Weitz & Luxenberg lawyers give Rice campaign $237G

ALBANY - Kathleen Rice, the Nassau County district attorney running for state attorney general, has received hefty campaign contributions from a law firm where Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver works, and she has hired the son of one of the firm's partners.

Five lawyers at Weitz & Luxenberg, one of the country's largest personal injury practices, donated $236,698 to Rice from Jan. 1, 2009, to Jan. 11, 2010, according to state records. Rice won re-election in November 2009. More than 70 percent of the money came Jan. 11 as Rice began exploring a bid for attorney general.

The largest contributors were firm founders Perry Weitz of Huntington, who gave $91,599, and Arthur Luxenberg of Great Neck and Westhampton Beach, $66,599. In May 2009, Rice hired Weitz's son, Justin, to work as a $52,000-a-year assistant district attorney in Hempstead.

Weitz & Luxenberg, which represents victims of accidents and exposure to asbestos and other hazardous materials, is influential in the State Capitol because Silver has worked there part-time since 2002. He has generally sided with trial lawyers opposing changes to the tort system and appointed Luxenberg to a state panel that recommends judicial nominees to the governor.

Rice representatives yesterday denied that Weitz & Luxenberg was attempting to curry favor and said the firm hadn't received special treatment.

"They have never asked for anything, nor did they get anything," said Rice campaign spokesman Eric Phillips. "This is a law firm with Long Island partners who are supporting a Long Island DA whose work they are very familiar with. Nothing more than that."

Perry Weitz didn't return a telephone call seeking comment. Luxenberg and the firm's spokesman were unavailable because of a religious holiday, as was Silver.

Silver has endorsed one of Rice's primary opponents, Assemb. Richard Brodsky of Westchester.

Justin Weitz applied for and secured a job in Rice's District Court bureau last year after graduation from Hofstra University's law school, where his father also studied.

The younger Weitz said he "earned the job . . . I'm not involved in politics and I don't pay attention to my father's political activity." Records show no donations from the younger Weitz.

Carole Trottere, a spokeswoman for the district attorney's office, agreed, saying Weitz's "family played no role in the interview process or the office's decision to extend him an offer." She added that Rice is committed to hiring qualified local people and was pleased with Weitz's job performance.

Still, some opponents of the trial lawyers' lobby expressed concern about Rice's close ties to Weitz & Luxenberg, which were first reported by The New York Times.

Jon Pierce, a spokesman for New Yorkers for Lawsuit Reform, said the law firm was trying to boost its considerable clout in Albany. "They are clearly trying to exert influence on elected officials. Otherwise why would they give the money."