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NORMAN LISS |
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Bachelor of Science Degree from the School of
Commerce of New York University; Juris Doctor Degree from New York University
Law School. |
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Admitted to practice law in the State of New
York, US District Court for the Southern District of
New York, the Eastern District of New York, and the United States Supreme
Court |
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HIGHLIGHTS AND DIVERSITY OF PRACTICE AND CAREER |
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Personal Injury |
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Successfully completed
multiple cases with recoveries in excess of $1,000,000.00 in representing
individuals seriously injured through negligence or malpractice. Obtained
one of the largest settlements in Bronx County for an individual
plaintiff.
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Was one of the lead
attorneys in the tragic Happy Land Social Club fire litigation in which 86
people died. His efforts led to a contribution by the City of New York to
the settlement based upon the City’s failure to close the club because of
social and cultural reasons. His efforts led further to the settlement of
the matter on behalf of the families of the deceased.
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He continues to represent
victims of personal injury, medical malpractice and product liability on
behalf of his own clients and on behalf of other attorneys with less
expertise.
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Wrongful
Imprisonment |
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Successfully conducted an action against the United
States, receiving a substantial sum for an individual who was wrongfully
incarcerated by U.S. agents for actions taken outside of the U.S. borders.
The sum collected was less important than the uniqueness of the proceeding
because it resulted from violations by agents of the United States outside
of its territory, which was a breakthrough in this area.
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Services to the
Handicapped |
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A specialist in
representing, as General Counsel, agencies, schools and group homes for
the handicapped and mentally retarded in all phases of their legal needs.
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Successfully brought a
proceeding against the New York City Board of Education to provide special
education teachers on behalf of retarded and profoundly retarded
individuals in state institutions, which resulted in a requirement to
provide special education teachers in all state facilities.
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Public Arena |
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At the request of former
Chief Justice Warren Burger, represented the United States of America as
Special Counsel in a proceeding brought by the State of Tennessee against
the U.S. Bicentennial Commission.
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Served as counsel to
Congressman James Scheuer in his New York City mayoral campaign.
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Served as counsel to the New York State
Statue of Liberty Commission during the restoration of the Statue from
1982 to 1986.
Mohammed Ali, with Norman Liss. Ali received
an award from Mr. Liss' Commission, the NYS
Statue of Liberty Commission.
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Serves as counsel to the Bronx Council
on the Arts.
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He continues to represent causes,
individuals and agencies in the public arena.
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Sports |
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Was retained to meet with
Prime Minister Pindling in the Bahamas to organize a heavyweight
championship fight between Ali and Frazier, originally to be held in
Nassau.
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His relationship to
professional and collegiate sports places him in a unique position to
represent athletes.
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Theatrical |
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Has represented people in
many diverse theatrical endeavors, including investors, management,
publicists, agents and performance artists and provided legal counsel to
performance artists including The Drifters, The Coasters, Grand Master
Flash, Bobby Lance, Arlene DeMarco, Tony Orlando, Jerry Gunn, Wilson
Pickett, D. J. Webstar, Concert Violinist Ralph Hollander, Saul Richfield,
Theatrical and Public Relations Representative, Joe Franklin, Radio and
Television Host, and filmmaker
Robert Renfield, among others. Continues to represent
artists and producers in major deals with record companies.
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Commercial |
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Represents real estate
developers and owners in a variety of real estate matters, including the
development, purchase and sale of car washes and parking lots.
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Served as General Counsel to
the HUB Third Avenue Merchants Association, representing the second
largest shopping area in Bronx County for approximately 20 years, and
currently serves as a consultant.
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He currently represents the
Lower East Side District Management Association, Inc. in litigation.
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Estates |
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Representation of
Airline Employees |
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SERVICES TO
FOREIGN GOVERNMENTS AND
INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMACY |
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Norway |
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Turkey |
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Served as a filed foreign
agent under the Foreign Agent Registration Act, representing the Turkish
government for three years, commencing just prior to the U.S. invasion of
Iraq and was enlisted by representatives of the Turkish government to
present Turkey in a better light in the United States in order to induce
the Turkish parliament to cast a favorable vote to allow the U.S. Fourth
Division to enter Iraq through southeast Turkey. In that capacity, Mr.
Liss obtained a statement by one of the highest U.S. officials speaking of
Turkey in a favorable light, which statement was presented to the Turkish
parliament in order to induce a vote in favor of the American position.
Norman Liss; CEO of HSBC Bank; Prime Minister Ergodan of
Turkey; Jack Rosen, President, American Jewish Congress
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Arranged for Turkey’s Deputy
Permanent Representative to the United Nations to receive media exposure
to present Turkey in a better light to induce the Turkish parliament to
support the American position.
