State of New York

Supreme Court, Appellate Division

Third Judicial Department

Decided and Entered: July 23, 2015 D-53-15 

___________________________________

In the Matter of GOLDIE C. 

 SOMMER, an Attorney. MEMORANDUM AND ORDER 

 ON MOTION

(Attorney Registration No. 1756568)

___________________________________

Calendar Date: June 22, 2015

Before: Lahtinen, J.P., Garry, Lynch and Clark, JJ.

__________

Monica A. Duffy, Committee on Professional Standards,

Albany (Sarah A. Leggio of counsel), for Committee on

Professional Standards.

Goldie C. Sommer, Fairfield, New Jersey, pro se.

__________

Per Curiam.

Goldie C. Sommer was admitted to practice by this Court in

1981 after being admitted in New Jersey in 1976, where she

maintains an office for the practice of law.

By order entered May 16, 2014, the Supreme Court of New

Jersey suspended Sommer from the practice of law for one year for

violating Rule 8.4 (b) of the New Jersey Rules of Professional

Conduct by committing a criminal act that reflects adversely on

her honesty, trustworthiness or fitness as a lawyer. That rule

violation was premised upon Sommer's May 2013 conviction in the

United States District Court of the District of New Jersey, upon

her plea of guilty of the federal crime of conspiracy to

structure transactions in order to evade a bank reporting

requirement (see 18 USC § 371; see also 31 USC § 5324 [a] [3];

[d] [1]). 
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As a result of the discipline imposed in New Jersey, the

Committee on Professional Standards moves for an order imposing

discipline pursuant to this Court's rules (see Rules of App Div,

3d Dept [22 NYCRR] § 806.19). Sommer replied to the motion, but

failed to raise any available defenses (see Rules of App Div, 3d

Dept [22 NYCRR] § 806.19 [d]), and, therefore, we grant the

Committee's motion. Moreover, having considered the nature of

Sommer's misconduct, her letter memorandum in mitigation and the

consequent discipline imposed in New Jersey, we conclude that she

should also be suspended from the practice of law in this state

for a period of one year (see Matter of Engelhart, 125 AD3d 1094,

1094 [2015]; Matter of Yannon, 117 AD3d 1380, 1381 [2014]).

Lahtinen, J.P., Garry, Lynch and Clark, JJ., concur.

ORDERED that the motion of the Committee on Professional

Standards is granted; and it is further

ORDERED that Goldie C. Sommer is suspended from the

practice of law for a period of one year, effective immediately,

and until further order of this Court; and it is further

ORDERED that, for the period of suspension, Goldie C.

Sommer is commanded to desist and refrain from the practice of

law in any form, either as principal or as agent, clerk or

employee of another; and Sommer is hereby forbidden to appear as

an attorney or counselor-at-law before any court, judge, justice,

board, commission or other public authority, or to give to

another an opinion as to the law or its application, or any

advice in relation thereto; and it is further
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ORDERED that Goldie C. Sommer shall comply with the

provisions of this Court's rules regulating the conduct of

suspended attorneys (see Rules of the App Div, 3d Dept [22 NYCRR]

§ 806.9).

ENTER:

Robert D. Mayberger

Clerk of the Court