Justice Denied 5 Years – Help Fund EDNY 2:20-cv-03361 Orrego v. Knipfing et al.

Help fund my fight against workplace abuse, retaliation, and judicial misconduct.
(Kevin Knipfing a/k/a Kevin James)

All descriptions and characterizations herein are based on court filings, judicial orders, administrative decisions, and publicly reported coverage, including Bloomberg (Patrick Dorrian, October 1, 2021), Law360 Employment Authority (Beverly Banks, October 1, 2021), and international media in Hispanic countries and Europe.

EDNY Case 2:20-cv-03361 Allegations: Hostile Work Environment, Discrimination, Retaliation Judge Gary R. Brown (2021): “Case proceeds on documented evidence.” ✅

In plain words, according to District Judge Gary R. Brown, Kevin James and Stephanieanna James-Knipfing failed to protect me or take any corrective action as my employers. The Judge’s order recognized that the abuse I suffered was pervasive and severe, forcing me to seek help and report the mistreatment. Corrective action should have included stopping discriminatory practices, developing better household policies, providing training or guidance to household staff, offering remedies such as reinstatement, Workers’ Compensation medical treatment, and reasonable accommodations for any disabilities or medical needs. Instead of addressing these violations, they terminated my employment, which I allege constituted retaliation just days after I filed a formal complaint — through the non-existent entity “Old Westbury LLC” — worsening the harm I suffered.

Our advocacy: Ensuring that the court-recorded findings are recognized and respected. ⚖️

Summary:
I, Lidia Orrego, worked as a domestic worker for Kevin Knipfing, a/k/a Kevin James, and Stephanieanna James-Knipfing, a/k/a Steffiana de la Cruz, in their private home in Old Westbury, NY, from January 2018 to November 2018. During that time, I was subjected to pervasive physical and emotional assaults, verbal abuse, harassment, retaliation, and violence, all based on my race.

Much of the mistreatment was allegedly directed by Teresa A. Zantua (“Zantua” / “TAZ”), as reported in my complaint, with the Knipfings aware of some incidents. Judge Brown found my retaliation claims plausible only against the Knipfings and the corporate entities, not against Zantua. I submitted extensive documentary evidence, including text messages, emails, recordings, transcriptions, medical records, and the investigative report of my co-worker Rebeca Uzcategui a/k/a Lugo, who filed a similar complaint in 2017. This report was concealed from me and never disclosed prior to discovery. These documents were filed in support of my Summary Judgment motion, and notably, the Uzcategui report was the only document missing from the Summary Judgment papers submitted by Kevin James’ counsel, Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani LLP ("GRSM").

Following my November 2, 2018 complaint, I was suspended and then terminated. Judge Brown recognized the temporal proximity and found plausible retaliation claims against the Knipfings and the corporate entities. Judge Brown recognized that the Knipfings and the corporate entities may be liable for retaliation and hostile work environment, based on the record; however, Zantua was not found to have directly caused actionable retaliation or termination.

H. District Judge Gary R. Brown Order ECF doc. [30], E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 20-cv-3361 (SJB) (AYS) notes that the basis for federal jurisdiction includes Retaliation and Hostile Work Environment under 42 U.S.C. § 1981 and the New York State Human Rights Law (NYSHRL) against Kevin James, Stephanieanna James-Knipfing, their corporation Old Westbury EDDIE LLC, the non-existent entity Old Westbury LLC, and Zantua.

Kevin James’ counsel, GRSM, filed notices in 2020 and documents on behalf of “Old Westbury LLC.” In November 2025, GRSM confirmed that this entity does not exist. These filings raise serious questions about the representations made to the Court and the accuracy of the entities referenced in the case. Notably, Kevin James had previously signed documents on behalf of Old Westbury LLC, and GRSM had filed notices of representation for the entity, highlighting a discrepancy that affects the record and accountability in these proceedings.

Abandonment by My Counsel (Conflict of Interest Undisclosed):
WCB Case No. G2584330 is factually related to EDNY Case No. 2:20-cv-03361 and stems from the same underlying employment and alleged retaliation.

My counsel, Pasternack Tilker Ziegler Walsh Stanton & Romano LLP, abandoned my case on June 17, 2021, without a formal court order to withdraw under Workers’ Compensation Law, leaving me without legal representation and forcing me to continue Pro Se. Prior to signing the retainer, they failed to disclose a conflict of interest, as they were also a client of GRSM, counsel for Kevin James.

This abandonment involved multiple associates and employees, including but not limited to:
• Pasternack Tilker Weitz & Luxenberg LLP
• Edgar N. Romano, Esq.
• Ginu Jacob, Esq.
• Rochelle Jean-Baptiste, Esq.
• Sam Cohen, Esq.
• Joseph Mercurio, Esq.
• Andrew Ziemianski
• Matthew Funk, Esq.
• Matthew Furey, Esq.
• Lewis Heller, Esq.
• Mariana Vizuete
• Corina Jimenez

What You’re Funding:
✓ Medical bills for WCB Case No. G2584330 were disallowed due to alleged irregularities and disputed actions reflected in the administrative record, involving the following individuals and entities referenced in connection with filings, decisions, or related proceedings:

• Kevin James (a/k/a Kevin Knipfing) Real Employer
• Stephanieanna James-Knipfing (a/k/a Steffiana de la Cruz) Real Employer
• Steve Savitsky - Kevin James' Manager
• Skylar Testa (Kevin James’ Assistant)
• Teresa A. Zantua
• New York Marine & General Insurance Company
• CCMSI (Cannon Cochran Management Services, Inc.)
• Defense counsel Marc Neuman of Cipriani & Werner, P.C.
• Jason Hochfelder MD (IME)
• First Choice Evaluations LLC (IME)
• WCLJ Barry Greenberg
Reason: My real employers are Kevin James and Stephanieanna James-Knipfing, but the termination letter was issued through a fictitious/non-existent entity, as reflected in the record, raising serious questions regarding compliance and accountability. In the WCB Case G2584330, my employer filed as "Full Shimmee Inc." (Ecase record), an unrelated company, which resulted in the denial of my Workers’ Compensation claim for lack of Domestic Worker coverage, as reflected in the ECase record. The termination letter is disputed and was issued by an entity that the record indicates does not exist, raising questions about its authenticity and purpose.

✓ Legal filings, motions, and litigation costs in ongoing federal and WCB proceedings, including Summary Judgment, Second Circuit Interlocutory Appeals, and reopening of WCB cases.

✓ Investigation and documentation of irregularities in the court through the non-existent entity Old Westbury LLC, confirmed by Kevin James’ counsel in November 2025.

✓ Filing Writs of Mandamus against "recused" District Judge Sanket J. Bulsara and Magistrate Judge Anne Y. Shields after prior Writs have remained pending since July 2025, in violation of FRAP 8(a), 21, 27(b), and Fifth Amendment due process.

✓ Advocacy and presentation to Congress alongside over 30 other victims of the NYS Workers’ Compensation system, exposing alleged systemic irregularities, misconduct, and due process concerns, as reflected in NYSCEF Index 72335 (Jason Hochfelder v. NYS WCB), including allegations of coordinated concealment and lack of transparency involving:
• Governor Kathy Hochul
• NYS Attorney General Letitia James
• Multiple state agencies and officials

This content is based on public court-filed evidence in an active case (EDNY 2:20-cv-03361); these are real records submitted under penalty of perjury. This is not legal advice. ⚠️

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