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Arranged for and hosted a
luncheon for Turkey’s Prime Minister Ergodan during his one day stop in
New York on his first trip to visit President Bush at the White House in
2004.
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Portugal |
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Israel |
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Participated in a high level
foreign ministry-approved mission to Lebanon at the end of the
Israeli-Lebanese war. As part of the mission, he interviewed Phalangist
representatives concerning the Shatila and Sabra camp killings and
submitted a written report to Congressmen Weiss, Biaggi and Garcia.
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Became personally known to
Prime Minister Rabin of Israel and had several private meetings with him,
discussing both politics and Israel’s participation in Operation Sail.
Norman Liss and Prime Minister Rabin
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Organized and chaired a rally for Israel featuring
Comptroller Abraham Beame, Assistant to President Kennedy Theodore
Sorensen and Congressman Ottinger.
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Panama |
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Russia |
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EVENTS |
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Was retained to create an
alternate Olympics to be held in the Philippines during the Carter
administration following President Carter’s withdrawing American
participation in the Russian Olympics. The Olympic Committee never
approved the alternate Olympics although the White House approved it.
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As a member of the Host
Committee, organized a tour of 25 buses of Convention delegates to the
Democratic Convention of 1980 in New York, which culminated with their
attendance at a Yankees game at Yankee Stadium, and the reading of a
Proclamation from Second Base welcoming the delegates to New York.
Gene McHale, President, New York Yankees; Elston Howard, former Yankees
catcher; Former Mayor Ed Koch; Former Bronx Borough President Stanley
Simon; Bob Tisch, Chairman of the Citizens Committee for the National
Democratic Convention in 1980; Tisch assistant; Norman Liss (from left to
right)
Bronx Borough President Stanley Simon, Norman Liss, and
Gene Michael, General Manager, New York Yankees
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Arranged for and served as a
host to Convention delegates at the Republican Convention in 2004 on their
trip to Ellis Island.
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At the request of the U.S.
Coast Guard Academy, organized and hosted a series of Law Days on the
Coast Guard Barque Eagle, attended by judges, prosecutors and public
officials.
Administrative
Judge of Bronx County Burton Roberts;
Walter Cronkite; Admiral
John Linnon; Norman Liss
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Arranged for Walter Cronkite
to speak before the Respect for Law Alliance dinner and on the Barque
Eagle in 1994, to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the D-Day
invasion.
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At the request of the Coast
Guard, communicated and presented material to the media in Normandy,
France, at the commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the
D-Day invasion, in 1994. The material underscored the Coast Guard’s role
in the D-Day invasion. As part of that event, arrangements were made with
Tom Brokaw’s producers to have Tom Brokaw televised from a Coast Guard
cutter looking towards Normandy.
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Arranged for the original
Magna Carta to be displayed at Lehman College during the Bicentennial of
the U.S. Constitution.
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EXHIBITIONS AND
COMMEMORATIONS |
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Organized a ceremony on the
Coast Guard Barque Eagle at the South Street Seaport and arranged for
former Chief Justice Warren Burger to present awards to children who had
written compositions about the U.S. Constitution for a Scholastic Magazine
contest.
Former Chief Justice Warren Burger and Norman Liss
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Arranged for the
rededication of the Deed to the Statue of Liberty by President Ronald
Reagan and President Mitterand of France at 12:00 noon on July 4, 1986 on
Governor’s Island, New York. Received a commendation from President
Reagan for that accomplishment.
President Ronald Reagan and French President François Mitterand
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Was a guest at the White
House to attend the appointment of Lee Iacocca as Chairman of the U.S.
Statue of Liberty/Ellis Island Commission and was a guest for lunch at the
Navy Mess at the White House on several occasions.
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Arranged for the noted
sculptor Erte to distribute his sculpture version of the Statue of Liberty
on behalf of the NYS Statue of Liberty Commission and served as host at
Trump Tower of an Erte/Brooke Shields event for the Statue of Liberty.
Brooke Shields and Norman Liss
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SERVICE ON BOARDS,
COMMITTEES AND COMMISSIONS |
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Ellis Island Restoration Commission |
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Serves as Chairman of
Development of the Ellis Island Restoration Commission that brought to the
attention of the Department of Interior the need to restore Ellis Island
as a museum commemorating the history of the Island and the contributions
of immigrants to the growth of America.
Standing: Joseph Brechner; Norman Liss; far right: Tex McCrary, all of
the Ellis Island Restoration Commission;
Seated: Philip Lax, President of the Commission; Cecil Andrus, Secretary
of Interior
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In 1980, the Commission
entered into an agreement with the Secretary of Interior for the
restoration of Ellis Island.
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The Commission campaigned
for and succeeded in arranging for the creation of the Family History
Center at Ellis Island, where the computerized records of the manifests of
16 million Americans can be found.
