New York City Comptroller Scott M. Stringer Appoints Marjorie Landa As Deputy Comptroller For Audits

NEW YORK, NY-New York City Comptroller Scott M. Stringer today announced the appointment of Marjorie Landa as Deputy Comptroller for Audits, a crucially-important post in his office that conducts audits and other analyses of City-funded operations to reduce the cost of local government, improve the quality of services and maintain the integrity of New York City’s government.

Landa previously was Deputy Commissioner for Legal Affairs and General Counsel to New York City’s Department of Investigation.

“I am proud to announce the appointment of Marjorie Landa as Deputy Comptroller for Audits, because she will bring extraordinary experience in legal investigations, government oversight, citywide management and reform, agency operations and administration to this post, which has the responsibility of examining all New York City departments,” said Comptroller Scott M. Stringer.

“Conducting audits of City departments, uncovering waste and abuse, and pointing the way toward reforms is one of the Comptroller’s most vital responsibilities, and I know that Marjorie Landa will tackle these challenges with great energy and insight, given her remarkable track record over 25 years.”

Since 2002, Ms. Landa served as Deputy Commissioner for Legal Affairs/General Counsel for New York City’s Department of Investigation, the nation’s largest municipal anti-corruption agency, which includes 45 departments, 233 employees and a budget exceeding $29 million. Among many responsibilities, she counseled the agency on legal issues including criminal and civil procedure, conflicts of interest, forfeiture and restitution, and the agency’s unique legal authority; she conducted complex and sensitive investigations, drafted reports, made criminal and civil referrals, and developed recommendations to address systemic problems. She provided strategic guidance citywide to agency counsel and managers on conflicts of interest, contracting and other issues.

Prior to that, Ms. Landa was Deputy Chief in the Office of the Corporation Counsel, Affirmative Litigation Division. In that capacity she managed 25 lawyers and 11 support staff in all aspects of plaintiff’s litigation, and coordinated the Division’s fraud and corruption cases, including litigation and restitution requests. She served as lead counsel in high-profile cases including fraud, civil RICO, False Claims Act, intergovernmental funding, commercial and civil rights cases, recovering $63 million in settlements and judgments. She also assisted in the development and implementation of the City’s expedited death certificate program for persons missing due to the World Trade Center attacks, directing a team of more than 100 attorneys that led to the issuance of more than 2,000 court-ordered death certificates in the first two months.

Earlier, from 1983-1986 she was an Associate at Kostelanetz and Ritholz, representing clients in criminal and civil litigation in both federal and state court, with a focus in white-collar criminal defense, along with special emphasis on tax matters and civil tax litigation.

Ms. Landa earned a B.A. in American History and Literature from Harvard University, and a J.D. from New York University School of Law, where she was a Root Tilden scholar.

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