Balsamo, Rosenblatt, Cohen PC

Reviews of Lawyers from   New York Brooklyn

(Attorneys & law firms, landlord & tenant attorneys)

This review is long overdue. During the Spring of 1997, I had an unpaid internship at Rosenblatt's law firm. At the time, I was a second year college student. Majoring in Legal Communications. I was considering pursuing a career in real estate law. So when a family member offered to get me an internship, I accepted.

Big mistake. the Rosenblatt brothers made my life miserable for the next five weeks. When The paralegal wasn't referring to my locks as worms. And calling me Medusa, he was screaming at me.

Robert Rosenblatt was even worse. One day when we were on the elevator at housing court, he asked me the following question. He asked me, then a 19 year old  female college student, "how many children do you have".  I just happen to be Black. When I told him that his question was inappropriate at the very least. And most certainly presumptive. He then said "oh it's for tax purposes". What a lie. I was not getting paid for my unpaid internship, much less on his payroll. Second, PAID employees divulge these details on W2s. Employers do not complete W2s for them, nor are they asked by the IRS  to pose questions on its behalf. I immediately asserted this to Rosenblatt. He assumed that because I was a Black teenager approaching 20, I  must have children. I did not and do not. Even if I was college student, whose father (a Black man with a PhD in engineering) was his client. 

I confided in the office legal security Unique and a female attorney Michelle. Both are women of color. Outside of my interactions with the Rosenblatt brothers, the other employees were pleasant and taught me a great deal. My interactions with the court officers, housing court staff, judges, and other attorneys were also consistently positive. Attorneys and court staff were always offering to give me directions. They were happy to provide help at all times. Even finding a seat for me in the courtroom. After noticing my age, they asked me about my college classes. Encouraged me to study hard. A number of attorney even advised me to enroll in LSAT prep classes. 

I never completed the internship. After Rosenblatt the paralegal screamed at me again, I'd had enough and quit. Returned to the office, grabbed my book-bag and left for good. 

My experience as a Black female college intern left such a sour taste in my mouth that I changed my major. Fearing at the time that working in real estate law would mean having to endure constant racial comments about my natural hair style. Or being mistaken as a single unwed mother. Solely based on my gender-race. Although every other encounter with nonBlack attorneys and staff in Housing court was positive, my experience as Rosenblatt summer intern was upsetting. 

I also had another horrible encounter with Robert Rosenblatt as a client two decades later. My father, a man who is way too kind and forgiving to a fault, urged me to give Robert Rosenblatt another chance. Rosenblatt failed to show up for my court date. Despite me dropping by and speaking to an attorney assigned to me case. And receiving several calls that his staff failed to return. Despite the emails I sent. The secretary failed to put it on the office calendar. 

After having to represent myself in landlord/tenant court, I told Rosenblatt that I no longer wanted his representation. A month later, an attorney at his firm showed up. Claiming to be my attorney and having no knowledge of my case. 

After telling Rosenblatt again that he was not my attorney and wanted him off my case. And Rosenblatt stating that he would no longer represent me, he failed to remove his name from my case. Because he failed to inform the court about his decision,  I was not able to hire another attorney. He even refused to report to court when the judge (February 2019) stated that he was still listed as my attorney. And had to report to the courtroom. She told me to call his office and relay the message. After Rosenblatt failed to appear, the judge stated that she saw him court that day.

Balsamo and Rosenblatt are really good and great. They assisted me with a conflict I was having with my landlord. They were very understanding,kind and have the very best knowledge on how to deal with misunderstandings and conflict inorder to bring out the best results. I highly recommend you to go to them whenever you have a pressing conflict or misunderstanding and be sure they will be ready to listen and solve your problem. Thank you Balsamo and Rosenblatt