SCHUMER RECOMMENDS LONG ISLAND’S GARY R. BROWN TO FILL ISLIP SEAT ON UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR EASTERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK; MOST NOTABLY, BROWN’S RULING AS A MAGISTRATE JUDGE EXPOSED FRAUDULENT PRACTICES AMONG FLOOD INSURANCE COMPANIES IN AFTERMATH OF SANDY

Brown is a Long Islander Through and Through – Raised in Elmont and Resides in Setauket – and Has Extensive Legal Experience in Private & Public Sector –Served as U.S. Magistrate Judge for EDNY, Federal Prosecutor in Islip Office; After Superstorm Sandy, Brown Ordered All Insurance Companies & Engineering Companies in Sandy Lawsuits To Provide Homeowners With Copies of Reports to Help Fight Against Unjustly Denied Claims  

Brown is Adjunct Professor at St. John’s Law & Has Taught at New York Law School; Has Won Numerous Awards Including “Prosecutor of the Year” and “Champion for Children Award”

Schumer: Brown Possesses the Experience, Intellect and Temperament Necessary to Succeed as a Federal Judge

U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today announced that he is recommending U.S. Magistrate Judge Gary Brown to President Obama to serve on the bench of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York. Judge Brown is a resident of Setauket, was raised in Elmont, went to Elmont Memorial High School and was born in Brooklyn.

Schumer laid out several reasons that Judge Brown would be an excellent fit for the job. Schumer said that Judge Brown’s excellent legal background, professional experience, and demonstrated leadership skills make him a top choice for the Islip seat on the district court for the Eastern District of New York. Schumer said that Judge Brown’s historic order, requiring flood insurance companies to release engineering reports and documents used to deny Superstorm Sandy claims, was the spark that led to an overhaul of the entire National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) by FEMA.  Judge Brown wrote in his order that it appears engineers falsified reports to avoid paying homeowners, “worst yet, evidence suggests that these unprincipled practices may be widespread.”

“Gary Brown is a proven leader with an exceptionally strong legal and public-service background,” said Schumer. “Gary Brown’s fair and judicious rulings have already helped countless Sandy-victims in the midst of litigation. He is an accomplished attorney in the public and private sector, an experienced federal prosecutor, and a magistrate judge who knows the law inside and out. He is also a real Long Islander – living in Setauket and raised in Elmont, who went on to Yale and Columbia. He is an exceptional choice to serve in the Islip seat on the prestigious and important Eastern District bench.”

Judge Brown earned his J.D. from The Yale Law School in 1988, having graduated summa cum laude from Columbia College in 1985 with an A.B. degree in English Language and Literature. Judge Brown was a member of Phi Beta Kappa.

Judge Brown currently serves as U.S. Magistrate Judge for the Eastern District of New York.  Judge Brown is also an adjunct professor teaching advocacy at St. Johns School of Law. From 2009-2011, Judge Brown served as SVP and Chief Compliance Officer at CA Technologies, having served in various other legal capacities there from 2005-2009, including Chief Counsel for Litigation, Associate General Counsel, Director of Litigation, and Senior Counsel. Before joining CA Technologies, Judge Brown served as Chief, Deputy Chief, and Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Long Island Criminal Division at the Islip Office of the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York. There, Judge Brown supervised 18 criminal prosecutors. Judge Brown was also the Coordinator of the Affirmative Civil Enforcement Program at the Office of U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, where he was responsible for implementing and supervising Department of Justice initiatives to remedy fraud against government programs. Judge Brown was also an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Civil Division for the Eastern District of New York, where he handled affirmative and defensive civil actions including forfeiture, contract, fraud, personal injury and intellectual matters. Following law school, Judge Brown worked as a law clerk for the Honorable Judge Mishler in the Eastern District of New York from 1988-1989.

In addition to St. Johns School of Law, Judge Brown has taught as an adjunct professor at New York Law School and has lectured at Fordham University School of Law, Hofstra Law and Tour Law School.

Judge Brown is the recipient of numerous awards and honors. Specifically, Judge Brown has been awarded the “Champion for Children Award,” by Parents for Megan’s Law; the “Superior Performance as an AUSA” award by the Executive Office of United States Attorneys; the “Prosecutor of the Year Award,” by the National Law Enforcement Agency; the “Inspector General’s Integrity Award,” by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; the “National Group Achievement Award,” by the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association; the “Chief Postal Inspector’s Award” by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.  Judge Brown is also a second degree black belt in tae kwon do.

Most recently, Judge Brown was tasked with overseeing Hurricane Sandy litigation cases involving individuals who have initiated law suits against insurance companies due to denial of claims or underpaid claims. Specifically, Judge Brown ordered all insurance companies and engineering companies in Sandy-related lawsuits to provide policyholders with copies of their reports, a move that shed light on the deficient claims process.

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