07-9054-am

In re Amy Gell

UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS

FOR THE SECOND CIRCUIT

SUMMARY ORDER

RULINGS BY SUMMARY ORDER DO NOT HAVE PRECEDENTIAL EFFECT. CITATION TO A SUMMARY

ORDER FILED ON OR AFTER JANUARY 1, 2007, IS PERMITTED AND IS GOVERNED BY FEDERAL

RULE OF APPELLATE PROCEDURE 32.1 AND THIS COURT’S LOCAL RULE 32.1.1. WHEN CITING

A SUMMARY ORDER IN A DOCUMENT FILED WITH THIS COURT, A PARTY MUST CITE EITHER THE

FEDERAL APPENDIX OR AN ELECTRONIC DATABASE (WITH THE NOTATION “SUMMARY ORDER”).

A PARTY CITING A SUMMARY ORDER MUST SERVE A COPY OF IT ON ANY PARTY NOT

REPRESENTED BY COUNSEL.

At a stated term of the United States Court of Appeals for

the Second Circuit, held at the Daniel Patrick Moynihan United

States Courthouse, 500 Pearl Street, in the City of New York, on

the 7th day of December, two thousand ten.

PRESENT:

José A. Cabranes,

Robert D. Sack,

Richard C. Wesley,

Circuit Judges.

_______________________________________ 

07-9054-am

In re Amy Gell, also known as 

Amy Nussbaum, 

Attorney. ORDER OF

GRIEVANCE PANEL 

_______________________________________ 

FOR AMY GELL: Richard M. Maltz, Esq., New York, New York.

UPON DUE CONSIDERATION, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED, ADJUDGED, AND

DECREED that the report of this Court’s Committee on Admissions and

Grievances (“the Committee”) is adopted, and AMY GELL, also known

as AMY NUSSBAUM, is PUBLICLY REPRIMANDED for the misconduct
2

described in the Committee’s report.

By order filed in August 2007, this Court referred Amy Gell to

the Committee for investigation of the matters described in that

order and preparation of a report on whether she should be subject

to disciplinary or other corrective measures. During the

Committee’s proceedings, Gell had the opportunity to address the

matters discussed in the Court’s referral order and to testify

under oath at a hearing held in October, November, and December

2008. Gell was represented during the Committee’s proceedings by

Richard M. Maltz, Esq. Presiding over the hearing were Committee

members Deirdre M. Daly, Esq., Evan A. Davis, Esq., and David B.

Fein, Esq. In May 2009, the Committee filed with the Court the

record of the Committee’s proceedings and its report and

recommendations. Thereafter, the Court provided Gell with a copy

of the Committee’s report, and Gell responded.

In its report, the Committee concluded that there was clear

and convincing evidence that Gell had engaged in conduct warranting

the imposition of discipline. Report at 1, 12. Specifically, the

Committee found that Gell had intentionally failed to comply with

the Court’s scheduling orders, resulting in the dismissal of a

substantial number of cases, and had practiced in this Court prior

to her admission to the Court’s bar. Id. at 12. Regarding the

default dismissals, the Committee noted Gell’s testimony that she

had made a strategic decision to default in the belief that it was
3

in the best interest of her clients:

 Having lost contact with many of these clients, she could

not get their consent to withdraw the appeal. Moreover,

her experience was that if the case went into default,

there remained an opportunity to pursue alternative

relief at a later date either in immigration court or the

Second Circuit, whereas if they withdrew the appeal, that

opportunity would most likely be lost. ... [Gell] also

testified that withdrawing as counsel was not a viable

option as it would require disclosure of the client’s

address and thus risk an arrest. Although there was no

testimony regarding individual defaulted cases, [Gell]

stated that she is confident that the petitioners were

helped rather than prejudiced by the defaults.

Id. at 8. 

The Committee found that various aggravating factors existed:

(1) Gell had engaged in a pattern of misconduct, which was

considered more serious since it was intentional; (2) she had

committed multiple offenses by filing petitions when she was not

admitted to the Court and then systematically violating scheduling

orders; (3) she is an experienced practitioner, having practiced

for over twenty years, who should have recognized and addressed her

misconduct; and (4) her immigrant clients were vulnerable victims.

