Hon. Lucy A. Billings See Rating Details

Supreme Court
New York County
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Attorney Average Rating:   8.7 - 18 rating(s)
Non-Attorney Average Rating:   3.0 - 2 rating(s)
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General Rating Criteria

* Temperament (1=Awful,10=Excellent)
* Scholarship (1=Awful,10=Excellent)
* Industriousness (1=Not at all industrious,10=Highly industrious)
* Ability to Handle Complex Litigation (1=Awful,10=Excellent)
* Punctuality (1=Chronically Late,10=Always on Time)
* General Ability to Handle Pre-Trial Matters (1=Not all Able, 10=Extremely Able)
* General Ability as a Trial Judge (1=Not all Able, 10=Extremely Able)
Flexibility In Scheduling (1=Completely Inflexible,10=Very Flexible)


Criminal Rating Criteria (if applicable)

* Evenhandedness in Criminal Litigation (1=Demonstrates Bias,10=Entirely Evenhanded)
General Inclination Regarding Bail (1=Pro-Defense,10=Pro-Government)
Involvement in Plea Discussions (1=Not at all Involved, 10=Very Involved)
General Inclination in Criminal Cases Pretrial Stage (1=Pro-prosecution,10=Pro-defense)
General Inclination in Criminal Cases Trial Stage (1=Pro-prosecution,10=Pro-defense)
General Inclination in Criminal Cases Sentencing Stage (1=Pro-prosecution,10=Pro-defense)


Civil Rating Criteria (if applicable)

* Evenhandedness in Civil Litigation (1=Not at all Evenhanded,10=Entirely Evenhanded)
Involvement in Settlement Discussions (1=Not at all Involved,10=Very Involved)
General Inclination (1=Pro-defendant, 10=Pro-plaintiff)
Comments


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What others have said about Hon. Lucy A. Billings


Comments


Litigant

Comment #: NY12748
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
I had a case against a bank with Judge Lucy Billings. She seemed to dismiss just to act like she understands. No matter how much I explained to her, she seemed not to understand financial concerpts and commonsensical things. In the end she dismissed my case but wrote a a lengthy decision with almost 25 reasons why she dismissed it. I had to appeal each and reason. Her decisions are written persuasively and convincingly and appear to be just and correct. Only when you know the case, you will notice it is just stupid, misapplication of statues, she ignores certa statues, adds on or she twists some of the facts inorder to dismiss the case. I had to return for an adjourned date, because whenever I gave facts that are very common knowledge or supposed to be common sense, she would require a code to prove it. It's so difficult to explain to someone that will not listen unless she is familiar with it. I noticed Judge Lucy Billings knows to little about life. She replies on codes, and is very good on simple or obvious cases. She definitely can't handle complex cases. She dismisses to get the case out of the way of simple cases. It's almost like she knows the appeal court will agree with her decisions, as long as she makes it look like she knows what she is doing.

Litigant

Comment #: NY11205
Rating:Not Rated
Comments:
I totally agree with the previous post!! If Judge Billings has a simple case she understands AND can find many cases to support her decision, she is probably a great judge and you'll be happy with her...otherwise, at this stage, she is in her 70's and really should retire (she needs a hearing aide and requires you to practically scream in court for her to hear you, and i think her other cognitive skills may also be failing)....she is cantankerous, nasty and moody one day and professional and fair on another ..it really depended on whether or not it would be easy for her to make a decision on your case... I am having to appeal my case, because she ended up misapplying a statute and cited cases that do not REALLY apply to my specific situation..and she made several other bogus claims in her final decision too... her final decision was sloppy although very well written/crafted, appearing to be very well meaning and reasoned; it was actually just a quick kill, convenient to get me off her plate without making it too easy for me to appeal. I am hoping the appellate court is fair and can see that she was biased and ruled incorrectly out of sheer convenience (because i believe she knows what she did was total BS)...although i was awarded a judgement it was not a reasonable sum that anyone would have bothered suing for...it was a ridiculous waste of time and money to sue..as a small business owner it is distressing to know that the NY court system wont be there to help you when you are suing for money owed from clients...and that the rich will just continue to get richer with the assistance of the Manhattan Supreme court system and Judges like Lucy Billings...I am basically afraid to do business in NYC and will look to relocate my business ASAP...

Other

Comment #: NY10870
Rating:6.0
Comments:
While Judge Billings is efficient at reading lengthy cases. When she confronts a case she does not understand she dismisses the case to be on the safe side and twists the case to suit her judgement. Even proved wrong by litigants she anchors to her opinion dismisses the case to counteract your disagreement. I had a financial case , and she could not understand simple financial concepts. When confronted with commonsencial explanations she counters with she needs a legal code to prove what you saying. I brought the legal code after adjournement, but she carefully selected only the codes for her reason to dismiss and ignored the other codes for my case. She was hurt to discover I knew more about the case than her. It is almost like she knows by dismissing cases there is little chance of winning because upper courts usually agree with lower courts. When she does not know about a case, she dismisses it .
I know that justice was not served to me due to Judge Billings ignorance.

