I’ve done tough jobs and done them well

To the editor:

It is juicy to imply that my husband Oliver Koppell is the reason I get court appointments. (“Lorraine Coyle is queen of Bronx court appointments,” March 7)

Few people would call me a slackard in the world of law. You failed to note that I am known as an elder law attorney; I am a member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, former board member of the NYSBA Elder Law committee; that my practice concentrates in guardianships, trust and estates and real estate; that I lead a study group of elder law attorneys and am a member of another study group of attorneys in the field; that I was on the Law Review in law school, graduated on dean’s list; won the New York State Client Counseling Competition and came in No. 2 in the entire state when I took the New York State bar exam. I then worked in the corporate department of a Wall Street law firm until my daughter was born. 

You should have pointed out that some people who get appointments actually are well-qualified. 

It is true that I have received appointments from judges in the Bronx, but your article correctly pointed out I have received just about as many appointments from judges outside the Bronx — judges for whom my marital status is irrelevant and who don’t know to what political club I am affiliated. Is it possible, just possible, that there are many judges who like to appoint people who they know are qualified and can be trusted to handle the work properly? The answer is yes.

I was surprised to read the article about my handling receiverships. The former managing agent said he saw the building go from gold to garbage. 

Is there anyone on the face of this planet who believes that a building in the South Bronx that is in receivership is gold? I don’t think so. 

What Chaim Glick fails to note is that when I took over the building there were chickens running loose in the basement; there were drug dealers as tenants; and then the furnace was in such bad shape that we actually had to have temporary trucks outside of the building for a long time to ensure heating. 

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