REVIEW LAYOUTS
January 22, 2021 | LAYOUTS
Gaynor case stalled by pandemic concerns By MIKE SMITH Sports Editor
Sports Editor Mike Smith tackles last weekend’s controversial play in the NFL playoff game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Cleveland Browns. For Smith’s Live Mike column, see page 15.
Westchester County Executive Latimer announces re-election bid Westchester County Executive George Latimer has announced his plans to seek re-election in the midst of a first term filled with fixing problems—both large and small. “When I took office in 2018, we inherited a County Government plagued with fiscal mismanagement, budget gimmicks, and stalled projects,” Latimer, a Democrat, said. “You entrusted me to fix these issues—and together we have. Now, Westchester is facing an entirely new set of challenges—social injustices that have long been swept under the
rug and economic recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic just to name a few—and I am once again asking for your vote so we can face these challenges head on.” When Covid-19 struck Westchester County first, Latimer was a calming presence—providing the public with factual information through daily updates and announcements of programs aimed to protect public health and lessen the impact on families, schools and small businesses. Latimer, who lives in Rye, is proud to run on the progress made over the last 3 years. Prog-
ress which includes the reopening of Sprain Ridge Pool in Yonkers, fixing the historic Miller House in North White Plains, building a new New Rochelle Family Court, and making real, tangible progress on the long-awaited new Memorial Field in Mount Vernon—all while cutting property taxes for two consecutive years while maintaining and expanding essential services. During Latimer’s first three years in office—he was elected in 2017—Westchester stabilized its finances while passing progressive legislation advanc-
ing the county’s core values. Unlike politics as usual, Latimer has built strong connections with every local municipal government and the county Board of Legislators—relationships which helped the county’s swift response at the height of the pandemic. Latimer is seeking a second term following his proposal, and the County Board’s passage, of a twoterm limit for county executives. For more information and updates, go to the newly launched Lat i m e r F o r We s t c h e s t e r. c o m . (Submitted)
Amid a recent coronavirus spike and a shakeup in law firms, the legal proceedings against alleged sexual abuser Edwin “Ted” Gaynor have stalled somewhat in the recent weeks, says one lawyer familiar with the cases. Scott Papp, an attorney at Lowey Dannenberg, P.C.—a White Plains law firm that had been handling 29 Child Victims Act lawsuits leveled against Gaynor, the Archdiocese of New York, and Gaynor’s former employers at several local parishes—explained that progress on the cases has stalled as counsel for both sides await further instruction from the courts and Associate New York State Supreme Justice Hon. Steven M. Jaeger. “With Covid flaring up, there has been a real worry that the courts would shut down again,” Papp said. “There’s been kind of a holding pattern for the last few weeks.” According to Papp, concerns about the coronavirus—and the 85-year-old Gaynor’s health— prompted Jaeger to dismiss a motion filed by the plaintiffs on Dec. 7, 2020, requesting that Gaynor be arrested by the Westchester County Sheriff’s Department on Jan. 14, 2021, should he fail to agree to a appear for a deposition before that date. The denial was sent via email to counsel for both the plaintiffs and defendants but was not entered into the court docket. Since November 2019, 33 accusers have come forward with allegations of abuse against Gaynor, alleging that the Ossining
resident used his position as a teacher and basketball coach at area Catholic schools to sexually assault minors from 1959 to 1987. Gaynor has twice been held in contempt of court for his failure to comply with court orders regarding a deposition. On Nov. 20, 2020, Jaeger levied a $250-perday fine against Gaynor until he agreed to be deposed. As of press time, Gaynor has incurred $14,750 worth of fines for his unwillingness to testify, although he did admit to molesting two of his former students at IHM in handwritten letters from 2019 that have been admitted into evidence. Papp says it is unlikely that Gaynor will ever be forced to make restitution to the courts. “The fines are basically theoretical,” he told the Review. A compliance hearing has been scheduled for Jan. 26, during which time Jaeger will likely map out the future schedule of the case and address any concerns introduced by counsel. One noticeable difference when the case resumes is that the firm of Lowey Dannenberg P.C. will likely no longer be involved in the proceedings. On Jan. 4, Barbara Hart, the Lowey Dannenberg president who filed the first lawsuit against Gaynor in 2019 on behalf of David B. Fox, announced that she was stepping away from the company to join the New York City-based firm of Grant & Eisenhofer P.A. As of press time, 26 of the 29 clients formerly represented by Hart at Lowey Dannenberg have agreed to have their cases handled by her new firm. CONTACT: sports@hometwn.com