Tom’s practice focuses on higher education, healthcare, employment, the defense of varied business and commercial claims, and selected internal and governmental investigations. He has conducted bench and jury trials, and has argued over 100 appeals in federal and state appellate courts. A skilled advisor, Tom delivers practical and prompt advice, and collaborates with clients on matters of substance and strategy.  

For institutions of secondary and higher education, Tom regularly defends against claims of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation; advises and litigates faculty tenure reviews, denials, and revocations; handles the broad array of Title IV, VI, VII, and IX matters; counsels on academic freedom issues; conducts scientific and academic misconduct investigations and litigation; assists on governance and general not-for-profit matters; and handles student discipline and serious general liability cases. His experience also includes formal and informal dispute resolution, with an emphasis on neutral evaluation and mediation. He serves on the federal mediation panel in the Western District of New York, and acts as Distinguished Counsel in New York for United Educators, as well as approved counsel for several other Employment Practices Liability and Educators Legal Liability insurers.

Tom’s healthcare work includes the representation of hospitals, nursing homes, academic medical centers, and individual providers and provider networks in connection with Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement issues; the creation and implementation of internal compliance programs; various fraud and abuse matters; governmental and third-party payor investigations; False Claims Act and qui tam litigation; payor disputes; staff privilege and credentialing matters; professional licensure proceedings; and employment-related claims in the healthcare setting.

His employment work includes counseling on an array of labor-related matters; training employers and employees on workplace conduct and compliance issues; and defending against claims of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation both at the agency level and in court. Tom also handles various commercial matters, particularly those related to unfair competition and intercorporate disputes.

When not in the office, Tom spends his time traveling to Bald Head Island, fishing, reading, working on household projects, and visiting (along with his wife Kathy) with his many children, and their new grandchildren.

Representative Experience

• Secured dismissal of the bulk of the claims asserted against the University in a multi-plaintiff Title IX case. N.P. v. City University of New York, Civil Action No. 20-cv-3059 (E.D.N.Y. Sept. 8, 2022).
• Obtained dismissal of all claims in federal and state court against health system and its employee alleging breach of confidentiality obligations, and awarding substantial sanctions against plaintiff. Klein v. Catholic Health Svcs. of Long Island, Index No. 613853/20 (Sup. Ct. Nassau Cty. July 26, 2022 and Klein v. Aicher, 2020 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 128979 (S.D.N.Y. July 21, 2020).
• Obtained dismissal of various reimbursement-related qui tam claims under the federal and New York State False Claims Acts, brought by former facility administrator, and secured certification of interlocutory appeal to Second Circuit as to sole remaining qui tam claim. Matter of Quartararo ex rel. United States v. Catholic Heath Svcs. of Long Is., 521 F. Supp. 3d 265 (E.D.N.Y. Feb. 22, 2021) and No. 12-cv-4425, 2017 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 50696 (E.D.N.Y. March 31, 2017).
• Court denied injunction application in vaccination challenge against College, leading plaintiffs to dismiss all claims. Michalski v. St. John Fisher Coll., Index No. 8063/2021 (Sup. Ct. Onondaga Cty. Nov. 10, 2021).
• Court dismissed all claims against former tenant of commercial property in case where landlord challenged assignment and terms of force majeure clause in lease. 1699 Ridge Rd. E. vs. United Call Center Solutions, LLC, Index No. E20203648 (Sup. Ct. Monroe Cty. Oct. 20, 2020).
• Secured dismissal of all claims against university and Dean arising from denial of former faculty member’s tenure application. Vengalattore v. Cornell Univ., 161 AD3d 1350 (3rd Dept., May 10, 2018), reargument denied, Docket No. 525462 (3rd Dept., Sept. 7, 2018).
• Courts dismissed plaintiff’s complaints alleging “reverse Title IX” and breach of contract claims. B.B. v. The New School, Index No. 159161/17 (Sup. Ct. NY Cty., Sept. 26, 2018) and B.B. v. The New School, Civil Action No. 17-cv-8347 (AT), 2018 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 80068 (S.D.N.Y.).
• Obtained dismissal of all significant claims in litigation brought by former student alleging disability discrimination, civil rights violations, false arrest claim, and numerous additional tort-based claims. Bied v. Cty. of Rensselaer, Civil Action No. 15-cv-1011 (TLM/DEP), 2018 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 55143 (N.D.N.Y., Mar. 30, 2018).
• Secured complete dismissal of ethnic and race discrimination claims, retaliation claims, and breach of contract claims asserted by former medical staff member. Koul v. Univ. of Rochester, 285 F. Supp. 3d 595 (W.D.N.Y. 2018).
• Obtained complete dismissal of action asserting defamation claims against medical center and fourteen individual members of its staff and administration asserted by a former medical staff member. Colantonio v. Mercy Medical Center, 135 AD3d 686 (2nd Dept.), lv. denied, 28 NY3d 903 (2016).
• Obtained numerous first impression rulings on coverage obligations owing to policyholder in connection with policyholder’s claims arising from acts of employee dishonesty, resulting in highly favorable settlement of action. Dataflow, Inc. v. Peerless Ins. Co., Civil Action No. 11-cv-1127 (LEK/DEP), 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 138042 (N.D.N.Y., Sept. 30, 2014), reconsideration denied, 2015 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 140181 (Oct. 15, 2015).
• Secured judgments invalidating denials of challenges to Medicaid rate calculations on behalf of numerous nursing homes, resulting in global settlements totaling approximately $12 million. United Home for Aged Hebrews v. New York State Dept. of Health, Index Number 16110-11 (Sup. Ct. Westchester Cty., Jan. 3, 2014) and Matter of Howe Ave. Nursing Home-Montefiore v. New York State Dept. of Health, Index. No. 16136-11 (Sup. Ct. Westchester Cty., May 23, 2014).
• Assisted large medical center in responding to a governmental investigation of service line provided through a third party, alleged to have engaged in potentially criminal conduct. The medical center was absolved of any wrongdoing or responsibility.
• Resolved with no monetary payment a whistleblower complaint alleging that more than one hundred public sector employees were hired in violation of the provisions of a specific New York State statute, and were compensated improperly as a result, in an amount exceeding $25 million.
• Conducted internal investigation into claims that senior administrator at large medical center discriminated against hospital staff and violated institutional code of conduct, resulting in the imposition of recommended corrective action and in the avoidance of monetary exposure on the part of the institution.
• Investigated claims by potential whistleblower of irregularities in the manner in which a university’s academic support program for student athletes was being conducted, and convincing whistleblower not to proceed with litigation.
• Conducted numerous other confidential investigations into a wide array of misconduct claims, including allegations of sexual misconduct, sexual harassment, academic and scientific misconduct, and management bullying of subordinate staff, at various for-profit and not-for-profit institutions.