ANNUAL REPORT - 2008
The Attorney Grievance Committees are mandated to investigate, review, and prosecute complaints of attorney misconduct within the Fourth Judicial Department, pursuant to Judiciary Law, §90 and Section 1022.19 of the Rules of the Appellate Division, Fourth Department (22 NYCRR §1022.19). The Grievance Committees also serve to protect the public, educate the bar and preserve the integrity of the legal profession. The Committees have jurisdiction over approximately 11,000 lawyers within a 22-county geographic area with three district offices, located in Buffalo, Rochester and Syracuse. Each District has its own Grievance Committee comprised of 21 volunteer members, including three non-lawyers. Serious allegations of misconduct are reviewed by the Committee and forwarded to the Appellate Division for disposition and/or trials.
ATTORNEY DISCIPLINARY ACTIVITIES
FOURTH JUDICIAL DEPARTMENT
PERIOD COVERED: 1/01/08 - 12/31/08
| I. Matters Processed:* | ||
| A. Matters Pending at Start of Period | 747 | |
| B. New Matters During Period | 2480 | |
| C. Closed Matters Reactivated During Period | 194 | |
| D. Total Matters to be Processed During Period (A+B+C) | 3421 | |
| E. Total Matters Disposed of During Period | 2898 | |
| F. Matters Pending at End of Period | 523 | |
|
II. Matters Disposed of by Committee: |
Cases** |
Matters |
| A. Rejected as Failing to State a Complaint | 1070 | 1263 |
| B. Referred to Other Disciplinary Committees | 125 | 129 |
| C. Referred to Other Agencies | 7 | 7 |
| D. Dismissed or Withdrawn | 609 | 842 |
| E. Dismissed through Mediation | 0 | 0 |
| F. Letter of Caution | 158 | 281 |
| G. Letter of Admonition | 26 | 106 |
| H. Admonition (or reprimand) | 0 | 0 |
| I. Referred to Appellate Division (Disc. Proc) | 215 | 270 |
| Total Disposed of During Period (Same as I.E.) | 2210 | 2898 |
|
III. Cases Processed in all Courts:** |
||
| A. Cases Pending at Start of Period | 21 | |
| 1. Disciplinary Proceedings | 20 | |
| 2. Other | 1 | |
| B. Cases Received During Period | 215 | |
| 1. Disciplinary Proceedings | 19 | |
| 2. Other | 196 | |
| C. Total to be Processed During Period | 236 | |
| D. Cases Closed | ||
| 1. Disbarred | 4 | |
| 2. Disciplinary Resignations | 1 | |
| 3. Suspended *** | 161 | |
| 4. Censured | 8 | |
| 5. Private Censure |
0 |
|
| 6. Remanded to Grievance Committee | 4 | |
| 7. Discontinued | 0 | |
| 8. Dismissed | 1 | |
| 9. Reinstatements Granted | 4 | |
| 10. Reinstatements Denied | 0 | |
| 11. Non-Disciplinary Resignations | 21 | |
| 12. All other Dispositions | 5 | |
| 13. Total Closed | 209 | |
| E. Total Cases Pending at End of Period | 27 | |
| 1. Disciplinary Proceedings | 18 | |
| 2. Other | 9 | |
|
For the purposes of this report, the term "Matters" includes the following: 1. Complaints 2. Inquiries (Excluding telephone inquiries) 3. Sua Sponte investigations * Matters represents individual complaints and inquiries. ** Cases refers to the number of respondent/attorneys. As some attorneys are subject of multiple complaints, the number of matters may exceed the number of cases.*** Includes definite, interim and indefinite suspensions. |
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FOURTH DEPARTMENT
GRIEVANCE COMMITTEES
Membership
|
GRIEVANCE COMMITTEE for the Fifth Judicial District 2008-2009 Edward Z. Menkin, Esq. - Chairperson Robert W. Applegate, Esq. Robert A. Barrer, Esq. *William A. Chambers, C.P.A. John D. Conners, Esq. Keith A. Eisenhut, Esq. Deborah K. Field, Esq. Philip I. Frankel, Esq. Catherine A. Gale, Esq. Joseph P. Giruzzi, Esq. Lawrence W. Golden, Esq. Cindy A. Granger, Esq. *Joseph F. Grant, Jr., Ed.D. Amy L. Hallenbeck, Esq. *Christopher J. Harris Eugene J. Langone, Jr, Esq. Kathlene M. Loconti, Esq. Garry L. Outtrim, Esq. Roy D. Pinsky, Esq. Kathy L. Quencer, Esq.. Steven A. Smith, Esq. |
