Rankin and Taylor

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Rankin & Taylor
Headquarters11 Park Place, Suite 914
New York, NY
Major practice areasCivil Rights, Criminal Defense
Key peopleDavid B. Rankin and Mark C. Taylor
Date founded2008
WebsiteRankin & Taylor

Rankin & Taylor was a law practice that represented bicyclists in both civil and criminal cases. The firm's founding partners were cyclists.[1]

History[edit]

The firm was founded in 2008 by attorneys David B. Rankin and Mark C. Taylor, who were passionate about bicycling.[1]

Taylor left the firm in 2016 to practice housing law at Legal Services NYC.[2] Rankin practices civil rights and general law at Beldock, Levine & Hoffman LLP, which merged with Rankin and Taylor.[2][3]

Cases[edit]

The firm represented Tad Hirsch, creator of the TXTMob messaging service.[4] Protestors used TXTmob to organize events during the 2004 Republican National Convention. When the New York City Law Department subpoenaed Hirsch's TXTmob records, Rankin argued that the subpoena was "vague" and "overbroad."[4] They claimed that disclosing the information about TXTmob users who had nothing to do with lawsuits would violate their First Amendment and privacy rights.[4]

In 2010, the firm represented Said Hajem in a discrimination lawsuit against the NYPD.[5] The firm argued that the NYPD's refusal to hire Hajem, despite his high scores on the police entrance exam was discrimination.[5]

In 2011, the firm represented Sojourner Hardeman in a federal civil rights lawsuit against the NYPD.[6] Hardeman had been arrested numerous times for panhandling on Fifth Avenue. The firm argued that the arrests for disorderly conduct were without probable cause, and violated Hardeman's constitutional rights.[6] In a judge-approved stipulation, the NYPD agreed not to arrest her without probable cause.[6]

The firm also represented client in police misconduct lawsuits against the NYPD.[7][8]

Bicycling and freedom of assembly[edit]

The firm's attorneys are cyclists and advocates for safer cycling in New York City.[1][9][10]<r[11] Rankin was among the attorneys who represented Critical Mass cyclists in a lawsuit against the New York City, alleging unlawful arrests.[12] In 2010, the lawsuit led to a $965,000 payment from the city to the cyclists.[13]

The firm represented Christopher Long, a bicyclist assaulted by a police officer during a 2008 Critical Mass bicycle ride.[14] In a 2011 case, the firm's attorneys were among the lawyers who brought a class action suit on behalf of cyclists who had been improperly ticketed for riding outside of the bike lane.[1][15][16]

The firm worked with the National Lawyers Guild on mass-defense strategies for Occupy Wall Street protestors at Zuccotti Park.[17][18][19] In addition, Taylor challenged the NYPD's use of barricades to pen in protestors.[20] Taylor has served as vice president of the NYC Chapter of the National Lawyers Guild.[21]

Freedom of Information law[edit]

The firm has represented clients in Freedom of Information Law litigation, and represented clients seeking information about the closure of Chase Plaza in downtown Manhattan, a formerly public space.[22][23] The firm also worked to both unseal the names and records of bodies buried in New York City's Hart Island,[24][25] and to increase access to the graves.[26][27]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d Goodman, J. David (19 August 2011). "A New Breed of Lawyers Focuses on Bicyclists' Rights". New York Times. Retrieved 24 December 2012.
  2. ^ a b "Rankin & Taylor". Retrieved 2023-12-09.
  3. ^ BLH (2017-06-06). "BLH is Proud to Announce its Merger with Rankin & Taylor". blhny. Retrieved 2023-12-09.
  4. ^ a b c Moynihan, Colin (30 March 2008). "City Subpoenas Creator of Text Messaging Code". New York Times. Retrieved 24 December 2012.
  5. ^ a b Moynihan, Colin (1 March 2010). "Lawsuit by Moroccan-American Muslim Accuses Police of Bias in Hiring". New York Times. Retrieved 24 December 2012.
  6. ^ a b c Moynihan, Colin (29 August 2011). "After Panhandler Says Police Harassed Her, a Judge Tells Them to Stop". New York Times. Retrieved 24 December 2012.
  7. ^ Fanelli, James (29 August 2010). "NYPD Civil Rights Cases: City Shells Out $22 Million To Settle Lawsuits Against NYC's Finest". Huffington Post. Retrieved 24 December 2012.
  8. ^ Stumpf, Melisa (26 July 2012). "Sunset Park teen charges he was roughed up by cop". Brooklyn Spectator. Retrieved 24 December 2012.
  9. ^ Barron, James (4 August 2008). "Police and a Cyclists' Group, and Four Years of Clashes". New York Times. Retrieved 24 December 2012.
  10. ^ Barron, James (29 July 2008). December 2012 "Officer Investigated in Toppling of Cyclist". New York Times. {{cite news}}: Check |url= value (help)
  11. ^ Pound, Eliza (4 July 2012). "Valet Bike Parking and Brooklyn Brews". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 4 January 2013.
  12. ^ Dotty, Cate (18 October 2010). "Bike Riders in New York Win Settlement". New York Times. Retrieved 24 December 2012.
  13. ^ Amateau, Albert (22 November 2010). "Critical Mass of Cash for 83 Arrested Bicyclists". The Villager. Retrieved 16 January 2013.
  14. ^ Lemire, Jonathan (15 December 2008). "Cop who shoved Critical Mass biker ready to face assault charge". NY Daily News. Retrieved 4 January 2013.
  15. ^ Del Signore, John (25 May 2011). "NYPD's Cyclist Ticket Blitz Booms, Class Action Lawsuit Looms". Gothamist. Archived from the original on 23 June 2013. Retrieved 24 December 2012.
  16. ^ Sutton, Benjamin (8 June 2011). "Taking Cops to Court Over Pseudo Bike Laws". The L Magazine. Retrieved 24 December 2012.
  17. ^ "2012 Occupy Timeline" (PDF). NLG New York City News. Fall 2012. Retrieved 24 December 2012.
  18. ^ Dolmetsch, Chris (3 November 2011). "NYC 'Occupy Wall Street' Protesters Seek Trials". Bloomberg. Retrieved 4 January 2013.
  19. ^ Grant, Drew (26 October 2011). "Over 800 Occupy Protesters Charged, But How Many Will Go to Court?". New York Observer. Retrieved 16 January 2013.
  20. ^ Moynihan, Colin (30 April 2012). "Protesters Accuse Police of Improperly Using Barricades". New York Times. Retrieved 24 December 2012.
  21. ^ Lennard, Natasha (15 June 2010). "A Summons for the Commissioner". New York Times. Retrieved 24 December 2012.
  22. ^ Moynihan, Colin (4 July 2012). "Suit Seeks Plans for Closed Public Plaza as Owner's Motives Are Questioned". New York Times. Retrieved 24 December 2012.
  23. ^ Pinto, Nick (16 March 2012). "Fences Are Still Up -- What's Going On At Chase Manhattan Plaza?". Village Voice. Retrieved 24 December 2012.
  24. ^ Chan, Sewell (26 November 2007). "Searching for Names on an Island of Graves". New York Times. Retrieved 24 December 2012.
  25. ^ Buckley, Cara (24 March 2008). "Finding Names for Hart Island's Forgotten". New York Times. Retrieved 24 December 2012.
  26. ^ Rojas, Marcela (22 December 2012). "N.Y. doctor sues for right to visit stillborn's grave". USA Today. Retrieved 24 December 2012.
  27. ^ Marsh, Julia (22 December 2012). "Stillborn-tot mom's Potter's Field suit". New York Post. Retrieved 26 December 2012.

External links[edit]

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