Report at 12, citing American Bar Association, Standards for

Imposing Lawyer Sanctions (“ABA Standards”) § 9.22(c), (d), (h),

(i) (1986, amended 1992).

The Committee also found that Gell’s two prior admonitions,

imposed by the New York State Appellate Division, First Department,

constituted an aggravating factor. Report at 12-13, citing ABA

Standards § 9.22(a). In 2004, she was personally admonished for
4

missing a hearing that resulted in a deportation order for her

client, intentionally failing to move to reopen the hearing, and

failing to communicate with her client regarding her strategic

decision to delay moving to reopen. Id. at 11, 13. In 2006, her

firm was admonished for failing to file a brief in a case in this

Court, for which Gell accepted responsibility as she had

supervisory responsibility for the case. Id. at 11-12, 12-13.

The Committee also found several mitigating factors: (1) Gell

conveyed a genuine commitment to her clients’ best interests,

including frequently working for non-responsive clients and clients

who did not pay their fees, evidencing the absence of a dishonest

or selfish motive; (2) she testified about certain medical issues

that arose during the time of the first admonishment; (3) she was

generally forthcoming and cooperative with the Committee’s

investigation; (4) she expressed credible remorse for her

misconduct; (5) she has taken good faith steps to prevent any

recurrences by significantly limiting her caseload and committing

to a diligent monitoring of Court deadlines; (6) she appears to be

a committed practitioner who did quality work for many clients

despite challenging situations; and (7) she appears to be well

regarded in the legal immigration community, as she worked for the

Lawyers Community for Human Rights and has acted as the chairperson

of the Federal Bar Association’s immigration law committee. Report

at 13, citing ABA Standards § 9.32(b), (c), (d), (e), (g), (l).
5

The Committee also considered Gell’s argument that her conduct

did not prejudice any clients, as some of the dismissed cases were

reinstated, and other defaults were part of her strategy to create

time to pursue more advantageous forms of relief. Id. However,

the Committee found that, without reviewing the merits of each

case, it could not conclude that none of the clients whose

petitions were dismissed on default had suffered any prejudice.

Id. The Committee also found that a lack of prejudice to clients

would not excuse Gell’s disregard of court orders, and the

resulting burden on the Court and its staff. Id. The Committee

recommended that Gell be publicly reprimanded and subject to

certain reporting requirements. Id. at 13-14. 

In her response to the Committee’s report, Gell requested that

a private, rather than public, reprimand be issued, that the

reprimand language suggested by the Committee be modified, and that

aspects of the recommended reporting requirements be clarified.

I. Practicing Prior to Admission to Court’s Bar

This Court’s docket reflects that Gell began filing documents

in this Court at least as early as March 2005. See Singh v.

Gonzales, 05-1054-ag, acknowledgment letter filed Mar. 29, 2005;

Singh v. Gonzales, 05-1606-ag, acknowledgment letter filed Apr. 14,

2005; Mostafa v. Gonzales, 05-2211-ag, acknowledgment letter filed

May 25, 2005, motion filed July 11, 2005; Afzal v. Gonzales, 05-

3336-ag, petition for review filed June 23, 2005; Amin v. Gonzales,
1

 The Court employee’s advice may have been limited to

Gell’s ability to sign briefs after her admission application was

submitted, but before her actual admission. Nov. 3, 2008

Transcript at 66-67, 69 (Gell’s testimony); Dec. 3, 2008

Transcript at 230 (Gell associate’s testimony). In light of

other evidence discussed in the text, we assume the advice was

not limited in that fashion (an assumption that favors Gell).

2

 The Gell associate first testified that her conversation

with the Court employee likely had occurred in 2004 or 2005, Dec.

