ANNUAL REPORT - 2007

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.

The disciplinary rules, procedures and decisions concerning the Attorney Grievance Committees can be found on the Appellate Division, Fourth Department's website located at www.courts.state.ny.us/ad4.

ATTORNEY DISCIPLINARY ACTIVITIES

FOURTH JUDICIAL DEPARTMENT

PERIOD COVERED: 1/01/07 - 12/31/07

I. Matters Processed:*
A. Matters Pending at Start of Period	847
B. New Matters During Period	2140
C. Closed Matters Reactivated During Period	84
D. Total Matters to be Processed During Period (A+B+C)		3071
E. Total Matters Disposed of During Period		2324
F. Matters Pending at End of Period		747
II. Matters Disposed of by Committee:	Cases**	Matters
A. Rejected as Failing to State a Complaint	1025	1123
B. Referred to Other Disciplinary Committees	107	112
C. Referred to Other Agencies	4	4
D. Dismissed or Withdrawn	665	722
E. Dismissed through Mediation	0	0
F. Letter of Caution	147	179
G. Letter of Admonition	19	30
H. Admonition (or reprimand)	0	0
I. Referred to Appellate Division (Disc. Proc)	55	154
Total Disposed of During Period (Same as I.E.)	2022	2324
III. Cases Processed in all Courts:**
A. Cases Pending at Start of Period		31
1. Disciplinary Proceedings	24
2. Other	7
B. Cases Received During Period		55
1. Disciplinary Proceedings	22
2. Other	33
C. Total to be Processed During Period		86
D. Cases Closed
1. Disbarred	5
2. Disciplinary Resignations	3
3. Suspended ***	19
4. Censured	9
5. Private Censure	0
6. Remanded to Grievance Committee	4
7. Discontinued	2
8. Dismissed	3
9. Reinstatements Granted	6
10. Reinstatements Denied	2
11. Non-Disciplinary Resignations	5
12. All other Dispositions	7
13. Total Closed	65
E. Total Cases Pending at End of Period	21
1. Disciplinary Proceedings	20
2. Other	1
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.

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.

Cindy A. Granger, Esq.

*Joseph F. Grant, Jr., Ed.D.

Amy L. Hallenbeck, Esq.

*Christopher J. Harris

Camille T. Kahler, Esq.

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.

*G. James Blatt, Jr.

*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.

Mary Walpole-Lightsey, Esq.

GRIEVANCE COMMITTEE

for the Eighth Judicial District

2008-2009

John V. Elmore, Esq. - Chairperson

Lawrence W. Boylan, Esq.

David G. Brock, Esq.

Thomas R. Cassano, Esq.

John J. DelMonte, Esq.

Amy Archer Flaherty, Esq.

*Wesley L. Hicks, Jr., M.D.

Nicholas G. Jonas, Esq.

Joseph L. Leone, Jr., Esq.

*Valerie A. Leuthe

Charles R. Loveland, Esq.

Jeffrey R. Martin, Esq.

Michael M. Mohun, Esq.

James A. Musacchio, Esq.

Timothy M. O’Mara, Esq.

John J. Ottaviano, Esq.

Dale C. Robbins, Esq.

Susan C. Roney, Esq.

*Raymond F. Shirtz, Jr.

Ellen Swartz Simpson, Esq.

Deanne M. Tripi, Esq.

*Lay Member

ATTORNEY GRIEVANCE COMMITTEES

FIFTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT

	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004
Committee Meetings	4	3	4	4	4	3	4
Appearances	14	10	15	14*	14*	9*	13*
Caution Letters	34	25	23	64	40	42	26
Admonition Letters	5	2	4	6	7	7	4
Petitions Referred to the Appellate Division	6	1	4	5	4	2	8***

SEVENTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT

	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007
Committee Meetings	3	4	3	3	5	3	3	5	3	5
Appearances	9*	17*	12*	14*	17*	8	12*	15	7	17
Caution Letters	36	27	25	25	37	33	39	35	30	45
Admonition Letters	5	5	3	4	4	2	5	3	5	2
Petitions Referred to the Appellate Division	3	4	5**	5	7	4	5	12	15	18

EIGHTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT

	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007
Committee Meetings	6	6	6	6	6	6	6	6	7	6
Appearances	22*	28*	37*	27*	27*	34*	22*	28	39	21
Caution Letters	82	90	77	93	110	81	78	90	108	65
Admonition Letters	12	12	18	8	12	11	7	11	17	12
Petitions Referred to the Appellate Division	8	9	9	11**	10	14	9	9	21	11

* 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