings process, and facilitate team building.
- Handling the general pleading inquiries from the tort borough offices, to and from City agencies, plaintiff(s) and co-defendant(s) attorneys.
- Reviewing and Signing Answers and Amended Answers
- Assist in determining representation for agencies and employees consisting of reviewing Request for Legal Representation packages, drafting possible declination emails, and preparing amended answers.
- Preparing and reviewing motions and Law Manager reports.

This position is only available to current Assistant Corporation Counsels.

ASSISTANT CORPORATION COUNSEL - 30112

Substantial experience in municipal tort law a plus; strong legal analytical skills; demonstrated exceptional organizational, managerial, and supervisory abilities; excellent interpersonal skills and judgment; superior writing ability; knowledge of case assessment; and knowledge of computer systems, Law Manager, HotDocs, Sharepoint outlook calendar, outlook, excel, OAISIS, and PowerPoint are required.

The City of New York is an inclusive equal opportunity employer committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based upon any legally protected status or protected characteristic, including but not limited to an individual's sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, gender identity, or pregnancy.