London Fischer LLP specializes in all aspects of municipal liability and discrimination litigation. Our involvement in this area extends back many years to the time when these risks generally were not insured, and our early assignments were received directly from state governments, municipalities and private companies. The two links that follow are respectively decisions London Fischer LLP won dismissing actions against local government officials concerning exclusionary zoning for a topless bar, and against a school district for alleged risky school athletic activities. We receive assignments from insurers of municipal liatility, and we draft discrimination and sexual harassment policy language for insurers as well as act as coverage counsel.

Municipal liability is a broad practice that runs the gamut from arguing constitutional issues before the United States Supreme Court to defending municipalities against wrongful termination claims by tenured employees. Our firm and our attorneys have successfully defended cases involving legislative immunity of local legislators, selective criminal prosecution, notice of claim provisions, rights in real property, political discrimination, racial and religious discrimination, unconstitutional search/seizure/arrest, zoning and land use, and claims alleging violation of the exercise of a First Amendment right to provide topless entertainment and to gather and disseminate local news. These cases include statutory claims under Sections 1981, 1983, and 1985 of Title 42 of the United States Code.

Bernard London is a New York State elected official and a former police commissioner. James L. Fischer is the Chairman of a municipal zoning board.

A significant case in the area of municipal law involving the separation of powers between the judiciary and legislature was handled by one of our founding partners, James L. Fischer. In Spallone v. United States, 493 U.S. 265 (1990), which arose out of alleged housing discrimination in the City of Yonkers, New York, Mr. Fischer authored the winning brief submitted to the United States Supreme Court. The Supreme Court reversed the Second Circuit and dismissed contempt charges against the mayor and city counsel of Yonkers in a leading opinion on issues of legislative immunity and judicial power. Our attorneys have been published on issues involved in defending municipalities, and many cases handled by our attorneys have been reported in state and federal reporters and have received media coverage. The following link contains a listing of recent London Fischer LLP matters in this specialty area.