New York Courts Judicial Pinball

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A disbarred attorney, Richard Luthmann, is fighting a nearly decade-old $86,000 legal bill against New York City Councilwoman Kamillah Hanks and her husband, Kevin Barry Love. What should have been a routine contract case has turned into a wild game of judicial pinball, with the case bouncing around New York County as judges seemingly avoid taking it on. Luthmann claims the defendants used political connections to stall the case and avoid paying the bill, while also alleging threats and efforts to discredit him. The case has drawn in a sprawling cast of political players, exposing potential conflicts of interest and raising questions about the integrity of the New York judiciary.

Why it matters

This case highlights concerns about the New York court system's ability to handle politically sensitive cases impartially. The repeated reassignments and judges' reluctance to take on the case suggest a potential 'friends-and-family' protection racket, where powerful political figures are shielded from scrutiny. The case also raises broader questions about judicial oversight and accountability in New York.

The details

Luthmann claims he performed various legal services for Hanks' 2017 campaign, including ballot access litigation, petition challenges, and campaign strategy. He says the defendants admitted using his work to knock a challenger off the ballot, but then refused to pay the $86,000 bill. Luthmann alleges that Hanks' husband, Kevin Barry Love, threatened and intimidated Luthmann's attorneys in an effort to avoid paying the debt. The case has ricocheted across multiple judges, with each seemingly eager to hand it off, raising concerns about conflicts of interest and political influence.

• In November 2023, Luthmann filed the initial lawsuit (Luthmann v. Hanks et al., Index No. 100012/2024).
• In spring 2024, Justice Margaret A. Chan handled early motion practice.
• In late summer/early fall 2024, non-retired Justice Louis L. Nock heard the big threshold fight with oral argument on multiple motions to dismiss.
• In early 2025, the case briefly passed through the inventory of Justice Katharine Waterman Marshall before being sent back into the reassignment wheel.
• In March 2025, the case landed with Justice James G. Clynes and then Justice Richard G. Latin, where it sat until Latin's retirement in 2026.

What they’re saying

What’s next

The judge in the case, Justice Emily Morales-Minerva, will decide whether to allow the case to proceed to discovery and depositions, or if she will find a way to dismiss the case and continue the judicial pinball.