3, 2008 Transcript at 220-21, but later recalled that it had

occurred in 2006, id. at 224, 227. Gell testified that she

thought that the conversation had occurred in 2006, although she

left open the possibility that it had occurred in 2005. Dec. 11,

2008 Transcript at 5-6. Early 2006 appears likely as (a) the

Gell associate testified that her inquiry had been motivated by

the scheduling of oral argument in Paul v. Ashcroft, 03-4807-ag,

(b) the scheduling notice for that argument was mailed on

February 1, 2006, see Paul, 03-4807-ag, notice filed Feb. 1,

2006, and (c) a February 27, 2006 letter notifying the Clerk that

Gell would appear for oral argument in that case stated that Gell

had submitted an application for admission to the Court’s bar but

had not yet received a decision on that application, see id.,

6

05-2751-ag, motion filed July 29, 2005. Her initial application to

join the bar of this Court was thereafter filed in August or

September of 2005 (although the application later had to be

resubmitted, due to the absence of a sponsorship letter). Dec. 3,

2008 Transcript at 230-31. At a later date – probably in early

2006 – Gell was informed by an associate in her firm (“the Gell

associate”) that a Court employee had told her that an attorney did

not need to be admitted to file a petition or brief, but only if

the attorney intended to orally argue the case.1

 Dec. 3, 2008

Transcript at 219-22 (Gell associate’s testimony concerning

conversation with Court employee); Oct. 23, 2008 Transcript at 100

(Gell testimony); Dec. 11, 2008 Transcript at 5-6 (same).2
letter filed Feb. 28, 2006. However, we need not determine the

precise date for purposes of this decision.

7

Finally, as of the October 23, 2008 hearing, an attorney who often

worked for Gell was still under the belief that an attorney need

not be admitted to this Court’s bar in order to file a petition for

review. Oct. 23, 2008 Transcript at 55.

 Prior to January 1, 2010, this Court’s rule concerning

admission to the Court’s bar stated the following:

Counsel of record for all parties must be admitted to

practice before this court. Oral argument may be

presented only by attorneys admitted to practice before

this court.

Former Second Cir. Local Rule 46(d). We are informed that, during

the time period relevant to the present proceeding, some employees

of this Court had interpreted this rule to mean that an attorney

litigating before this Court need not be admitted to the bar of

this Court unless he or she intended to orally argue the case.

This interpretation is consistent with both the Gell associate’s

testimony about receiving such advice from a Court employee in 2006

and an affidavit prepared by a legal assistant to Gell’s counsel,

asserting that a Court employee had informed the legal assistant in

October 2008 “that an attorney d[id] not have to be admitted to the

Second Circuit to sign a brief but the attorney must be admitted

for oral argument.” Record, vol. 6, exh. M.

We agree with the Committee that, prior to filing any document

in this Court, Gell should have read this Court’s local rule
8

governing practice before this Court, Former Local Rule 46(d), and

that she violated that rule by filing documents without first being

admitted to this Court’s bar or having an application pending.

However, there are several mitigating factors. First, although

Gell should not have relied exclusively on the advice of other

attorneys, the existence of that advice offers at least partial

mitigation. This is particularly true as to the advice the Gell

associate obtained from a Court employee. Although some may argue

that the proffered advice was not the best interpretation of the

rule, we find that a reasonable attorney could have accepted, and

acted upon, such advice from the Court. However, that mitigating

factor does not apply to the time period preceding the Gell

associate’s conversation with the Court employee. Second, no

evidence was adduced suggesting that Gell had intentionally

violated this Court’s admission rule or that any client or the

public was prejudiced by Gell’s failure to seek admission. Third,

while the Court was prejudiced by having its admission rules

circumvented, and not receiving the applicable admission fee in

2005, the Court’s operations were not otherwise affected and Gell

later became a member of the Court’s bar. Thus, while we agree

that Gell erred in not seeking admission prior to filing documents

in this Court, we conclude that her error did not constitute
3

 The current attorney admission rule states that an

attorney appearing in this Court “on behalf of a party or an

amicus curiae in any capacity must be admitted to practice before

this court, ... have pending an application for admission, [or be

admitted pro hac vice,] and must file a Notice of Appearance in

accordance with LR 12.3.” Second Cir. Local Rule 46.1(a); see

Local Rule 12.3(a) (“Within 14 days after receiving a docketing

notice from the circuit clerk assigning a docket number ..., all

parties must file the Acknowledgment and Notice of Appearance

Form. Counsel of record listed on the form must be admitted in

this court, or have pending an application for admission under LR

46.1(a) or (d).”); Local Rule 12.3(b)(“An attorney, other than

the initial counsel of record, who appears in a case in any

capacity on behalf of a party or an amicus curiae must file the

Notice of Appearance Form for Substitute, Additional, or Amicus

Counsel at the time the attorney enters the case.”). An attorney

“appears” in this Court when, for example, he or she files, or

permits the filing of, a petition, motion, brief, or other

request for relief bearing the attorney’s signature. See Fed. R.

