Mercedes M. Maldonado

Sanjit Das on October 26, 2023

mercedes

Mercedes M. Maldonado

Attorney

Mercedes M. Maldonado was born and raised in the Bronx. She attended Long Island University on a full tuition scholarship awarded by District Council 37. After graduating Long Island University, cum laude, she earned her juris doctor from the Boston University School of Law in 1992.

Throughout her almost 30-year career, Ms. Maldonado has focused on labor and employment law. Initially, she represented the concerns of management by advocating on behalf of institutions affiliated with the New York Catholic Archdiocese. She switched to Union representation in 1995 when she joined O’Donnell Schwartz, Glanstein & Rosen, working under the tutelage of Carl Rachlin, a preeminent civil rights and labor lawyer. There, she represented the labor interests of New York City correction officers under their newly elected President, Norman Seabrook, oil pipeline employees represented by the Buckeye TriState Pipeline Union and employees of the Long Island Railroad and New York City Transit Authority, among others. In 1999, Ms. Maldonado and Mr. Rachlin moved to the firm of Koehler & Isaacs, where they continued to promote the interests of private and public sector employees in the work force. There, Ms. Maldonado honed her extensive experience in Article 78 litigation, labor arbitration, collective bargaining negotiations, as well as proceedings before the Public Employment Relations Board and the New York City Office of Collective Bargaining. In 2020, Ms. Maldonado moved to Karasyk & Moschella, where she is privileged to continue her representation of the Correction Officers’ Benevolent Association.

Notable Cases Covered in the Media:

  • Matter of Tchodie v. Brann, DOC Violated Lawful Procedure Terminating Corrections Officer; Termination Vacated, N.Y.L.J. Decisions of Interest (September 9, 2019).
  • Chelsia Rose Marcius, Jail Guard Axed After Injury Wins Suit, is Back to Work, NY Daily News (July 14, 2019).
  • Ellen Moynihan, Wrongfully Fired Rikers Island Correction Officer Wins Legal Fight to Regain Her Job, Collect Back Pay. NY Daily News (June 30, 2019).
  • Andrew Denney, Rikers Guard’s Allergies Are Disabilities, Judge Says, N.Y.L.J. (March 31, 2016).
  • Julia Marsh, Guard Fired for Being ‘Allergic’ to Rikers Can Sue His Bosses, NY Post (March 29, 2016).
  • Mark Toor, Rule Correction Dept. Wrongly Fired CO Who was Domestic-Abuse Victim, Chief Leader (August 17, 2015).
  • Joel Stashenko, Domestic Violence Victim Wins Reinstatement to Prison Agency, N.Y.L.J. (August 07, 2015).
  • Reuven Blau, Judge Orders NY Correction Dept. To Reinstate Domestic Violence Victim, NY Daily News (August 6, 2015).
  • Chelsia Rose Marcius, Rikers Island Correction Officer Shot in the Face by Her Husband is Fighting to Get Her Job Back, NY Daily News (April 24, 2015).
  • Matter of Kaslow v. NYC, N.Y.L.J. (April 4, 2014).
  • Mark Toor, Arbitrator Orders More Heat for COs at Court, Chief Leader (September 30, 2011).
  • Mark Toor, Jail Union: Westchester Resists Awards from Arbitrators, Chief Leader (July 15, 2011).
  • Mark Toor, Westchester Wrongly Denied CO Time Off, Arbitrator Decides, Chief Leader (June 10, 2011).
  • Mark Toor, Unkind Cut Heals as Probie Fired Over Surgery is Rehired, Chief Leader (February 18, 2011).
  • Mark Toor, Westchester Sanctioned For Docking Injured COs Pay, Chief Leader (November 19, 2010).
  • Matter of Stevens v. Schriro, N.Y.L.J. (October 7, 2010).
  • Mayo v. Personnel Review Bd. of Health Hosps. Corp., N.Y.L.J. (August 18, 2009).
  • Matter of DeBlasio v. The City of New York, N.Y.L.J. (May 27, 2009).
  • Matter of Horn v. New York City Civ. Serv. Commn., N.Y.L.J. (September 25, 2007).
  • Reuven Blau, Rule CO Longevity Pay Pensionable, Chief Leader (November 25, 2005).
  • David McGarrigle v. City of New York, N.Y.L.J. (November 3, 2005).
  • Reuven Blau, Firing Battered CO Illegal, Judge Rules, Chief Leader (October 8, 2004).
  • Jennifer Medina, Victim of Domestic Abuse Gets City Job Back, NY Times (September 29, 2004).
  • Robert F. Moore, Rehired After Jails Bungle, NY Daily News (September 29, 2004).
  • Mark Fass, Fired Domestic Abuse Victim Wins Under City Rights Law, N.Y.L.J. (September 27, 2004).
  • Bill Farrell, Pension Ruling May Have Wide Impact, NY Daily News (July 14, 2004).
  • Richard Steier, Rule CO’s Longevity Pay is Pensionable, Chief Leader (July 9, 2004).
  • Whitfield v. Fraser, N.Y.L.J. (August 1, 2003).
  • Reuven Blau, COs Get Benefits Restored, Chief Leader (June 27, 2003).
  • Quaranta v. Jacobson, N.Y.L.J. (April, 1996).