New York Civil Practice: Matrimonial Actions

David J. Lansner graduated from the University of Rochester in 1968 and from NYU School of Law in 1971 and worked for legal services programs and the Legal Aid Society Juvenile Rights Division in New York City until 1979. Since then he has been in private practice in New York. In January, 1991, David and his wife, Carolyn A. Kubitschek, formed the law firm of Lansner & Kubitschek, which has eight attorneys, focuses on civil rights, family law and social security disability, and handles many pro bono and public interest cases for parents who are involved with the child welfare system and children who are the victims of mistreatment in foster care. Since 2001, David has been Co Chair of the New York State Child Protective Services Citizen Review Panel for New York City. He is the Co Chair of the N.Y.S. Citizen Review Panel for Child Protective Services in New York City. He is a consulting editor for Bender's New York Civil Practice volumes on ``Matrimonial Actions'' and ``Family Court Proceedings.''

Judith M. Reichler is a Manhattan Family Court judge. A graduate of Hobart and William Smith Colleges (B.A.) and New York Law School (J.D.), Ms. Reichler was admitted to the New York Bar in 1978. In the early 1980s, Ms. Reichler worked for the civil branch of Legal Aid in the South Bronx and became immersed in working with welfare problems and victims of domestic violence, both through direct representation of battered women and as a member of the board of directors of the state Coalition Against Domestic Violence. In the mid 1980s, Ms. Reichler was appointed by Governor Mario Cuomo to start and direct the state Commission on Child Support. She became instrumental in drafting and implementing the passage of the historic Child Support Standard Act. In the 1990s, Ms. Reichler spent two years as a staff attorney with the National Center on Women and Family Law and more recently has been judging child support and custody cases in New York¿s busiest court, Manhattan Family Court. In addition, Ms. Reichler works as a volunteer in arbitrating small civil claims and spends one evening each week volunteering to help tenants and small landlords with their cases in Housing Court. Ms. Reichler has written books and scholarly legal articles and has had many of her legal decisions published. She has also written books and pamphlets for persons who can¿t afford attorneys, and continually speaks to groups of judges, lawyers, and members of the local community groups from across the state.