App. P. 32(d) (“Every brief, motion, or other paper filed with

the court must be signed by the party filing the paper or, if the

party is represented, by one of the party’s attorneys.”); see,

e.g., Chums, Ltd. v. Always in Mind, Inc., 110 F.3d 67, 1997 WL

133267 at *2 (9th Cir. 1997) (unpublished decision) (“Generally,

an attorney may appear on behalf of a party by either filing a

formal notice of appearance or filing pleadings on behalf of that

party.”); In re Jacobson, 402 B.R. 359, 364 (Bankr. W.D. Wash.

2009)(stating that local rule permits attorney to enter

appearance by signing any pleading or other document described in

Fed. R. Civ. P. 5(a) or by filing notice of appearance); In re

Stauffer, 378 B.R. 333, 336 n.2 (Bankr. D. Utah 2006)(describing

similar local rule). 

9

substantial misconduct.3

II. Defaults

A. Defaults Between March 2008 and November 3, 2008

At the November 3, 2008 session of the Committee’s hearing,

Gell expressed her belief that no defaults had occurred in her

cases after she received the Committee’s March 2008 order putting

her on notice of the present proceeding. Nov. 3, 2008 Transcript
10

at 123. She also stated that, after the receipt of that order, all

of her briefs were timely filed, with the exception of one brief

that was filed approximately ten days late. Id.; accord Dec. 11,

2008 Transcript at 21 (Gell testimony that she is “taking far fewer

Second Circuit cases now,” “completely supervising them and doing

the work,” “watching everything that happens in those cases,” and

“complying with every court order”). While review of the Court’s

docket indicates that none of Gell’s cases have been dismissed on

default after March 2008, it also reveals that defaults did, in

fact, occur after that date. Specifically, contrary to her

November 3, 2008 testimony, Gell defaulted between March 2008 and

the date of that testimony, or continued a prior default into that

period, in the following five cases.

1. In Singh v. Keisler, 07-4975-ag, Gell’s brief was due by

April 2, 2008. See Singh, 07-4975-ag, order filed Mar. 3, 2008.

On April 23, 2008, the Clerk’s Office issued an order to show cause

why the case should not be dismissed based on Gell’s failure to

file a brief, with a response required by May 7, 2008. See id.,

order filed Apr. 23, 2008. On April 24, 2008, the brief was served

and filed. See id., brief filed Apr. 24, 2008 (cert. of service,

noting Apr. 24, 2008 mailing).

2. In Benabdi v. Mukasey, 07-5138-ag, Gell’s brief was due by

February 19, 2008. See Benabdi, 07-5138-ag, order filed Jan. 14,

2008. On March 26, 2008, the Clerk’s Office issued an order to
11

show cause why the case should not be dismissed based on Gell’s

failure to file her brief, with a response required by April 14,

2008. See id., order filed Mar. 26, 2008. Gell did not submit the

brief until April 22, 2008, see id., brief filed Apr. 22, 2008

(cert. of service, noting Apr. 21, 2008 service on Court); however,

the submission was deemed defective because Gell’s motion to file

late was not properly supported, see id., second “notice of

defective filing” filed Apr. 23, 2008. The corrected motion was

filed on May 2, 2008, and the motion to file the late brief was

granted. See id., motion filed May 2, 2008, order filed May 9,

2008.

3. In Mirza v. Mukasey, 07-5298-ag, Gell’s brief was due by

February 25, 2008. See Mirza, 07-5298-ag, order filed Jan. 24,

2008. On March 24, 2008, the Court ordered Gell to show cause why

the case should not be dismissed based on her failure to file a

brief. See id., order filed Mar. 24, 2008. On that same day, Gell

requested that she given until April 1, 2008 to file the brief; she

was given until April 8, 2008. See id., motion and response filed

Mar. 26, 2008, order filed Apr. 1, 2008. However, Gell submitted

her brief and joint appendix one day late, on April 9, 2008, see

id., entry for Apr. 9, 2008, brief filed May 2, 2008 (cert. of

service, noting Apr. 9, 2008 service on Court), and the docket

indicates that the submission was defective because no special

appendix had been received, id., case manager notations at Apr. 10
12

and 17, 2008. The special appendix was not received until May 2,

2008, at which time the brief and appendices were filed. See id.,

brief and appendices filed May 2, 2008.

