Title: Matter of Zauber
Citation: 122 N.J. 87, 583 A.2d 1140
Docket Number: N/A
State: new-jersey
Issuer: new-jersey Supreme Court
Date: January 18, 1991

122 N.J. 87 (1991) 583 A.2d 1140 IN THE MATTER OF KENNETH P. ZAUBER, AN ATTORNEY-AT-LAW. The Supreme Court of New Jersey. Argued November 26, 1990. Decided January 18, 1991. *88 Richard J. Engelhardt, Assistant Ethics Counsel, argued the cause on behalf of Office of Attorney Ethics. Richard F. Aronsohn argued the cause for respondent (Aronsohn &amp; Weiner, attorneys; Ronald S. Bergami, on the brief). PER CURIAM. Following a jury trial, respondent, Kenneth P. Zauber, was convicted in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey of Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization Act (RICO) conspiracy, in violation of 18 U.S.C.A. § 1962(d), and of soliciting kickbacks in connection with an employee benefit plan, in violation of 18 U.S.C.A. § 1954. He also pled guilty in the Superior Court to obtaining controlled dangerous substances by fraud or misrepresentation, in violation of N.J.S.A. 24:21-22a(3), and to forgery, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:21-1a(2). On motion of the Office of Attorney Ethics (OAE), the Disciplinary Review Board (DRB) unanimously recommended that respondent be disbarred. Respondent did not appeal his criminal convictions and asserts that he does not seek to impugn them in this proceeding. Instead, he argues that he should receive a less severe penalty or that the matter should be remanded to a District Ethics Committee to develop mitigating evidence about his drug dependency. We adopt the recommendation of the DRB. Early in his career, respondent, who was admitted to the practice of law in 1965, distinguished himself as an Assistant *89 United States Attorney, counsel to the State Commission of Investigation, chief of the trial section in the Criminal Justice Division of the Department of Law and Public Safety, and municipal court judge for Hamilton Township. Even before the convictions that bring him before us, however, respondent ran afoul of the disciplinary system. In 1979, when he was a deputy attorney general, respondent was privately reprimanded for impropriety in soliciting an endorsement to support his quest for a judicial appointment. The person so solicited was the defendant in a civil action instituted by the Attorney General, an action in which respondent had assisted in drafting the complaint. The DRB summarized the relevant facts about respondent's criminal convictions: Before us, as before the DRB, respondent urges a remand to a district ethics committee to provide him with the opportunity to demonstrate a relationship between his addiction to drugs and his participation in the pension-fraud scheme. He points out that during the conspiracy, from 1982 to 1985, he was addicted to Percodan, cocaine, and heroin. Respondent seeks to show that the source of his addiction was a painful kidney condition from which he has suffered since childhood. His addiction, he contends, is a mitigating circumstance that should prevent disbarment. Finally, respondent offers to produce the testimony of a social scientist to prove that there is no appreciable difference between an addiction to legal or illegal drugs. The OAE argues, however, that respondent's drug addiction is not a mitigating factor, and that even if it were, his conduct was so egregious that disbarment is the only appropriate discipline. We agree with that contention. As the DRB concluded, "the existence of the criminal conviction is conclusive proof of respondent's guilt. R. 1:20-6(b)(1); In re Rosen, 88 N.J. 1, 3 [438 A.2d 316] (1981)." The sole issue that remains is the "extent of final discipline to be imposed." R. 1:20-6(b)(2)(i); In re Infinito, 94 N.J. 50, 56, 462 A.2d 160 (1983). We may consider in mitigation relevant evidence "that is not inconsistent with the essential elements of the criminal *93 matter for which the attorney was convicted." R. 1:20-6(b)(2)(i). Here, respondent stands convicted of knowingly participating in a scheme to generate illegal profits for himself at the expense of workers who contributed to the pension fund. His conviction, confirmed by his admission at resentencing, establishes conclusively that respondent acted knowingly and willfully. Although respondent claims that he does not seek to attack his