A prominent real estate lawyer who once described himself in a column as “jungle street skills and a passion for justice” has been suspended for bizarre and abusive conduct. Adam Leitman Bailey told a tenant that he should commit suicide as a worthless human being and even declared “now you’re my bitch.” The problem is that the tenant recorded the call.
In a decision by the New York Appellate Division, Bailey was given a four-month suspension and told to get counseling.
The suspension was based on two incidents, including the call to the tenant. Bailey told the tenant he was “not that bright” and would “be bankrupt soon” if he didn’t take down a website that his client viewed as defamatory. He added “You’re one of those people in the world that really should just kill themselves because you’re worthless.” It is the type of abuse bullying that was the signature of Trump’s long-time attorney (and now foe) Michael Cohen.
In the other incident, Bailey stormed into an arbitration room and started taking pictures. He then proclaimed “This will be in the newspaper when I put this in there after we kick your asses.”
Bailey is a Syracuse law grad. His glowing bio at his firm quotes one person praising Bailey by saying “Adam is the person for any sticky situation because he has seen and done everything.” Perhaps everything proved a tad too much.