{{Short description|American judge (1927–2019)}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Ira Gammerman | office = Justice, New York Supreme Court, Manhattan | birth_date = {{Birth date|1927|7|30}} | birth_place = New York City, US | death_date = {{Death date and age|2019|1|26|1927|7|30}} | death_place = New York City, US | term_start = 1983 | term_end = 2004 | office2 = Judge, New York City Civil Court | office1 = Judicial Hearing Office, New York Supreme Court, Manhattan | term_end2 = 1983 | term_start2 = 1979 | term1 = 2004-2018 | education = Columbia College (1947)<br> Columbia Law School (J.D. 1950) }}
'''Ira Gammerman''' (July 30, 1927 - January 26, 2019) was an American judge who served as a trial division judge on the New York Supreme Court in Manhattan for over 20 years, and then for another 14 years as a Judicial Hearing Officer after his judicial retirement. He was one of the first specialized business court judges in New York City and the United States. He oversaw thousands of cases, including numerous high-profile cases.
== Judicial service == Gammerman was first elected in 1979 as a judge to the New York City Civil Court where he served until 1983. In June 1983, he was appointed as a justice of the New York Supreme Court in Manhattan, and was elected to that position later in 1983.<ref>Supreme Court of the State of New York Commercial Division, Biographies of the Justices, Hon. Ira Gammerman, Fifth Anniversary of the Establishment of the Commercial Division, November 8, 2000</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Margolick |first=David |date=1983-02-27 |title=SUIT FILED TO ABOLISH MEDICAL MALPRACTICE PANELS |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1983/02/27/nyregion/suit-filed-to-abolish-medical-malpractice-panels.html |access-date=2024-08-10 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=1983-10-15 |title=THE CITY; AIDS Doctor Gets Stay of Eviction |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1983/10/15/nyregion/the-city-aids-doctor-gets-stay-of-eviction.html |access-date=2024-08-10 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Lynn |first=Frank |date=1983-09-26 |title=BRONX LIBERAL LEADER TO SUPPORT 2 JUDGES REJECTED BY DEMOCRATS |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1983/09/26/nyregion/bronx-liberal-leader-to-support-2-judges-rejected-by-democrats.html |access-date=2024-08-10 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=1978-11-09 |title=Court Elections in the City |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1978/11/09/archives/court-elections-in-the-city-supreme-court.html |access-date=2024-08-11 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>
In 1993, Administrative Judge Stanley S. Ostrau established pilot Commercial Parts in the New York County (Manhattan) Supreme Court.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Stanley Ostrau |url=https://history.nycourts.gov/biography/stanley-ostrau/ |access-date=2024-05-12 |website=Historical Society of the New York Courts |language=en-US}}</ref> This was a specialized business court program with a jurisdiction focused on disputes of a business and commercial nature. The original four judges assigned to this pilot business court were Gammerman, Myriam Altman, Herman Cahn, and Beatrice Shainswit,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Felsenthal |first=Edward |title=It's All Business For Novel Court Now in Session, Wall Street Journal (January 15, 1993)}}</ref> with Walter M. Schackman replacing Altman in 1994.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Wise |first=Daniel |date=January 9, 1995 |title=Commercial Parts Earn High Marks |journal=New York Law Journal |volume=215 |issue=5}}</ref> Gammerman began actively handling pilot part cases as a business court judge on January 4, 1993.<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal |last=Buchanan |first=Rosemarie |date=March 1993 |title=All-biz court zaps a bunch, The News Front |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/23288843?read-now=1#page_scan_tab_contents |journal=Business Law Today |volume=2 |issue=4 |pages=49}}</ref>