4. In Azam v. Mukasey, 08-0344-ag, Gell’s brief was due by

April 21, 2008. See Azam, 08-0344-ag, order filed Mar. 20, 2008.

One day after that deadline, Gell requested an extension of time.

See id., motion filed Apr. 22, 2008 (cert. of service, noting Apr.

22, 2008 service on Court). The request was granted and her brief

was then due by May 21, 2008. See id., order filed Apr. 22, 2008.

Although the brief was received by the Clerk’s Office on May 21,

2008, Gell was informed that a special appendix was required. See

id., entries for May 21 and 22, 2008. The special appendix was

filed on May 22, 2008, at which time the brief and appendices were

filed. See id., entries for May 22, 2008.

5. In Kaur v. Mukasey, 08-3079-ag, Gell was ordered to show

cause why the case should not be dismissed based on Gell’s failure

to timely file Form C/A, with a response required by August 11,

2008. See Kaur, 08-3079-ag, order filed July 25, 2008. On August

11, 2008, Gell moved to withdraw the petition for review, which was

granted. See id., motion filed Aug. 11, 2008, order filed Aug. 12,

2008.

B. Defaults Occurring After November 3, 2008

Defaults also occurred after the November 3, 2008 session of

the Committee’s hearing in the following five cases.
13

1. In Tazu v. Holder, 09-2520-ag, after receiving two

extensions, Gell’s brief was due by December 23, 2009. See Tazu,

09-2520-ag, order filed Dec 17, 2009. However, Gell’s brief was

not submitted to the Court until January 6, 2010. See id., entry

for Jan. 6, 2010, brief filed Jan. 13, 2010 (cert. of service,

noting Jan. 6, 2010 service on Court).

2. In Asif v. Holder, 08-4870-ag, after receiving two

extensions, Gell’s brief was due by April 25, 2009. See Asif, 08-

4870-ag, order filed Apr. 1, 2009. However, she failed to comply

and, on May 7, 2009, she was ordered to show cause why the case

should not be dismissed based on her default, with a response

required by May 21, 2009. See id., order filed May 7, 2009. On

May 22, 2009, her brief was filed. See id., brief filed May 22,

2009. Although the certificate of service for the brief indicates

that the Court was personally served on May 21, 2009, see id., at

cert. of service, the docket shows receipt on May 22, 2009.

3. In Amekoudji v. Holder, 08-5078-ag, Gell was ordered to

show cause why the case should not be dismissed based on her

failure to timely file Form C/A, with a response required by

December 5, 2008. See Amekoudji, 08-5078-ag, order filed Nov. 13,

2008. Gell timely responded and filed the form, and her brief was

then due by March 23, 2009. See id., entries for Dec. 5, 2008. On

April 7, 2009, Gell was ordered to show cause why the case should

not be dismissed based on her failure to file her brief, with a
14

response required by April 21, 2009. See id., order filed Apr. 7,

2009. She responded on April 21, 2009, but was notified that she

had failed to file a necessary form. See id., entry for Apr. 27,

2009. On May 1, 2009, the Court again requested the missing form.

See id., entry for May 1, 2009. On May 5, 2009, Gell moved to have

the Court accept her late-filed brief and appendix. See id.,

entries for May 5 and 7, 2009. The Court granted her motion and

the brief and appendices were filed as of May 12, 2009. See id.,

entries for May 12, 2009. Three weeks later, however, Gell moved

to file an amended brief, due to “numerous typographical errors,

page cites errors, case page reference cites and other mistakes in

the [original] brief that resulted from an earlier version ...

being ... used as the final version.” Id., motion filed June 3,

2009. The Court granted the motion and the amended brief was

filed. See id., order and amended brief filed on June 5, 2009. 

4. In Azad v. Holder, 09-2066-ag, Gell’s brief was due by

September 7, 2009. See Azad, 09-2066-ag, order filed July 7, 2009.

It was not submitted until September 8, 2009. See id., entries for

Sept. 8, 2009, brief filed Sept. 8, 2009 (cert. of service, noting

Sept. 8, 2008 service).

