Michael L. Klein

Of Counsel
845.357.7900 (Main)

Services

Michael L. Klein is a distinguished attorney in the fields of trust & estates, elder law, real estate and zoning, and municipal law and is a frequent lecturer to attorneys and community groups on these topics. For 16 years, Michael served as Town Attorney to the Town of Ramapo – the largest of New York’s 932 town’s outside of Long Island. Michael is a member of the New York State and Rockland County bar associations, and the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA). He has served as chairperson of municipal law and elder law committees of the bar association, and was a consultant to the Rockland County Office for the Aging for many years. Michael also serves as an officer and director of the Rockland County Legal Aid Society, and has served on the boards of the Alzheimer’s Association, Home Aides of Rockland, the Ramapo Parks Foundation and the Ramapo Green Committee.

Professional Affiliations

  • National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA)
  • New York State Bar Association
  • Rockland County Bar Association
    • Chairperson, Municipal Law Committee
    • Chairperson, Elder Law Committee

Honors & Awards

  • “Best Elder Lawyers”, Hudson Valley Magazine, 2021 – 2022

Cited Cases

Goldfarb v. Town of Ramapo, 167 AD2d 1009 (2d Dept. 2018)

Matter of Cohen v. Town of Ramapo Building, Planning & Zoning Department, 150 A.D.3d 993 (2d Dept.  2017)

Darlington Realty, LLC v. Town of Ramapo, 151 A.D.3d 933 (2d Dept.  2017)

Matter of Sandoval v. Shah, 131 A.D.3d 1254 (2d Dept. 2015)

Matter of Stone Industries, Inc., v.  ZBA Town of Ramapo, 128 A.D.3d 973 (2d Dept. 2015)

Matter of the Application of Village of Sloatsburg v. Town of Ramapo Planning Board, Woodmont Properties, LLC, 17 N.Y.S.3d 386(Table) (Rkl Co. Sup. Ct. 2015)

Matter of Parietti v. Sampson, 117 A.D.3d 827 (2d Dept. 2014)

Matter of Sussex Condominium III v. County of Rockland Fair Housing Board, (4 A.D.3d 965 (2d Dept. 2011)

Matter of Board of Trustees, Village of Spring Valley v. Town of Ramapo, 694 N.Y.S.2d 712 (2d Dept. 1999)

Ramapo PBA on Behalf of Neil Sweeney v. Town of Ramapo, 228 A.D.2d 426 (2d Dept. 1996)

Matter of Burbridge v. Miele, 214 A.D.2d 669 (2d Dept. 1995)

Matter of Glick v. Summer 213 A.D.2d 403 (2d Dept. 1995)

Matter of Ramapo Carting Corporation v. Reisman, 192 A.D.2d 922 (2d Dept. 1993)

Matter of the Board Of Trustees, Village of Pomona v. Town of Ramapo, 171 A.D.2d 861 (2d Dept. 1991)

Matter of Property Valuation Analysts, Inc., v. Williams, 164 A.D.2d 131 (3d Dept. 1990)

Matter of Elevitch v. Colello, 168 A.D.2d 681 (2d Dept. 1990)

Matter of The Incorporation of the Village of Airmont v. Reisman, 144 A.D.2d 465 (2d Dept. 1988)

Matter of Spillman v. Town of Ramapo, 134 A.D.2d 266 (2d Dept. 1987)

Matter of Incorporation of the Village of Viola Hills v. Conklin, 129 A.D.2d 579 (2d Dept. 1987)

Matter of the Incorporation of the Proposed Village of Monsey v. Conklin, 133 A.D.2d 84 (2d Dept. 1987)

Matter of the Incorporation of The Proposed Village of Kaser v. Conklin, 123 A.D.2d 320 (2d Dept. 1986)

Prior Experience

  • Partner, Klein & Klein, PC, Suffern, New York
  • Town Attorney, Ramapo, New York
  • Attorney-In-Charge, Civil Division, Legal Aid Society of Westchester County, NY
  • Associate Counsel, Criminal Division, Legal Aid Society of Westchester County, NY

Civic & Charitable Activities

  • Rockland County Legal Aid Society
    • Officer
    • Board of Directors
  • Rockland County Office of the Aging, Consulting Attorney
  • Alzheimer’s Association
  • Home Aides of Rockland
  • Ramapo Parks Foundation
  • Ramapo Green Committee

Education

  • The National Law Center of the George Washington University, J.D., Honors, 1978
  • The State University of New York, Albany, B.A., magna cum laude, 1975

Admissions

  • New York