Two years later, New York Chief Judge Judith S. Kaye established a Commercial Division within the Supreme Court. The new Commercial Division was first established in Manhattan's Supreme Court,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Commercial Division - NY Supreme Court - New York County Home |url=http://www.nycourts.gov/courts/comdiv/ny/newyork.shtml |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190226103433/http://www.nycourts.gov/COURTS/ComDiv/NY/newyork.shtml |archive-date=2019-02-26 |access-date=2019-03-02 |website=www.nycourts.gov}}</ref> and in the 7th Judicial District (Rochester, Monroe County) Supreme Court.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Commercial Division - 7th Judicial District, New York State Unified Court System |url=https://ww2.nycourts.gov/courts/comdiv/7thdistrict.shtml}}</ref> Like the pilot commercial parts, the new Commercial Division had a specialized jurisdiction focusing on complex business and commercial disputes, with one specialist business court judge overseeing a case from beginning to end. As to judges selected to the Commercial Division, "[t]he caseload of the Division is ... very demanding, requiring of the court scholarship in commercial law, experience in the management of complex cases, and a wealth of energy."<ref>{{Cite web |title=Supreme Court - Commercial Division - History |url=http://www.nycourts.gov/courts/comdiv/history.shtml |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190211152517/http://www.nycourts.gov/courts/comdiv/history.shtml |archive-date=2019-02-11 |access-date=2019-03-02 |website=www.nycourts.gov}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=PART 202. Uniform Civil Rules For The Supreme Court And The County Court {{!}} NYCOURTS.GOV |url=http://ww2.nycourts.gov/rules/trialcourts/202.shtml#70 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190311145022/http://ww2.nycourts.gov/rules/trialcourts/202.shtml#70 |archive-date=2019-03-11 |access-date=2019-03-02 |website=ww2.nycourts.gov}}</ref>
In 1995, the four commercial pilot part judges (including Gammerman), plus Justice Stephen G. Crane, became the first five justices assigned to the new Manhattan Commercial Division.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Wise |first=Daniel |date=October 11, 1995 |title=Supreme Court Commercial Division Set Up |journal=New York Law Journal |volume=1, 6}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Crane |first=Administrative Judge Hon. Stephen G. |date=November 7, 1996 |title=Supreme Court Civil Branch New York County Commercial Division |url=https://www.businesscourtsblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/New-York-County-Commercial-Division-Report-11.7.96.pdf}}</ref> Gammerman continued to serve in the Commercial Division until his mandatory judicial retirement in 2004 at age 76, altogether serving over ten years as a business court judge.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=2019-01-28 |title=Ira Gammerman, a Commercial Division Founder, Dies at 91 |url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/ira-gammerman-commercial-division-founder-063157812.html |access-date=2024-08-10 |website=Yahoo Finance |language=en-US}}</ref>
Gammerman continued to serve on the Supreme Court and the Commercial Division beyond judicial retirement, in the role of Judicial Hearing Officer (JHO). A person has to have been a judge or justice to be accepted as a JHO under New York law.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Section 850 - Designation of judicial hearing officers, N.Y. Jud. Law § 850 {{!}} Casetext Search + Citator |url=https://casetext.com/statute/consolidated-laws-of-new-york/chapter-judiciary/article-22-judicial-hearing-officers/section-850-designation-of-judicial-hearing-officers#:~:text=Subject%20to%20the%20provisions%20of%20subdivision%20three%20of,necessary%20to%20expedite%20the%20business%20of%20the%20courts. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240811161603/https://casetext.com/statute/consolidated-laws-of-new-york/chapter-judiciary/article-22-judicial-hearing-officers/section-850-designation-of-judicial-hearing-officers#:~:text=Subject%20to%20the%20provisions%20of%20subdivision%20three%20of,necessary%20to%20expedite%20the%20business%20of%20the%20courts. |url-status=dead |archive-date=August 11, 2024 |access-date=2024-08-10 |website=casetext.com}}</ref> Further, even if accepted by the court as a JHO, an individual can only serve as a JHO in a specific case if all parties consent, meaning that parties would now be choosing Gammerman to oversee or rule in their cases.<ref name=":2">{{Cite news |last=Carr |first=David |date=2004-04-13 |title=In His Court, He's Judge, Lawyer and Director; Verdicts and Wisecracks at a Speedy Clip |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/04/13/nyregion/his-court-he-s-judge-lawyer-director-verdicts-wisecracks-speedy-clip.html |access-date=2024-08-10 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite journal |last=Loomis |first=Tamara |date=November 4, 2003 |title=Take-Charge Judge Is Ture to His Reputation in the 'Rosie' Dispute |journal=New York Law Journal |pages=1}}</ref>