5. In Sarker v. Mukasey, 08-5190-ag, Gell was required to

file form C/A by November 3, 2008, but did not do so until November

6, 2008. See Sarker, 08-5190-ag, entries for Oct. 27 and Nov. 6,

2008. After receiving an extension of time, Gell’s brief was then
4

 Gell also has continued to default in the Third Circuit. 

From October 2008 through September 2010, the Third Circuit has

dismissed four petitions for review due to Gell’s failure to file

15

due by March 2, 2009. See id., order filed Feb. 4, 2009. However,

the brief was not submitted until March 5, 2009. See entries for

Mar. 5, 2009, brief filed Mar. 5, 2009 (cert. of service, noting

Mar. 4, 2009 service on Court).

Gell’s November 3 and December 11, 2008 testimony before the

Committee suggests a possible misunderstanding of what constitutes

a default and, therefore, a possible misunderstanding of her

obligations. The defaults for which Gell was responsible are

clearly reflected in this Court’s records. A “default” occurs when

an attorney or litigant fails to file a required document by the

deadline specified in an order or rule of this Court. An attorney

who cannot comply with such deadlines must seek – prior to the

deadline – an extension of time, a stay of proceedings, withdrawal

as counsel, withdrawal of the case, or guidance from the Court.

Requesting such relief after the deadline has passed is justified

only under unusual circumstances. The fact that, in a particular

case, dismissal did not result from a default, or the Court

permitted the filing of a document after the deadline, does not

mean that a default did not occur. While none of Gell’s cases have

been dismissed on default since March 2008, it is our hope that she

will make further improvements by reducing or eliminating the

number of defaults.4
briefs or required forms. See Sukhdev Singh v. Attorney General,

08-3380, dismissal order filed Nov. 06, 2008 (brief due by Oct.

22, 2008); Finda Chokpelleh v. Attorney General, 08-4284,

dismissal order filed Dec. 16, 2008(forms due by Nov. 28, 2008);

Harjeet Singh v. Attorney General, 09-2162, dismissal order filed

March 23, 2010 (brief due by Nov. 30, 2009); Shahzeb Mirza v.

Attorney General, 10-2892, dismissal order filed Sept. 22, 2010

(brief due by Sept. 7, 2010). These more recent defaults are in

addition to the earlier Third Circuit defaults that were noted in

the August 2007 referral order. Aug. 2007 order at 2 n.1. An

attorney’s performance in another circuit may be relevant to the

issue of whether the attorney will, in the future, be able to

comply with this Court’s rules and orders, even if we have no

intention of disciplining the attorney for his or her conduct in

that other circuit. In the present case, since Gell’s

performance in this Court has clearly improved, and since the

circumstances surrounding the recent Third Circuit defaults

currently are not known to us, we accord them no weight for

purposes of the present order.

16

III. Aggravating Factors

A. Prior Admonition

We agree with Gell that, since one of the First Department

admonitions concerned a default that was covered by this Court’s

August 2007 referral order, it should not be treated as both

misconduct directly redressable in this proceeding and an

independent aggravating factor. However, we disagree with her

arguments concerning other aggravating factors.

B. Pattern of Misconduct 

While Gell may have been unaware that her default strategy was

improper, it nonetheless qualified as a pattern of misconduct.

Each default presented Gell with a new opportunity to assess the

reasonableness of her conduct, as evidence accumulated that her

default strategy, at the very least, imposed additional burdens on
17

the Court. However, we do agree that Gell’s sincerely-held belief

that her defaults were not improper suggests that less weight be

accorded to the fact that a pattern existed.

C. Client Vulnerability

Gell also argues that client vulnerability is not relevant to

the present case, since her default strategy actually helped her

clients and did not involve attorney overreaching,

misrepresentation, or fraud against the clients. However, the

vulnerability finding in this case was not linked to client

prejudice or attorney malfeasance. Additionally, there is no

dispute that many or all of the clients at issue were in this

country illegally and subject to imminent arrest and/or

deportation, that many had a limited ability to speak, read or

understand English, and that some were very transient, had medical

or psychological problems, or, as noted by Gell, did not “fully

comprehend the effects of their actions.” Letter dated May 12,

2008 from Gell to Committee, at 4, 6, 8; Oct. 23, 2008 Transcript

at 127, 165; Nov. 3, 2008 Transcript at 14, 20, 21, 27, 33, 37-39,

44; Dec. 3, 2008 Transcript at 203-04.

