Monsey, NY - Lawyer Adult Home Official Files Claim Against County

Monsey, NY - A lawyer for Yizchok "Yitzy" Ullman, the Monsey adult home official accused of threatening residents to make them vote for certain Democrats on primary absentee ballots, has filed a notice of claim against the county.

A prerequisite to a lawsuit, the claim asserts that the county illegally discussed with the media its investigation into Ullman. "This press 'leak' was unlawful," reads the claim drawn up by the lawyer, Mark Kurzmann.
The notice charges that Democratic Board of Elections Commissioner Ann Marie Kelly abused her office by spreading "misinformation and/or disinformation concerning baseless allegations against Yizchok Ullman." The county also "intentionally or negligently failed to train and supervise their personnel in the proper conduct of an investigation of alleged violations of the Election Law," according to the claim.
Kurzmann also accuses Kelly of threatening Ullman, the home's administrator, but would not elaborate.

Election inspectors, sent last month to collect absentee primary ballots at the New Monsey Park Home for Adults, reported to Kelly and Republican Board of Elections Commissioner Joan Silvestri that residents there said they received slips of paper with the names of four candidates and were told to vote for them or lose their television privileges.
Ullman denied any wrongdoing and said last month that he had recommended those candidates after some residents asked him whom they should vote for.

Ullman lost a bid for Spring Valley mayor in last year's Democratic primary.