As a JHO, Gammerman could be called upon to make the same kinds of decisions he would make as a judge. He continued carrying a significant volume of cases in the Commercial Division, while also presiding over some non-commercial matters in the Supreme Court's general assignment part.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Zambito |first=Thomas |date=2011-03-31 |title=Dozens of retired judges working as part-time judicial hearing officers are laid off |url=https://www.nydailynews.com/2011/03/31/dozens-of-retired-judges-working-as-part-time-judicial-hearing-officers-are-laid-off/ |access-date=2024-08-10 |website=New York Daily News |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Grant |first=Jason |date=January 28, 2019 |title=Ira Gammerman, a Commercial Division Founder, Dies at 91 |url=https://www.law.com/newyorklawjournal/2019/01/28/ira-gammerman-a-commercial-division-founder-dies-at-91/ |access-date=2024-08-11 |website=New York Law Journal |language=en}}</ref> Gammerman was still serving as a JHO until his 2018 retirement, less than a year before his death in January 2019.<ref>{{Cite web |title=News and Announcements, New York State Unified Court System, 1st JD Supreme Court, Civil Branch, New York County |url=https://ww2.nycourts.gov/courts/1jd/supctmanh/news_%26_announcements.shtml}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Mendez |first=Judge Manuel J. |date=September 26, 2018 |title=ASRR Suzer 218, LLC v Barbes Rest. Inc., Supreme Court New York County, 2018 NY Slip Op 32395(U), Docket Number: 650154/17 |url=https://cases.justia.com/new-york/other-courts/2018-2018-ny-slip-op-32395-u.pdf?ts=1538429448}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=February 4, 2019 |title=In Memorium: Ira Gammerman, New York City Bar 44th Street Notes Week of February 4, 2019 |url=https://www2.nycbar.org/htmlemail/44thST/Notes_020419.html#:~:text=Retired%20New%20York%20State%20Supreme,survived%20by%20his%20wife,%20Hon. |access-date=2024-08-11 |website=www2.nycbar.org}}</ref>
As a judge and JHO, he was known for his industriousness, decisiveness, alacrity, wit, and intelligence.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" /><ref name=":3" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Haig |first=Robert L. |date=May 15, 2019 |title=Fondly Remembering Justice Ira Gammerman: He Was 'New York County's Rocket Docket' |url=https://www.law.com/newyorklawjournal/2019/05/15/fondly-remembering-justice-ira-gammerman-he-was-new-york-countys-rocket-docket/ |access-date=2024-08-11 |website=New York Law Journal |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |date=Fall 2004 |title=Rules, Guidelines, and Personal Preferences: Commercial Division Judges Discuss Procedural Issues in Complex Litigation |url=https://nysba.org/NYSBA/Publications/Section%20Publications/Commercial%20and%20Federal%20Litigation/NY%20Litigator/PastIssues2000present/Fall2004/Fall2004Assets/NYLitigatorFall04.pdf |journal=NYLitigator |volume=9 |issue=1 |pages=18–34}}</ref> Gammerman served on the Association of Justices of the Supreme Court of the State of New York's Pattern Jury Instructions Committee for 25 years, being described by Justice Helen Freedman as a "dominating force" on that committee.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=Freedman |first=Helen |date=May 20, 2019 |title=Noting Justice Gammerman's Contribution to Jury Instructions |url=https://www.law.com/newyorklawjournal/2019/05/20/noting-justice-gammermans-contribution-to-jury-instructions/ |access-date=2024-08-10 |website=New York Law Journal |language=en}}</ref> He also was a member of Chief Judge Judith Kaye's jury selection reform project.<ref name=":5">{{Cite journal |last=McMahon |first=Colleen |last2=Kornblau |first2=David L. |date=1995 |title=Chief Judge Judith S. Kaye's Program of Jury Selection Reform in New York |url=https://scholarship.law.stjohns.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1411&context=jcred |journal=St. John's Journal of Legal Commentary |volume=10 |issue=2 |pages=264}}</ref>
== Noteworthy cases == Gammerman heard thousands of cases in his career as a judge and JHO.<ref name=":1" /> He oversaw or decided a considerable number of high-profile lawsuits in the New York Supreme Court, including the following, among others;
* a wrongful death suit by Andy Warhol's estate against New York Hospital (1991)<ref>{{Cite news |date=1991-12-23 |title=Warhol Heirs Settle Suit With Hospital |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1991/12/23/nyregion/warhol-heirs-settle-suit-with-hospital.html |access-date=2024-08-11 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> * A DES (diethylstilbestrol) lawsuit against pharmaceutical companies brought by 11 women whose mothers had taken that drug during pregnancy, to the detriment of daughters born to them (1994)<ref>{{Cite news |agency=The Associated Press |date=1994-01-09 |title=Jury Awards $42.3 Million To Women in Drug Lawsuit |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/01/09/nyregion/jury-awards-42.3-million-to-women-in-drug-lawsuit.html |access-date=2024-08-10 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> * a suit by The Ronettes against American Express and ad agency Ogilvy and Mather