Associate Alon Sugarman Discusses Personal Connection to Disability Rights Case

In the Media  |  August 28, 2025

New York Law Journal

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Associate Alon Sugarman has spoken to the New York Law Journal [PDF] about his pro bono work representing a client who alleges his landlord has failed to make accommodations for a disability — an issue that resonates deeply with Alon, who faced similar challenges after losing a leg to childhood cancer.

Alon’s client, a 73-year-old former NYC corrections officer who can no longer access his fifth-floor walk-up due to declining health, has been requesting a ground-floor apartment or other accessible unit for more than a decade. The lawsuit claims the landlord has ignored his repeated requests. Alon is representing the client together with Gibson Dunn partner Christopher Belelieu, in partnership with Legal Services NYC.

Alon told the publication that witnessing a family friend advocate for his return to school after his cancer treatment inspired him to study law, and that his personal experience gives him a unique perspective on the case: “Everyone has different barriers in their lives, and part of overcoming those obstacles is what gives you insight.”