criminal convictions, the inevitable effect of the remand would be to show that his criminal acts were the result of the addiction and therefore he is somehow less culpable. Thus, contrary to his assertion, respondent seeks indirectly to impugn the convictions for criminal conspiracy and soliciting kickbacks. The DRB correctly assessed the conclusive effect of a conviction for criminal conspiracy: The appropriate punishment for the commission of a crime of dishonesty is disbarment. Such crimes "impugn[] the integrity of the legal system" and destroy "public trust and confidence" in the law and legal system. In re Alosio, supra, 99 N.J. at 90, 491 A.2d 628; see In re Surgent, supra, 104 N.J. at 570, 518 A.2d 215. Especially when part of a "sophisticated and continuing" scheme, In re Alosio, supra, 99 N.J. at 89, 491 A.2d 628, such conduct reflects a "lack of moral fiber" inconsistent with the practice of law, ibid., and a "total disregard for *94 the basic principles of being an attorney," In re Surgent, supra, 104 N.J. at 570, 518 A.2d 215. Respondent's actions fall into this category. He abused his position as general counsel of the employee pension benefit plan to enrich himself while jeopardizing the pension benefits of honest employees. His misconduct involved the practice of law. Moreover, it was not an isolated incident, but a continuing and sophisticated scheme. Against that stark background, we consider respondent's request for a lesser penalty than disbarment. Although mitigating factors are relevant to the severity of discipline, In re Infinito, supra, 94 N.J. at 57, 462 A.2d 160, drug addiction is generally not such a factor. In re Peia, 111 N.J. 318, 323, 544 A.2d 838 (1988); In re Stein, 97 N.J. 550, 566, 483 A.2d 109 (1984). Moreover, drug addiction, whether to legal or illegal drugs, may not mitigate serious ethical infractions such as misappropriation or crimes involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit, or misrepresentation. In re Barbour, 109 N.J. 143, 162, 536 A.2d 214 (1988). In this matter, we are guided by the principles stated in In re Hein, 104 N.J. 297, 304-05, 516 A.2d 1105 (1986): The concern that led us to disbar in Hein applies with equal force here. Hein involved an alcoholic attorney who had misappropriated clients' funds. By comparison, respondent committed crimes of dishonesty while addicted to prescription drugs, cocaine, and heroin. His conduct undermines "the confidence of the public and the integrity of the Bar" as much as that of the respondent in Hein. 104 N.J. at 304, 516 A.2d 1105. Under the circumstances, we agree with the DRB that a remand is *95 unnecessary and that disbarment is the only appropriate sanction. Respondent shall reimburse the Ethics Financial Committee for appropriate administrative costs, including the costs of transcripts. For disbarment Justices HANDLER, POLLOCK, O'HERN, GARIBALDI and STEIN 5. Opposed None. It is ORDERED that KENNETH P. ZAUBER of NEW BRUNSWICK, who was admitted to the bar of this State in 1965, be disbarred and that his name be stricken from the roll of attorneys of this State, effective immediately; and it is further ORDERED that KENNETH P. ZAUBER be and hereby is permanently restrained and enjoined from practicing law; and it is further ORDERED that respondent comply with Administrative Guideline No. 23 of the Office of Attorney Ethics dealing with disbarred attorneys; and it is further ORDERED that respondent reimburse the Ethics Financial Committee for appropriate administrative costs. [5] Higgins testified that Zauber approached him for money "for expenses" in late 1982 and January 1983, at Zauber's wedding on Valentine's Day, 1983, at a Zauber family gathering in 1983, at a jewelry store in Florida on June 8, 1983 and at the Sheraton Hotel at Newark Airport in April 1984. Jt.App. at 1464-1511. Each time, Higgins told Zauber to contact Friedland for the money. [6] At trial the government introduced evidence that Zauber and his wife were in the process of building a home between August 1983 and late 1984/early 1985 and that they made several large cash payments directly to the architect and general contractor, totalling $115,000. Zauber introduced evidence that his architect advised him to pay in cash to get a better price on the construction and that the money came from bank loans and the sale of other properties.