“Kung Fu Judge”

NY Daily News had an article about Judge “Kung Fu” Phillips who died at a nursing home as a result of neglect and negligence.  Prospect Park Residence – where Judge John Phillips lived for eight months until his death two years ago – refused to give him a diabetic menu and frequently missed giving him required insulin shots.

Phillips – known as the “Kung Fu judge” during his 17 years on the Civil Court bench for his habit of making martial arts moves in court – died at 83 in February 2008 after collapsing in a Prospect Park Residence elevator.

Phillips’ nephew, the Rev. Samuel Boykin, who is managing his estate, said he noticed signs of trouble soon after Phillips moved into the Prospect Park West nursing home.  He insisted poor care – not just advancing age – led to Phillips’ decline, noting the judge was “a health fanatic.”

“My uncle was a 10th-degree black belt in Asiatic martial arts,” he said. “He never drank. He never smoked cigarettes. He went to bed every night at 8 o’clock.