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: NY10506
Rating:7.4
Comments:
Judge Billings is pleasant to work with but seems to have acquired a strong bias favoring the City and overreaching regulation, and against due process, civil rights and small business. Took nearly two years for a decision in an Art. 78.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: NY9724
Rating:10.0
Comments:
I just finished a 3 week employment retaliation trial before Judge Billings. She is one of the best judges I have tried a case before. I have 18 years of trial experience throughout the country. There was not one day she didn't try to bring the parties closer together in settlement. Every ruling was well thought out and fair. Each side was given a fair opportunity to put their position forward. Objections were well thought out and reasoned. Very fair. Very sharp and was on top of every question and answer. Gave equal respect to both plaintiff and defendant (rare) The jurors loved her.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: NY9718
Rating:9.9
Comments:
Superb even handed jurist who is steeped in the facts and the law of your case. She cares. Not afraid to make a ruling. Writes with clarity and precision. We need more like her.

Civil Litigation - Govt.

Comment #: NY8767
Rating:1.0
Comments:
It's not okay to be this hostile to companies and governments, no matter how polite and reserved a judge may be. Sophistry, thy name is Lefty Lucy.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: NY7444
Rating:5.0
Comments:
I do not know what these other attorneys are smoking while writing these reviews but I would like some. I can state unequivocally that Lucy Billings while very nice is not a very good or efficient judge. I had a case about 10 years ago where she conducted a three-day traverse hearing in a City Civil Court matter on a default by a defendant that was at that time 5 years old.

Litigant

Comment #: NY5019
Rating:1.0
Comments:
Because of Judge Billings refusing to enter a default ruling in my pro se civil action, I have spent nearly two years in New York's shelter system. I spent all of my savings fighting for justice; I lost my apartment and had my civil rights violated by Judge Billings's unjust actions.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: NY4355
Rating:9.4
Comments:
I tried a case before Judge Billings and was pleasantly surprised by her fair and respectful treatment of all parties and attorneys, her punctuality, hard work, sharp legal acumen and great judicial temperament . She is a great trial judge who strives hard to do justice for the litigants before her. She is a star judge in the judiciary and I wish more judges could follow her example.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: NY3489
Rating:9.7
Comments:
The consummate professional. On time, courteous and polite and prepared. Refreshing to be in her courtroom.

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: NY3375
Rating:9.6
Comments:
I had two trials before Judge Billings. Very smart, even-handed judge with excellent temperament who moved the trials along but respected everyone's schedules and pressures. She knows the law and treats both plaintiffs and defendants fairly. Would love to have her as a trial judge again.

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: NY3206
Rating:7.6
Comments:
professionally courteous, good insight, and fair handed for trial. let's you try you case and truly considers briefs on the issues.

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: NY2811
Rating:7.9
Comments:
Smart, hard working and fair but is a little too meticulous on oral argument and conferences. Wastes a lot of time.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: NY2704
Rating:9.7
Comments:
Brilliant judge. Knows the law. Knows the facts of the case. She ruled against me on a pretrial motion. I still hold her in the highest respect.

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: NY2673
Rating:10.0
Comments:
The best State Judge I have tried a case before and one of the best judges I have ever tried a case before. I try 90% of my cases in Federal Court where most of the Judges are knowledgeable about the law on the subject. She allows you to try your case, invites briefs and arguments on difficult issues and, win or loose on an issue, you are totally at peace with her decision and the reasoning behind it.

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: NY2253
Rating:9.4
Comments:
Unlike many of the other psychotic and incompetent judges in the New York City court system, Justice Billings is a wonderful person who treats the attorneys with respect and renders good decisions.

I had a case before her where I moved for summary judgment in a Labor Law 240 and 241 case. Justice Billings denied my motion. Despite loosing this motion, I found her decision to be well reasoned and detailed. It was obvious that she did her homework and read all the transcripts thoroughly.

Moreover, she denied my motion for a reason that none of my adversaries even were smart enough to advocate. Although I don’t like loosing motions, this one was deserved.

In sum, Justice Billings is a hard working good judge that treats attorneys with respect unlike many other judges in New York City.

Civil Litigation - Govt.

Comment #: NY1917
Rating:10.0
Comments:
She asks good questions and clearly has read and understood the papers before arguments. Gracious demeanor. The Bronx will miss her, as she's moved to Manhattan.

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Comment #: NY1040
Rating:10.0
Comments:
Brilliant woman, extraordinary judge. Innovative, polite, hard-working and effective. Reads your motion papers, understands the arguments, and likely knows your case as well as you do. We need more like her.

Civil Litigation - Private

Comment #: NY248
Rating:9.7
Comments:
I can not say enough nice things about this Judge. She went above and beyond for the attorneys on my case. She took a very active role in resolving our case and ultimately brought about a fair resolution. She then permitted the attorneys to sit in her (empty) Courtroom until nearly 6 p.m., to draft the settlement papers, while she sat at the bench offering assistance. She had an amazing temperament, knowledge of the law and had no pretense about sitting with counsel and effectively negotiating the settlement.