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Received a commendation from Senator, then
Congressman, Charles Schumer for having achieved the creation of Family
History Center.
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After conceiving of and lobbying for the passage of a bill before the United States Congress to name the third floor library at Ellis Island the "Bob Hope Memorial Library", the bill was passed by the House and Senate and was signed into law by President George W Bush. An announcement was made at Ellis Island on November 24, 2008 of the creation of the Library, with a temporary exhibition. The formal opening and full exhibition will take place in April 2010.
Norman Liss with Congressman Eliot Engel, principal House sponsor of the bill, on November 24, 2008, the day the Bob Hope Memorial Library was announced at Ellis Island.
Bob Hope
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Arranged for the family
arrival records of General Colin Powell to be researched and presented
said records to General Powell at Ellis Island.
Jacqueline Beusse; General Colin Powell; daughter Linda Powell; Brian
Andersson, Commissioner of Records, City of New York, who researched the
General's family's records; Norman Liss
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Expertise and Presentations of the Declaration of Independence
and its Signing |
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Served as Chairman of the
Historical Documents Committee of Operation Sail in 1986, commemorating
the 100th anniversary of the Statue of Liberty. Organized an
exhibition at Federal Hall in New York of liberty documents from 27
countries, which exhibit included an original Magna Carta, original
Declaration of Independence, the original deed to the Statue of Liberty,
the Emma Lazarus poem, and the constitutions and liberty documents from
countries around the world.
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Presented and displayed
Princeton University’s copy of the Declaration of Independence on July 4,
1986 on the Coast Guard Barque Eagle and Norman Lear’s copy of the
Declaration of Independence in 2000 on Operation Sail days on the Hudson
River.
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Received a commendation from
former Chief Justice Warren Burger for a published article about the
Declaration of Independence.
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Other Public Services, Boards and Involvements |
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Serves as an Honorary Chair of a Magna Carta exhibition at Fraunces Tavern in New York.
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Served as a member of the
New York City Commission for the Bicentennial of the United States
Constitution.
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Served as Chairman of
Historical Documents for Operation Sail.
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Served on an Advisory Committee to Congressman James Scheuer to select candidates for the U. S. Naval Academy.
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Member of the United States Supreme Court Historical Society.
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Member of the Friar's Club.
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Served as a member of the
Host Committee for the 1980 Presidential Democratic Convention in New
York.
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Served as President of the
American Jewish Congress, Bronx Division, for 12 years before leaving over
disagreements with the organization’s Israel policy and recommending the
resignation of the entire Board, which accepted his recommendation.
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Served as Chairman of the
UJA Bronx Lawyers Division.
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Serves as Executive Vice
President of the Riverdale Chapter of B’Nai B’Rith.
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Served as Journal Chairman
of the NYS Trial Lawyers Division of UJA.
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Served as a member of the
Regional Board of the Anti Defamation League.
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Serves as a member of the
National Executive Committee of the American Jewish Congress.
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Serves as a Trustee of the
American Jewish Historical Society.
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Serves as a member of the
American-Israel Public Affairs Committee.
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Served as an arbitrator for
the American Arbitration Association.
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Served on the New York City
Mayor’s Advisory Committee for the Handicapped.
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As Chairman of the Bronx
County Bar Law Day Committee, created and organized the
largest Court Law Day in the United States, now in its 16th
year, with more than 50 judges and lawyers visiting more than 50 schools
in Bronx County.
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Arranged for a California
group, raising funds to build a 9/11 memorial in California, to obtain
girders from the World Trade Center disaster for the memorial.
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Served as a consultant for
the Medal of Honor Society of Charleston, South Carolina, for the purpose
of obtaining a change in the name of the medal being awarded by another
organization, and to call upon President Clinton not to receive the medal
until the change was made.
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Helped organize the Wall
Street rally against the Vietnam War.
Washington Rally of the Association of the Bar of the City of New York
Against the Viet Nam War. Senator Jacob Javits speaking. In the crowd,
Congressman James Scheuer conversing with Norman Liss.
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Organized and hosted
Congressman Jonathan Bingham’s retirement concert at Lehman College.
Former Mayor Ed Koch
and Norman Liss
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Arranged for and sponsored
two selected high school students to visit Israel annually during the
summer months on behalf of B’Nai B’Rith.
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Sports Involvements |
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Arranged for a promotional
tape in the Yankees clubhouse of Ron Guidry promoting Bronx County and the
New York Yankees.
John Dunn, New York Telephone; Bronx Borough President Stanley Simon;
Yankees pitcher Ron Guidry; Norman Liss; with two young Yankees fans
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Created and organized
clinics with players of the New York Yankees in high schools in Bronx
County, with leading Yankees speaking to students about sportsmanship and
how to play a variety of positions.