over use of the song ''Be My Baby'' (1995)<ref>{{Cite news |last=Newman |first=Melinda |date=April 8, 1995 |title=Ronettes win a round in legal bout |work=Billboard}}</ref> * a suit between actress Joan Collins and the publisher Random House Books (1996)<ref>{{Cite web |date=February 29, 1996 |title=Judge to Random House: Give Joan $1.2M - UPI Archives |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1996/02/29/Judge-to-Random-House-Give-Joan-12M/2190825570000/ |access-date=2024-08-10 |website=UPI |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=1996-02-29 |title=JUDGE THROWS THE BOOK AT PUBLISHER: COLLINS GETS MORE |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1996/02/29/judge-throws-the-book-at-publisher-collins-gets-more/ |access-date=2024-08-10 |website=Chicago Tribune |language=en-US}}</ref> * a financial dispute between Leona Helmsley and Peter L. Malkin concerning control of the Empire State Building (1997)<ref>{{Cite news |last=Bagli |first=Charles V. |date=1997-06-26 |title=Court Date Is Set In Helmsley Fight |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/06/26/nyregion/court-date-is-set-in-helmsley-fight.html |access-date=2024-08-11 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> * class action lawsuits against software maker Intuit based on Year 2000 concerns over potential catastrophic software failures (1998)<ref>{{Cite news |date=1998-12-08 |title=Year 2000 Suit Against Intuit Is Dismissed |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/12/08/business/year-2000-suit-against-intuit-is-dismissed.html |access-date=2024-08-10 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> * a suit over royalty payments allegedly due from recordings made by Jimi Hendrix<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Lichtman |first=Irv |date=May 1, 1999 |title=Judge drops key elements of PPX's Hendrix suit. |magazine=Billboard |volume=118 |issue=18}}</ref> * a dispute over the city's effort to avoid strict zoning limits on residential developments in Manhattan's SoHo neighborhood that only allowed for housing "artists-in-residence" (1999)<ref>{{Cite news |last=Stamler |first=Bernard |date=1999-01-24 |title=NEIGHBORHOOD REPORT: SOHO; Judge Blocks Artist-less Buildings |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1999/01/24/nyregion/neighborhood-report-soho-judge-blocks-artist-less-buildings.html |access-date=2024-08-11 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> * a suit by then New York Attorney General Dennis Vacco against the Apollo Theater Foundation, whose board was headed by Congressman Charles B. Rangel, to put the famed Apollo Theater into receivership (1999), in which Gammerman allowed Percy Sutton to intervene<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Browne |first=J. Zamgba |date=February 25, 1999 |title=Vacco suit thrown out; Rangel, Sutton vindicated: Victory for Apollo |journal=New York Amsterdam News |volume=90 |issue=9}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Boyd |first=Herb |date=July 15, 1999 |title=Percy Sutton intervenes in state action against Apollo Foundation |journal=New York Amsterdam News |volume=90 |issue=29}}</ref> * a suit involving investment bank Salomon Smith Barney's right to advise North Fork Bancorp on a $1.88 billion hostile takeover bid for Dime Bancorp (2000)<ref>{{Cite news |date=2000-04-06 |title=Takeover Advice Barred, Bloomberg News |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2000/04/06/nyregion/metro-business-takeover-advice-barred.html |access-date=2024-08-11 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> * a suit by American composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheim and writer John Weidman against producer Scott Rudin over the production of a play<ref>{{Cite news |last=McKinley |first=Jesse |date=2001-12-05 |title=Sondheim Sues to Proceed With His Show 'Gold!' |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/12/05/nyregion/sondheim-sues-to-proceed-with-his-show-gold.html |access-date=2024-08-11 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> * a dispute over insurance coverage between AXA Reassurance and Chase Manhattan Bank in connection with losses on the 2000 movie, ''The Crew''<ref>{{Cite journal |last=McLeod |first=Douglas |date=December 17, 2001 |title=Film litigation not following AXA's script |journal=Business Insurance |volume=35 |issue=51}}</ref> * filmmaker Woody Allen's lawsuit against film producer Jean Doumanian for money allegedly owed from a number of movies they made together (2002)<ref>{{Cite web |date=2002-06-11 |title=Woody Allen Lawsuit Settled |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/woody-allen-lawsuit-settled/ |access-date=2024-08-10 |website=CBS News |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":2" /> * a dispute over the disposition of $417.5 million raised