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Criminal Cases

NYPD Officer found Not Guilty of Rape and Burglary
Won acquittal of NYPD officer on rape and burglary charges after a highly-publicized, two-month trial in which a woman claimed she was sexually assaulted while intoxicated. After a four-hour defense summation, the jury rendered its decision, described by the New York Post as “one of the most shocking verdicts in the city’s history.”
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Represent State Senator charged with assault in Queens County
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Tacopina represents Missouri parents of missing 11-month-old Lisa Irwin
New York criminal defense lawyer Tacopina defends Lisa’s parents Deborah Bradley and Jeremy Irwin in the media maintaining that they were not involved in the disappearance of their daughter. Video

Missing Baby Lisa: Parent's Lawyer Speaks
Joe Tacopina and private investigator Bill Stanton discuss the family's search on Good Morning America with George Stephanopoulos. Video

van der Sloot
Successfully represented Dutch teen, Joran van der Sloot, and his father, Paulus van der Sloot, in litigation surrounding the disappearance of Natalee Holloway in Aruba. Read Article (pdf), Read Article (pdf), Read Fox Interview, Read Article (pdf)

Melanie McGuire
Beloved fertility nurse accused of murdering and dismembering her husband. Read Article (pdf), Read Article (pdf), Read Article (pdf)

Michael Jackson
As part of Jackson’s defense camp, Mr. Tacopina represented the pop singer’s closest associate in a controversial child molestation case. The Santa Barbara District Attorney’s office dropped all related charges of kidnapping and endangering the welfare of a child against our client. Read Article (pdf)

Abner Louima
Procured acquittal after trial of Police Officer Thomas Wiese, one of four officers charged in Brooklyn Federal Court with infamous precinct house torture of Haitian immigrant Abner Louima in August of 1997. Read Article (pdf)

Lillo Brancato
Procured acquittal on felony murder charges after trial of famed actor Lillo Brancato, who had appearances in HBO’s “The Sopranos” and the movie “A Bronx Tale”. Read Article

Representing famed actor with appearances in HBO’s “The Sopranos” and the movie “A Bronx Tale” charged with felony murder. Read Article (pdf)

Saks Saleswoman Accused of Stealing millions
Former Saks Fifth Avenue saleswoman is charged with grand larceny for allegedly stealing more than one million dollars - to benefit her clients. Read Article, Read Article (pdf)

Woman gets probation for fraud conspiracy with Supreme Court Judge
Procured the reinstatement of a California college student who was forced off her track team for working as an exotic dancer on the eve of commencing a Federal lawsuit asserting that the school had violated her constitutionally guaranteed right to self expression. Read Article (pdf)

Teen Charged with Manslaughter
Brooklyn Teenager Faces Unprecedented Charge of Manslaughter in Death of 17-Year-Old in Jetski collision. Read Article, Read Article (jpg),Read Article (pdf)

NY Post Page Six Scandal
Represented NYPost writer Jared Paul Stern. Read Article (pdf), Read Article (pdf)

Georgio Chinaglia
Representing soccer legend in a complex extradition proceeding regarding stock fraud investigation. Read Article (pdf)

Kodak Bribery Scandal
Represented highly regarded land assessor charged in a wide-ranging bribery and money laundering conspiracy against the film conglomerate.
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Sticky Fingaz
Famed rapper cleared of gun charges. Read Article (pdf)

Mouseketeer Charged with Securities Fraud
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Sex Charges Dropped Against Karate Instructor
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Infamous Body Snatchers Case
Represented technician accused in high profile indictment.
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NYC Councilman Charged with Receiving a Bribe
Represented City Councilman charged in Federal bribery scandal for demanding $50,000 in cash and three apartment buildings at $1.5 million below their market value in exchange for his support of a Fairway supermarket in Redhook, Brooklyn. Read Article (pdf)

Salvador Dali Theft
Represented assistant deputy warden in surreal case of four Rikers Island guards charged with staging a fire drill in order to steal a work of art that had been donated to the prison by renowned artist Salvador Dali. Despite claim that our client masterminded the theft, we obtained the only “not guilty” verdict in the case. Read Article (pdf)

Brooklyn Judge Indicted
Represented Supreme Court Justice indicted on corruption charges of accepting gifts and money for preferential treatment in divorce and child custody cases. Read Article p.1, p.2 (pdf)

Parmalat - Corporate Fraud
Represented executives in world-wide criminal investigation of fraud by Italian conglomerate through a Milan branch of our legal practice.

Gym Teacher Sex Abuse
After emotionally charged trial, obtained complete acquittal for Long Island elementary school gym teacher accused of sexually abusing nine female students between the ages of 6 and 8 by proving that illicit conduct never occurred. As with famed McMartin Preschool case, the trial and verdict received national attention. Read Article (pdf)

Lexington Capital Securities Fraud
Secured freedom of licensed broker charged with violating Federal securities laws by participating in massive “pump-and-dump” scheme that defrauded thousands of investors out of millions of dollars.

