❓WHAT HAPPENED: A close ally of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani (D), Ali Najmi, who serves as chairman of the Mayor’s Advisory Committee on the Judiciary, is linked to a law firm accused of engaging in a massive insurance fraud scheme.
👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Ali Najmi, Mayor Zohran Mamdani, and Liakas Law, PC, alongside critics like Tom Stebbins of the Lawsuit Reform Alliance of New York.
📍WHEN & WHERE: Najmi joined Liakas Law in October 2025, just before Mamdani’s election. The federal lawsuit against the firm was filed last week in Brooklyn.
💬KEY QUOTE: “The last thing they [New Yorkers] need is a Shelly Silver part two.” – Tom Stebbins
🎯IMPACT: Ethical concerns and potential conflicts of interest arise as Najmi holds sway over judicial nominees while connected to a law firm accused of fraud.
Ali Najmi, a key political ally to New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani (D) and chairman of the Mayor’s Advisory Committee on the Judiciary, is under scrutiny for his connection to Liakas Law, PC. The Manhattan-based personal injury firm is accused in a federal lawsuit of running a “fraudulent enterprise” targeting immigrants and vulnerable individuals through sham lawsuits and inflated medical bills.
Najmi, who joined Liakas Law as “Special Counsel” in October 2025, has denied involvement in the allegations, stating, “I am not associated with the frivolous litigation attack against the firm which started long before I joined.” However, critics, including Tom Stebbins of the Lawsuit Reform Alliance of New York, have raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest given Najmi’s dual roles with the city government and the firm.
“The last thing they New Yorkers need is a Shelly Silver part two,” Stebbins said, adding, “The potential conflicts of interest here are innumerable.” Sheldon Silver, the former New York Assembly speaker, faced corruption charges for his “Of Counsel” position at a law firm while steering judicial appointments and blocking tort reform.
The lawsuit against Liakas Law, filed in Brooklyn federal court last week, alleges that the firm recruited plaintiffs, including illegal immigrants, to fake accidents and injuries. The suit also claims the firm used falsified medical documentation to inflate claims, with examples of plaintiffs exaggerating injuries while later being photographed engaging in physical activities.
One plaintiff, who claimed he was unable to put on underwear without assistance, was reportedly seen celebrating at a bar and playing soccer shortly after his testimony. In addition to the fraud allegations, Liakas Law is facing a federal False Claims Act lawsuit for unlawfully obtaining $1.09 million in PPP loans, with damages potentially reaching $3.29 million.
Join Pulse+ to comment below, and receive exclusive e-mail analyses.