GRIEVANCE COMMITTEE for the Seventh Judicial District 2008-2009 Thomas N. Trevett, Esq., Chairperson Richard E. Alexander, Esq .Robert E. Barry. Esq. Alan S. Biernbaum, Esq. *Garry Brower June Castellano, Esq. V. Bruce Chambers, Esq. *Dr. Timothy Dennis James A. Gabriel, Esq. Richard T. Galbato, Esq. Valerie G. Gardner, Esq. Michael T. Harren, Esq. LaMarr J. Jackson, Esq. Mary Jo S. Korona, Esq. Judith A. Palumbo, Esq. Jon H. Porter, Esq. Paul E. Richardson, Esq. Martha A. Roberts, Esq. Jeffrey E. Squires, Esq. Mary Walpole-Lightsey, Esq. *Michael Wiedemer |
GRIEVANCE COMMITTEE for the Eighth Judicial District 2008-2009 Michael M. Mohun, Esq. - Chairperson Laurie Styka Bloom, Esq. Lawrence W. Boylan, Esq. David G. Brock, Esq. Thomas R. Cassano, Esq. John J. DelMonte, Esq. *Wesley L. Hicks, Jr., M.D. Nicholas G. Jonas, Esq. Thomas F. Keefe, Esq. Joseph L. Leone, Jr., Esq. *Valerie A. Leuthe Charles R. Loveland, Esq. Jeffrey R. Martin, Esq. . James A. Musacchio, Esq. Timothy M. O’Mara, Esq. John J. Ottaviano, Esq. Dale C. Robbins, Esq. *Raymond F. Shirtz, Jr. Ellen Swartz Simpson, Esq. Sheldon K. Smith, Esq. Deanne M. Tripi, Esq. *Lay Member |
ATTORNEY GRIEVANCE COMMITTEES
FIFTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT
| 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | |
| Committee Meetings | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 6 |
| Appearances | 10 | 15 | 14* | 14* | 9* | 13* | 14 | 15 | 14 | 25 |
| Caution Letters | 25 | 23 | 64 | 40 | 42 | 26 | 21 | 76 | 37 | 32 |
| Admonition Letters | 2 | 4 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 4 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 10 |
| Petitions Referred to the Appellate Division | 1 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 8*** | 5 | 11 | 8 | 8 |
| Complaints Received - (Includes Reopened Complaints) | 663 | 650 | 649 | 610 | 562 | 584 | 601 | 577 | 597 | 631 |
SEVENTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT
| 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | |
| Committee Meetings | 4 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 6 |
| Appearances | 17* | 12* | 14* | 17* | 8 | 12* | 15 | 7 | 17 | 18 |
| Caution Letters | 27 | 25 | 25 | 37 | 33 | 39 | 35 | 30 | 45 | 44 |
| Admonition Letters | 5 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 6 |
| Petitions Referred to the Appellate Division | 4 | 5** | 5 | 7 | 4 | 5 | 12 | 15 | 18 | 17 |
| Complaints Received - (Includes Reopened Complaints) | 690 | 626 | 621 | 663 | 730 | 758 | 766 | 736 | 630 | 638 |
EIGHTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT
| 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | |
| Committee Meetings | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 4 |
| Appearances | 28* | 37* | 27* | 27* | 34* | 22* | 28 | 39 | 21 | 16 |
| Caution Letters | 90 | 77 | 93 | 110 | 81 | 78 | 90 | 108 | 65 | 82 |
| Admonition Letters | 12 | 18 | 8 | 12 | 11 | 7 | 11 | 17 | 12 | 10 |
| Petitions Referred to the Appellate Division | 9 | 9 | 11** | 10 | 14 | 9 | 9 | 21 | 11 | 2 |
| Complaints Received - (Includes Reopened Complaints) | 927 | 990 | 1,064 | 913 | 930 | 927 | 1,387 | 1,211 | 1,034 | 1,405 |
* Includes attorneys who waived their appearance or appeared more than once.
** Includes petition voted but attorney resigned prior to its being filed in the Appellate Division.
*** Includes one petition authorized by the Seventh Judicial District Attorney Grievance Committee