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Conceived the concept of the
baseball fans purchasing the New York Yankees team and organization from
the Yankees through the purchase of shares of the team. The idea received
widespread media coverage and support by the Borough President and members
of Congress.
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Organized and served as
Commissioner of the Riverdale Synagogue Softball League and arranged for
members of the New York Yankees to present awards on World Series Day.
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Arranged for Bronx Little
League teams to receive equipment from the New York Yankees.
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PUBLIC SERVICE,
COMMENDATIONS AND HONORS |
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Received a commendation from
the New York State Lawyers’ Fund for Client Protection that states:
“Your generosity and
skills as a lawyer contributed greatly to the successful prosecution of
your client’s claim, and we are all indeed grateful to you and your firm
for this contribution of public service.”
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Received the Meritorious
Public Service Award from the U.S. Coast Guard, which read as follows:
“for his continuing
support of Coast Guard Academy public affairs initiatives. Since his
initial involvement with the Coast Guard during Operation Sail in 1986,
Mr. Liss has taken an active interest in the Academy and EAGLE. He has
spent countless hours away from his busy law practice to gain exposure
for the service among influential special interest groups. Of
particular note, Mr. Liss played a major part in establishing a Law Day
celebration aboard EAGLE for Federal and state judiciary in New York
City. The twice held event was an effective means of positioning EAGLE
in a major market. Mr. Liss’ groundwork set the stage for annualizing
this prominent public relations activity. Beyond his more visual
contributions, Mr. Liss has played an integral behind-the-scenes role in
promoting the service. His subtle liaisons helped maintain the Coast
Guard’s position of prominence in George Washington’s Inaugural
Bicentennial Celebration. By his selfless hard work, his persistence
and his commitment to excellence, he has upheld the highest traditions
of the United States Coast Guard.
THE COMMANDANT
In recognition of notable
services which have assisted greatly, in furthering the aims and
functions of the Coast Guard, the Coast Guard takes pleasure in awarding
the Meritorious Public Service Award to Norman Liss.”
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As a Lt. Colonel in the New
York Guard JAG Unit, he received a commendation from Brigadier General
Hashem, who is positioned in Iraq, as follows:
"For dedicated service and
commitment to the men and women of the Armed Forces, this Certificate of
Appreciation recognizes you for going above and beyond the call of duty
in support of the 353rd Civil Affairs Command.”
“Your tremendous
expression of support the day that the troops departed in support of
Operation Iraqi Freedom serves as a cornerstone to our Command’s ability
to maintain a high level of Espirit De Corps while we pursue
international peace in support of our nation’s interest.”
“On behalf of our troops,
we thank you for making it your business to achieve and maintain
excellence in the service of our troops, their families, and the Civil
Affairs Community.”
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LTC Liss received a Defense
of Liberty Medal and Certificate for his services to the State of New York
following the attack on America on 9/11.
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LTC Liss was
Officer-in-Charge of Coast Guard Legal Services in the Metropolitan area
of New York.
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POLITICS AND
MISCELLANEOUS ACTIVITIES |
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As an activist in Democratic
politics, he played a key role in eliciting Jonathan Bingham to enter the
Democratic primary for Congress in the 23rd Congressional District against
Congressman Charles Buckley and played a leading role in the successful
primary and election of Jonathan Bingham to the U.S. House of
Representatives.
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As an early supporter of
Robert Kennedy for the U.S. Senate in New York, he participated in the
campaign and accompanied Kennedy on campaign stops in his successful
campaign.
First article about Robert Kennedy as a possible candidate for the U.S.
Senate, referring to Norman Liss and one of Kennedy's former prosecutors,
Jay Goldberg.
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Served as a campaign manager
and played a key role in other campaigns on a local and national level.
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Has been invited to all
presidential inaugurations since 1964.
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Was part of a small group
that recommended and campaigned for Steven Smith, John F. Kennedy’s
brother-in-law, in a little known campaign for Mayor of the City of New
York.
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ARTICLES |
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He has written published
articles on a variety of subjects, including presidential inaugurations,
the Declaration of Independence, and political and historical
commentaries.
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His essay on Israel is
contained in the Alan Dershowitz book, “What Israel Means To Me,” along
with the essays of Larry King, Ed Koch and other prominent individuals.
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DIVERSE BACKGROUND |
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During his law school
attendance at NYU, he co-wrote, produced and directed the first “Law
Revue” of any major law school.
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Created and served as Emcee
of the Bronx County Bar Holiday Parody of Lawyers Who Advertise.
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BAR MEMBERSHIPS |
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Bronx County Bar Association
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New York State Bar
Association
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New York State Trial Lawyers
Association
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American Bar Association
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Association of Trial Lawyers
of America
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United States Supreme Court
Historical Society
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