NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) — Two New York citizens groups are suing New York state officials, alleging violation of state law.
Citizens Union of the City of New York and Citizens Union Foundation Inc. of the City of New York filed a lawsuit Dec. 12 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York against Gov. Andrew Cuomo, the members of the Joint Commission on Public Ethics, the executive director of the Joint Commission of Public Ethics and New York state Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, alleging they implemented a law that violates the constitutional rights of the plaintiffs.
According to the complaint, the plaintiffs suffered monetary damages due to the implementation of a New York executive law. The plaintiffs allege the defendants enforce a law that requires public disclosure of broad swaths of donors of nonprofit organizations, which hurts their ability to attract donors.
The plaintiffs seek trial by jury, to declare that sections 172-e and 172-f of the New York Executive Law are void and of no force and effect, enjoin the implementation of sections 172-e and 172-f, court costs and all relief the court grants. They are represented by attorneys Randy M. Mastro, Akiva Shapiro and Gabriel K. Gillett of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP in New York.
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York Case number 1:16-cv-09592-RMB