Court Opinion

ID: 9921364
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2024-01-19 00:39:00.351141+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:54:21.596258
License: Public Domain

Per Curiam.
Respondent was admitted to practice by this Court in 1986. He maintains an office for the practice of law in the City of Albany.
Petitioner has filed nine charges of professional misconduct against respondent, including allegations of substantial conversion of client funds over a period of years which continued as late as April of this year. Simultaneously with the filing of the petition of charges, petitioner moves to suspend respondent from the practice of law pending consideration of the disciplinary charges against him, pursuant to this Court’s rules (see 22 NYCRR 806.4 [f]). Respondent admits the charges and specifications, except for specification (1) of charge VI, which petitioner withdraws. Respondent has submitted an affirmation in opposition to petitioner’s motion.
We find that respondent is guilty of professional misconduct immediately threatening the public interest and therefore grant petitioner’s motion. Although respondent professes reform, the motive and means for continuing his pattern of misconduct are still present. We also note that respondent has been previously cautioned by petitioner on two occasions and censured by this Court in 2003 (see Matter of DiStefano, 309 AD2d 1060 [2003]).