in stock sales by WellChoice, the holding company for insurance company Empire Blue Cross and Blue Shield, in the context of converting from a non-profit to a for-profit entity (2002)<ref>{{Cite news |last=Freudenheim |first=Milt |date=2002-11-09 |title=Judge Freezes Proceeds Raised From Health Insurer's Stock Sale |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/11/09/business/judge-freezes-proceeds-raised-from-health-insurer-s-stock-sale.html |access-date=2024-08-10 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Freudenheim |first=Milt |date=2002-10-09 |title=State Gives Empire Blue Cross Approval for a For-Profit Switch |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/10/09/nyregion/state-gives-empire-blue-cross-approval-for-a-for-profit-switch.html |access-date=2024-08-10 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> * a suit brought by Fox News when its news anchor Paula Zahn moved to CNN (2002)<ref>{{Cite news |last=Carter |first=Bill |date=2002-03-26 |title=Judge Dismisses Fox News Suit Over Anchor's Defection to CNN |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/03/26/business/judge-dismisses-fox-news-suit-over-anchor-s-defection-to-cnn.html |access-date=2024-08-10 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Carter |first=Bill |date=2003-05-01 |title=Fox Loses Round in Its Suit Over Anchor's Move to CNN |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/05/01/business/fox-loses-round-in-its-suit-over-anchor-s-move-to-cnn.html |access-date=2024-08-10 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> * a civil case in which Gammerman recused himself after learning one of the parties, real estate developer Abraham Hirschfeld, had allegedly sought to have Gammerman killed by a hitman (2002)<ref>{{Cite news |last=Saulny |first=Susan |date=2002-08-03 |title=Hirschfeld Suspected of Ordering Deaths of 7 More, the Police Say |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/08/03/nyregion/hirschfeld-suspected-of-ordering-deaths-of-7-more-the-police-say.html |access-date=2024-08-11 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |agency=The Associated Press |date=2002-03-19 |title=Metro Briefing {{!}} New York: Manhattan: Judge Quits Hirschfeld Case |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/03/19/nyregion/metro-briefing-new-york-manhattan-judge-quits-hirschfeld-case.html |access-date=2024-08-10 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Peterson |first=Helen |date=2002-08-03 |title=JUDGE SHRUGS OFF THREAT |url=https://www.nydailynews.com/2002/08/03/judge-shrugs-off-threat/ |access-date=2024-08-11 |website=New York Daily News |language=en-US}}</ref> * a suit between comedian and actress Rosie O'Donnell and her publishing partner over the failed ''Rosie'' magazine (2003)<ref name=":3" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=Newman |first=Maria |date=2003-11-12 |title=Rosie O'Donnell Case Ends Without a Winner |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/11/12/business/rosie-odonnell-case-ends-without-a-winner.html |access-date=2024-08-10 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Collins |first=Meghan |date=November 12, 2003 |title=No winner in Rosie O'Donnell court case |url=https://money.cnn.com/2003/11/12/news/companies/rosie/index.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031119034345/http://money.cnn.com/2003/11/12/news/companies/rosie/index.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 19, 2003 |access-date=2024-08-10 |website=money.cnn.com}}</ref> * a constitutional challenge to the charter of the Greek Orthodox Church (2004)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Eckstrom |first=Kein |date=2004-08-13 |title=Judge Dismisses Suit Over Greek Orthodox Constitution |url=https://religionnews.com/2004/08/13/news-story-judge-dismisses-suit-over-greek-orthodox-constitution/ |access-date=2024-08-10 |website=Religion News Service |language=en-US}}</ref> * a dispute over disposition of a restaurant developed for the reality television series ''The Restaurant'' (2004)<ref>{{Cite web |date=2004-07-27 |title=Rocco's restaurant to be sold or closed |url=http://www.today.com/popculture/roccos-restaurant-be-sold-or-closed-1C9480781 |access-date=2024-08-10 |website=TODAY.com |language=en}}</ref> * a suit by investor Jean-Pierre Lehmann against The Project over access/purchase rights to the artwork of Julie Mehretu (2005) <ref>{{Cite web |last=Grant |first=Daniel |date=2005-02-01 |title=Investor Wins Claim Against Manhattan Gallery |url=https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/investor-wins-claim-against-manhattan-gallery-2066/ |access-date=2024-08-10 |website=ARTnews.com |language=en-US}}</ref> * a suit by then New York State Attorney General Eliot Spitzer against Entercom Communications for alleged pay-to-play radio practices (2006)<ref>{{Cite web |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=2006-10-17 |title=Judge Denies Entercom Motion To Dismiss Payola Suit |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/judge-denies-entercom-motion-to-dismiss-payola-suit-1348996/ |access-date=2024-08-10 |website=Billboard |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2006-12-28 |title=Broadcaster Settles Lawsuit Over Payola, Bloomberg News |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/28/business/media/broadcaster-settles-lawsuit-over-payola.html |access-date=2024-08-11 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> * a breach of contract dispute between radio and television personality Howard Stern and the broadcast network CBS (2006)<ref>{{Cite news |date=2006-05-25 |title=CBS and Stern Said to Have Settled Lawsuit, Bloomberg News |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/25/business/media/25cbs.html |access-date=2024-08-11 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> * a suit between the Milstein real estate family and Prince Faisal ibn Khalid of Saudi Arabia and Pakistan Airlines Investments concerning financial obligations around the famous Roosevelt Hotel in New York (2006)<ref>{{Cite news |last=Bagli |first=Charles V. |date=2000-06-01 |title=Judge Rules Against Milsteins in Roosevelt Hotel Dispute |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2000/06/01/nyregion/judge-rules-against-milsteins-in-roosevelt-hotel-dispute.html |access-date=2024-08-10 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> * a lawsuit by news host, reporter, and anchor Dan Rather against the CBS network (2009)<ref>{{Cite news |last=Carter |first=Bill |date=2009-07-22 |title=Rather Wins Access to Thousands of Documents in Suit Against CBS |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/22/business/media/22rather.html |access-date=2024-08-10 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2009-09-22 |title=Judge Clears Testimony by Redstone in Rather Suit Against CBS |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/22/business/media/22cbs.html |access-date=2024-08-10 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Steinberg |first=Jacques |date=2008-04-11 |title=Parts of Rather's Suit Against CBS Dismissed |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/11/business/media/11rather.html |access-date=2024-08-10 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> * a suit brought by Prince Jefri Bolkiah of Brunei (a brother of the Sultan of Brunei) against his former lawyers (2010)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Seal |first=Mark |date=2011-06-23 |title=Prince Jefri: The Prince Who Blew Through Billions |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2011/07/prince-jefri-201107 |access-date=2024-08-10 |website=Vanity Fair |language=en-US}}</ref>
== Legal practice == Gammerman was admitted to law practice in New York in 1950.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Judge Ira Gammerman - Professional Background & Legal Expertise {{!}} Trellis.Law |url=https://trellis.law/judge/ira.gammerman |access-date=2024-08-10 |website=trellis.law}}</ref> As a lawyer in private practice, he practiced labor law in representing trade unions, and he tried personal injury cases.<ref name=":6">{{Cite web |title=Hon. Ira Gammerman, National Arbitration and Mediation |url=https://www.namadr.com/content/uploads/2016/09/NAMResume-Gammerman_Ira.pdf}}</ref>
== Education == Gammerman received his undergraduate degree from Columbia College in 1947, and his Juris Doctor degree from Columbia Law School in 1950.<ref name=":6" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Ira Gammerman · Columbia · - |url=https://opengovny.com/attorney/1008689 |access-date=2024-08-10 |website=opengovny.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Our Campaigns - Candidate - Ira Gammerman |url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/CandidateDetail.html?CandidateID=70070 |access-date=2024-08-10 |website=www.ourcampaigns.com}}</ref>
== Positions and honors == Gammerman held the following positions or received the following honors, among others;
* Pattern Jury Instructions Committee, Association of Justices of the Supreme Court of the State of New York<ref name=":4" /> * Member, Chief Judge's jury selection reform project<ref name=":5" /> * Jurist of the Year, Metropolitan Black Bar Association (2005)<ref name=":6" /> * Louis J. Capazzoli Gavel Award, New York County Lawyers Association (2004)<ref name=":6" />
== References == {{Reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gammerman, Ira}} Category:New York Supreme Court justices Category:21st-century American judges Category:Columbia Law School alumni Category:Columbia University alumni Category:20th-century New York state court judges Category:1927 births Category:2019 deaths