Primoff Apologizes for Leaving Kids

Madlyn Primoff, 45, was given a break by City Court Judge Eric Press who adjourned her case and agreed to dismiss it and seal it Nov. 9 if Primoff behaves. She was arrested on one count of endangering the welfare of a child, a misdemeanor. Primoff was accused of abandoning her 10-year-old daughter in White Plains, NY after she drove off and left the child on the curb, three miles from home. See details here.

"Clearly, I made a mistake," Primoff said outside court, her husband Richard standing beside her. "But I truly love our children and I know that I am a good parent."

Prosecutor Audrey Stone said Primoff was "engaged in family therapy" and was not considered a danger to the children. Defense attorney Vincent Briccetti said later that Primoff intended merely to drive around the block and pick the girls up, but they were gone when she returned.

Her actions prompted a national debate on how to handle unruly children as seen in the clip below.

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Mom Leaves Kids on Roadside

Madlyn Gleich Primoff, 45, of 36 Olmstead Road, Scarsdale, NY did what just about every parent has threatened to do at one point or another - she ordered her two warring daughters out of the car and drove off leaving them behind. She was charged with endangering the welfare of a child, a misdemeanor and released on minimal bail.

Madlyn Primoff is a prominent Park Avenue lawyer, a partner at the law firm of Kaye Scholer LLP located at 425 Park Avenue New York, NY. Her expertise is in Bankruptcy & Creditor/Debtor Rights. She works in the Business Reorganization and Creditors' Rights Practice Group and has clients such as Bank of America, Merrill Lynch and Wells Fargo, according to the firm's website. She lives with her husband and daughters in a $2 million home in an upscale neighborhood. She is not the type of person one would expect to abandon her kids - but she did!

According to police, Sunday evening (4/19/09) Madlyn was travelling through downtown White Plains with her two daughters aged 10 and 12 when she could no longer take the bickering coming from the two quarrelling siblings. She stopped the car at the intersection of Post Road and South Broadway and ordered both of them to get out of the car. She then drove off leaving the two girls behind.

The 12-year-old, after realizing that her mom intended to leave them there, ran after the car, caught up to it and was allowed to get in. Madlyn then drove off leaving the 10-year-old behind.

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Madlyn Primoff left her 10-year-old daughter in White Plains, which is about 3 miles from their home in Scarsdale. The exact route to her home is laid out on the map. It is a 7 minute trip by car. However, walking at a normal pace, it would take about one hour to cover that distance. Did Madlyn really expect her 10-year-old to find her own way back home?

A stranger found the little girl wandering on nearby Mamaroneck Ave, bought her some ice cream and called the White Plains police. The little girl was able to give the police her mother's name and address.

Shortly afterward Scarsdale police notified the police in White Plains that the mother had just called to report the 10-year-old as missing. The White Plains police told them that the girl was safe and sound and in their custody at police headquarters.

Madlyn, accompanied by her husband and other daughter, showed up at headquarters later that evening. She was immediately arrested and a temporary order of protection was issued, barring her from contact with the girls. The District Attorney's office said she was arraigned Tuesday on one count of endangering the welfare of a child, a misdemeanor, and released on minimal bail.

Barry Willner, managing partner of Kaye Scholer, said in a statement:

"Madlyn Primoff is a very well respected partner at our firm, and we consider this matter to be personal and private."

A man who answered the phone at the Primoff's home said she would not be commenting.