Appellate Division celebrates 50 years of Civil Appeals Management Program

The Appellate Division, Second Department, marked a milestone on Wednesday by celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Civil Appeals Management Program (CAMP) at its headquarters in Brooklyn Heights. 

The event was led by Presiding Justice Hector LaSalle, along with several prominent figures, including Associate Justice Cheryl Chambers and retired Associate Justices Joseph Covello and Gabriel Krausman. They discussed the program’s pivotal role in managing and resolving appeals for the past half-century.

Justice LaSalle praised the program for its impact on the court’s efficiency, noting that CAMP has been crucial in helping limit the number of appeals and easing the burden on one of the busiest appellate courts in the country. He highlighted the dedication of Justice Chambers, who has overseen the program’s success in recent years. 

“If you are talking about CAMP or any mediation efforts in this court, there is no one I count on more than Justice Chambers,” Presiding Justice LaSalle said. He added that without the cooperation of attorneys who engage in good faith, the program would not have been as successful, attributing its achievements to both the referees and the commitment of the legal community.

CAMP was created in 1974 to facilitate settlements and encourage the resolution of appeals before they proceed through the full appellate process. Its establishment was driven by the need to alleviate the court’s heavy caseload by promoting dialogue and negotiation among litigants. Today, CAMP is recognized as one of the oldest and most successful settlement programs of its kind in the nation.

During the ceremony, Justice Chambers described CAMP’s impact over the decades, pointing out that “impressively, 45% of cases are fully withdrawn before perfection, which allows litigants to enjoy cost savings by avoiding the need to perfect an appeal.” She called the day “Anne Pope Day” in honor of Anne Pope, the principal Appellate Court attorney, who has been instrumental in the program’s administration.

Pope, who spoke at the event, was joined by other distinguished speakers, including Brian Isaac, managing partner of Pollack, Pollack, Isaac & DeCicco, LLP, and Joel Sweetbaum, partner at Sweetbaum & Sweetbaum. Both discussed the program’s role in enhancing the efficiency of the court system and its positive impact on countless litigants by facilitating fair and expedited resolutions.

Justices Covello and Krausman, both of whom have seen the program evolve over their tenures, reflected on the early days of CAMP and how it has matured into a vital component of the appellate process. They acknowledged the collaborative efforts between the justices, referees and attorneys that have made CAMP a cornerstone of the Second Department’s ability to manage its heavy dockets effectively.

The CAMP program begins by selecting cases for settlement conferences based on an initial review of documents when the appeal is filed. Those selected are scheduled for a conference before a Special Referee, where all parties, including attorneys with full authority to settle, must be present. 

The program is known for its emphasis on early dialogue, providing litigants an opportunity to resolve disputes without the expense of perfecting appeals. If a settlement is reached, the appellant submits a letter to the court withdrawing the appeal, concluding the matter before it proceeds further in the judicial process.