Comment #: NY13577
Rating:2.4
Comments:
Used this former judge as an arbitrator, who charged an absurd and unwarranted $750 per hour. While she has impressive credentials, she is not fit to be an arbitrator or even a lawyer. She is 85 years old and may be suffering from earlier stage dementia. She could not remember things she said five minutes earlier. Also, she took an extreme liking to my opponent who can be very charming, despite being a dishonest snake who works for a small firm that is full of total snakes. Although I ultimately prevailed on the merits of the case, as I should have, she still reduced my award by six figures -- she announced this reduction in her decision as justified because I had filed a motion without first getting her permission and because she considered my actions in challenging my scummy opponent (who was my co-counsel on a major case involving millions of dollars) to unduly extend the duration of the arbitration, which was complete B.S. She refused to order my co-counsel to even produce the emails he exchanged privately with our mutual client, denying me crucial evidence. I still proved he was making major lies. He had secretly and improperly teamed up with our opposing counsel against me for their own mutual purposes and benefit. His sole goal was to cheat me out of my share of the attorney fees he had secretly negotiated and obtained in settlement (he refused to even disclose the amount to me, which Freedman eventually required). This judge/arbitrator not only was mostly indifferent and unmoved by my co-counsel's seriously unethical, even criminal conduct but prohibited me from reporting such conduct to the Grievance Committee, judge, and everyone else in the world. Needless to say, she should be avoided at all costs. She is a complete nightmare.

Comment #: NY12245
Rating:2.4
Comments:
She can't tell right from wrong when it requires hard work to understand the nuances of issues. She has preconceived notions of who should win, and shapes the case to fit her feelings.

Comment #: NY12244
Rating:1.0
Comments:
terrible. She was not current on financial terms, conditions, or concepts. She was opinionated, and stubborn. She ruled based on her feelings not on the facts and agreements before her. She refused to allow in important evidence. She modified agreements even though the contracts expressly and clearly stated she could not. She does not understand financial statements at all, and does not read key provisions of the Agreements that disagree with the conclusion she wants to generate
She leaves out sections of Agreements that disagree with her point of view.

She is not clear of mind, nor balanced in approach. JAMS should retire her immediately because she gives it a bad name. She is neither fair nor reasonable.

Avoid Helen Freedman-whatever talent she may have had as an arbiter of justice is long gone.

Comment #: NY933
Rating:9.4
Comments:
She is one of the brightest judges of all. She handles the complex litigation in New York County, and is very knowledgeable and interested in complex stuff. I like her, though my experience with her is not that extensive.

Comment #: NY756
Rating:6.9
Comments:
Big heart, generally favors human plaintiffs, good temperament

Comment #: NY522
Rating:1.7
Comments:
Bad judge. In my experience, biased towards defendants or party with money.

Comment #: NY514
Rating:1.5
Comments:
A loose cannon and very unpleasant to appear before.