First United Securities
Represented licensed broker charged in notorious $50 million securities fraud “pump-and-dump” scheme. According to the indictment, the group laundered its profits in overseas bank accounts and paid a cut to organized crime, prompting New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer to declare, “This is real life imitating art – it’s a combination of The Sopranos and Boiler Room.” Read Article (pdf)

Doctors Cleared of Insurance Fraud
Obtained dismissals for physicians accused of participating in intricate insurance fraud ring after joint investigation by Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office, the State Police, and the Attorney General’s Office. Read Article (pdf)

MTA Plumbing Fraud Case
Represented largest plumbing contractor in New York State accused of bilking the MTA out of millions of dollars by means of fraudulent billing practices. Newsday Article (pdf)

Police Lieutenant Charged with RICO
Represented highly decorated Schenectady Police Lieutenant, who was charged in connection with an FBI probe into corruption on the city’s police force. Federal prosecutors accused officers of shaking down drug dealers and paying informants with crack cocaine. Read Article p.1, p.2 (pdf)

Police Officer Charged With Civil Rights Violations (Morgue Boys Case)
Successfully defended a police officer on trial in the sensational “Morgue Boys” case, in which night-shift officers at a Brooklyn precinct were charged with ripping off drug dealers and meeting at an old morgue to divvy up the proceeds. Read Article (pdf)

Staten Island Police Sergeant Cleared of Rape
Thwarted indictment and further criminal prosecution of a police sergeant under investigation for allegations of rape. Read Article (pdf)

Lawyer Accused of Theft
Represented prominent real estate attorney accused of stealing from clients’ escrow accounts to subsidize his stripper fetish. Read Article

S.G. Cowen
Former managing director at international securities firm charged with insider trading for selling short shares of stock. Read Article (pdf)

Civil Cases

$7.4 Million Dollar Win
Cardiologist wins $7.4 million for injuries in Hackensack drunken driving crash. Read Article (pdf)

Yale Student Murdered on Campus
Representing family and estate in civil claims of Yale University student murdered on campus.

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Imette St. Guillen
Representing family of beloved criminal justice student who was abducted and killed by a NYC bar bouncer. Read Article (pdf), Read Article (pdf)

Diana Bianchi
Represented teen at the center of the Christie Brinkley divorce scandal. Read Article (pdf)

Stripper Gets Ripped Off by Supreme Court Judge
NY stripper files lawsuit against a Hillsborough Judge for money owed to her. Read Article

Body of Deceased Mishandled
Family of regarded deceased playwright files medical malpractice lawsuit for wrongful death and mishandling his remains. Read Article

Racial Discrimination Suit Against Elite School
Family of an Indian student files lawsuit against elite middle school for the gifted for denying admittance based on race. Read Article

Don Imus’ Sidekick Sued For Defamation
Lawsuit against Bernie McGuirk dropped. Read Article

FDNY Bar Assault
Representing bar patrons viciously beaten by group of firefighters. Read Article (pdf)

Discrimination Suit Against Time Warner
Representing Journalist in a Claim for Discrimination and Wrongful Termination. Read Article(pdf)

GIA Bribery Scandal
Represented diamond broker who filed a lawsuit against the diamond grading institution for upgrading precious gems in exchange for bribes. Read Article(pdf)

Suing Prominent Rabbi and Prestigious Synagogue
Mistress of Rabbi sues for breach of contract. Read Article (pdf)

Julie’s Law
Representing attorney who was shot at a courthouse in suit against the state for lack of security. Read Article (pdf)

Houdini Exhumation
Represented Houdini’s descendent in legal effort to exhume the magician and escape artist in order to medically examine whether he was murdered. Read Article (pdf)

Century 21
Won settlement for female school teacher in civil lawsuit against retail conglomerate for physically brutalizing her and subjecting her to false accusations of larceny of which she was vindicated. View Movie (Quicktime)

Banana Republic
Won settlement in civil lawsuit for former financial executive in litigation against Banana Republic for numerous claims, including wrongful imprisonment that resulted in her termination, after persuading District Attorney’s Office to dismiss false criminal charges leveled against her by the retail giant. Read Article (pdf)

Lesbian Police Officer Civil Rights Trial
Won settlement in $5 million lawsuit against the City of New York on behalf of a lesbian police officer who was being harassed by fellow cops. Trial was held in Federal Court in Manhattan. Read Article (pdf)

Waitresses Fired Because of Their Weight
Waitresses sue prestigious New York restaurant for sexual harassment and discrimination. Read Article (pdf)

Bar Sued for Assaulting Patron
Filed cause of action against well-known New York pub on behalf of client who suffered bodily injuries. Read Article (pdf)

Fasarakis
Represented family of teen killed at nightclub.
Read Article (pdf)

Wrongful Death Lawsuit
Family of New York City Department of Transportation worker files suit over the tragic death of their loved one. Read Article (pdf)

Motors Cristalli, S.R.L.
Through a Milan branch of our legal practice, we perform corporate work for an exotic high-end car exporter and represent the corporation in litigation against various dealers.

Construction Worker Killed at Job Site
Represented family of NYC construction worker who was killed when a wall supporting a detached garage collapsed on him. Read Article (pdf)

Sexual Harassment Suit Against New York Methodist Hospital
Represented female employee in sexual harassment litigation against the hospital and one of its chief surgeons. Read Article (pdf)

Kidnapping Lawsuit
Represented brothers who were kidnapped at knife point by prominent member of New Jersey Community. Read Article (pdf)

Infinity Radio Disc Jockey Lawsuit
Represented station disc jockey in lawsuit against broadcasting giant. Read Article (pdf)