In short, the ability of Gell’s clients to understand and

oversee Gell’s legal work, and otherwise protect their own

interests, was significantly inferior to that of the ordinary
5

 See Flowers v. Board of Prof’l Responsibility, 314 S.W.3d

882, 899 (Tenn. 2010) (finding clients in deportation proceedings

were vulnerable under ABA Standard § 9.22(h), based on

difficulties writing and speaking English, the need to move often

and work long hours with changing schedules, limited financial

resources, lack of transportation or understanding of the broader

culture, and their need for assistance with a particularly

weighty matter); People v. Varallo, 61 P.3d 38, 42 (Colo. 2002)

(explaining that, for purposes of § 9.22(h), the attorney’s

“clients were exceptionally vulnerable, depending on [the

attorney] to protect their abilities to reside in the United

States”); see also Aris v. Mukasey, 517 F.3d 595, 600 (2d Cir.

2008) (“The importance of quality representation is especially

acute to immigrants, a vulnerable population who come to this

country searching for a better life, and who often arrive

unfamiliar with our language and culture, in economic deprivation

and in fear.”); United States v. Mendoza, 262 F.3d 957, 960-61

(9th Cir. 2001) (affirming district court’s finding that victims

were vulnerable, for purposes of United States Sentencing

Guidelines § 3A1.1, since “(1) they were in the United States

illegally, which made [the defendant] confident they would not

check on him or report him, (2) they were unfamiliar with United

States immigration law, (3) they were not well educated, (4) they

could not speak or read English, and (5) [the defendant] held

himself out as sophisticated and knowledgeable in INS

procedures”).

18

person.5 Thus, we agree with the Committee’s vulnerability

finding. On the other hand, we agree that there is no evidence

that Gell intentionally took advantage of, or that prejudice

clearly resulted from, the demonstrated vulnerability. For that

reason, this factor is accorded less weight. 

IV. Disposition

Upon due consideration of the Committee’s report, the

underlying record, Gell’s submissions, and the additional appellate

proceedings described above, it is hereby ORDERED that Gell is

PUBLICLY REPRIMANDED for the misconduct described in the
19

Committee’s report. We reject Gell’s request for a private

reprimand, based on the magnitude of her misconduct and, to a

lesser degree, her continued failure to abide by this Court’s

scheduling orders.

It is further ORDERED that Gell submit a status report, every

six months for the next two years, concerning her practice in all

federal courts in this circuit and all federal administrative

agencies whose action is subject to this Court’s review. The

reports must be made under penalties of perjury and submitted to

the Committee’s secretary within fourteen days after the end of

each six-month reporting period, the first reporting period to

commence with the filing date of this order. Each report must

describe each instance during the preceding six-month reporting

period in which (1) a submission required by a rule or order is not

filed or filed out of time; (2) an application is made, after a due

date has passed, for permission to make a late filing; or (3) a

case is dismissed due to her failure to comply with a rule or

order. We decline to modify these requirements in the manner

suggested by Gell, and note that each report must be filed even if

no defaults occur within the relevant reporting period.

Gell must disclose this order to all clients in cases

currently pending in this Court and to all courts and bars of which

she is currently a member, and as required by any bar or court rule

or order. Gell also must, within fourteen days of the filing of
6

 Counsel to this panel is authorized to provide, upon

request, documents from the record of this proceeding to other

attorney disciplinary authorities. While we request that all

such documents remain confidential to the extent circumstances

allow, we leave to the discretion of those disciplinary

authorities the decision of whether specific documents, or

portions of documents, must be made available to any person or

the public. 

20

this order, file an affidavit with this Court confirming that she

has complied with the preceding disclosure requirement.

Furthermore, the Clerk of Court is directed to release this order

to the public by posting it on this Court’s web site and providing

copies to members of the public in the same manner as all other

unpublished decisions of this Court, and to serve a copy on Gell,

this Court’s Committee on Admissions and Grievances, the attorney

disciplinary committee for the New York State Appellate Division,

First Department, and all other courts and jurisdictions to which

this Court distributes disciplinary decisions in the ordinary

course.6

FOR THE COURT: 

Catherine O’Hagan Wolfe, Clerk

 

By: Michael Zachary

Counsel to the Grievance Panel