Criminal Cases:

Represent State Senator charged with assault in Queens County:
Read Article (pdf), Read Article (pdf)

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 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)

Teen Charged with Manslaughter:
Procured acquittal for Brooklyn teenager charged with manslaughter in the death of 17-year-old in Jetski collision. Read Article, Read Article (jpg) ,Read Article (pdf)

Commissioner Kerik:
Represented the former 40th New York City Police Commissioner, Bernard Kerik, in matters ranging from his testimony at the 9/11 Commission to his autobiography, The Lost Son: A Life in Pursuit of Justice. 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 stick 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.
Read Article (pdf)

Sticky Fingaz :
Famed rapper cleared of gun charges. Read Article (pdf)

Mouseketeer Charged with Securities Fraud:
Read Article (pdf)

Sex Charges Dropped Against Karate Instructor:
Read Article (pdf)

Infamous Body Snatchers Case:
Represented technician accused in high profile indictment.
Read Article (pdf)

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 years old 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:

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

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 addmittance based on race. Read Article

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

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)

Stripper Civil Rights Action:
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)

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 it's 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)