Famed Brooklyn attorney accused of wrongdoing

October 6, 2014 By Charisma L. Troiano, Esq. Brooklyn Daily Eagle

Sanford Rubenstein in his Brooklyn office.

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Unexpected news hit the wire this past weekend as allegations of sexual assault emerged against longstanding Brooklyn civil attorney Sanford Rubenstein. The accusations are still being investigated and have been covered extensively in the tabloids.

According to the complaining witness, 42, and police sources, she and Rubenstein attended the 60th birthday party for the noted Rev. Al Sharpton last Wednesday and returned to Rubenstein’s Manhattan apartment, where she awoke naked and does not recall giving her consent for any sexual activity.

“Sanford Rubenstein is one of the city’s most successful and respected lawyers,” said the attorney’s criminal defense counsel, Benjamin Brafman. “We do not believe he committed any crime whatsoever and are confident that when the investigation is completed, no criminal charges will be filed.”

“If he’s right, we’ll see,” said Sharpton.

Rubenstein, 70, has built his career winning jury awards as high as $17 million and numerous multi-million dollar settlements against the New York City Police Department.

The case, which involves a top-ranking official within Sharpton’s civil rights group, the National Action Network, has sparked comments from Sharpton and New York City’s Mayor Bill de Blasio, who found the allegations “very troubling.” De Blasio and New York state Gov. Andrew Cuomo were also in attendance at the civil rights leader’s birthday celebration on Oct. 1.

“The person who has made the accusation is a top official of the National Action Network,” Sharpton said. “So how do I respond, when you have one person who’s a top official who’s been very, very helpful to us, making an accusation against someone who we’ve known and worked with on several cases?”

Rubenstein is currently representing Sandra Amezquita, a pregnant Sunset Park woman, who, thanks to a bystander’s video, is seen being thrown to the ground by NYPD officers.

No charges have been filed against Rubenstein. The case is being handled by the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office.