Title: In Re Herbstman

State: new-jersey

Issuer: New Jersey Supreme Court

Document:

84 N.J. 485 (1980) 421 A.2d 592 IN THE MATTER OF CLIFFORD N. HERBSTMAN, AN ATTORNEY-AT-LAW. The Supreme Court of New Jersey. Argued September 9, 1980. Decided November 3, 1980. *486 Richard J. Engelhardt, Staff Attorney, argued the cause for complainant Disciplinary Review Board. Irwin I. Kimmelman argued the cause for respondent (Kimmelman, Wolff and Samson, attorneys). PER CURIAM. We are satisfied, based on our own independent review of the record, that the factual findings and conclusions of the Disciplinary Review Board are correct and we adopt them. They read as follows: The Disciplinary Review Board recommended that respondent be suspended from the practice of law for six months. The respondent presented in his appendix certain documents which were not in evidence, consisting of copies of two memoranda from the office of the Clerk of the Superior Court and ten letters relating to respondent's attempts to file the assignment of the Carroll Manufacturing Company judgment to Ken Monk. Normally we would disregard information submitted in this manner which is violative of our Rules. R. 1:20-4(a). However, respondent in his oral argument before the Disciplinary Review Board referred to the reasons for the delay in recordation. Because of the importance which respondent ascribes to this material, we have considered it. Accepting the contention that respondent attempted to file the assignment in December 1976 *494 does not affect our conclusion. The fact remains that the attempt was made to satisfy that judgment by levying on the trust funds in respondent's hands in November 1977. Safeco's position with respect to those funds had been made perfectly clear to respondent. Relying on a general indemnity agreement made in November 1974, Safeco's counsel claimed in a letter to respondent dated September 2, 1977 that Safeco had an absolute right to the funds. This position was restated in letters to respondent dated September 26, 1977 and October 25, 1977. On November 4, 1977, respondent received a third party complaint in which Safeco as the third party plaintiff charged that respondent was holding "as trust funds certain contract balances in connection with the Saddle Brook Mall Project." It was under these circumstances that respondent certified to the Court on November 17, 1977, that the funds belonged to Ken Monk Construction Corp., intentionally omitting any reference to the Safeco claim. It was a material omission. It was misleading and deceitful. The respondent is hereby suspended from the practice of law for a period of six months. He shall also reimburse the Administrative Office of the Courts for the cost of the transcripts incident to this matter. For suspension- Chief Justice WILENTZ and Justices SULLIVAN, PASHMAN, CLIFFORD, SCHREIBER, HANDLER and POLLOCK-7. Opposed-None. It is ORDERED that CLIFFORD N. HERBSTMAN of Lincoln Park be suspended from the practice of law for six months and until the further order of this Court, effective December 1, 1980; and it is further *495 ORDERED that CLIFFORD N. HERBSTMAN be and hereby is restrained and enjoined from practicing law during the period of his suspension; and it is further ORDERED that respondent comply with all the regulations of the Disciplinary Review Board governing suspended, disbarred or resigned attorneys.