| MATTER OF GWENDOLYN MARIE HOLINKA,
AN ATTORNEY, RESIGNOR. – Voluntary resignation accepted and name
removed from roll of attorneys (see Matter of Manown, 240 AD2d
83). PRESENT: PINE, J.P., HAYES, WISNER, HURLBUTT, AND SCUDDER, JJ.
(Filed Sept. 23, 2002.) MATTER OF D. BRUCE
KRATZ, AN ATTORNEY, RESIGNOR. -- Voluntary resignation accepted
and name removed from roll of attorneys (see Matter of Manown, 240
AD2d 83). PRESENT: GREEN, J.P., PINE, HAYES, HURLBUTT, AND BURNS,
JJ. (Filed Aug. 29, 2002.)
MATTER OF ALICE NEFF LUCAN, AN ATTORNEY,
RESIGNOR. -- Voluntary resignation accepted and name removed from
roll of attorneys (see Matter of Manown, 240 AD2d 83). PRESENT:
PINE, J.P., HAYES, WISNER, HURLBUTT, AND SCUDDER, JJ. (Filed Sept.
23, 2002.)
MATTER OF STEPHEN C. PALMER, AN ATTORNEY,
RESIGNOR. -- Voluntary resignation accepted and name removed from
roll of attorneys (see Matter of Manown, 240 AD2d 83). PRESENT:
GREEN, J.P., PINE, HAYES, HURLBUTT, AND BURNS, JJ. (Filed Aug. 29,
2002.)
MATTER OF ALAN D. GOLDSTEIN, AN ATTORNEY,
RESPONDENT. GRIEVANCE COMMITTEE OF THE EIGHTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT,
PETITIONER. -- Order of censure entered. Per Curiam Opinion:
Respondent was admitted to the practice of law by this Court on
January 13, 1970, and maintains an office for the practice of law
in Buffalo. The Grievance Committee filed a petition charging
respondent with acts of professional misconduct, including
neglect. Respondent filed an answer denying the material
allegations of the petition, and a Referee was appointed to
conduct a hearing. Prior to the hearing, the parties executed a
stipulation resolving outstanding issues of fact. After a hearing
on matters in mitigation, the Referee filed a report, which the
Grievance Committee moves to confirm. Respondent cross-moves to
confirm the Referee’s findings in mitigation. Respondent retained
and used for personal purposes funds of a client because he
erroneously believed the funds were issued to him in payment of
his fee. Additionally, respondent failed to complete matters on
behalf of several clients. We confirm the findings of fact made by
the Referee and conclude that respondent violated the following
Disciplinary Rules of the Code of Professional Responsibility: DR
1-102 (a) (5) (22 NYCRR 1200.3 [a] [5]) - engaging in conduct that
is prejudicial to the administration of justice; DR 1-102 (a) (7)
(22 NYCRR 1200.3 [a] [7]) - engaging in conduct that adversely
reflects on his fitness as a lawyer; DR 6-101 (a) (3) (22 NYCRR
1200.30 [a] [3]) - neglecting a legal matter entrusted to him; DR
9-102 (b) (4) (22 NYCRR 1200.46 [b] [4]) - failing to keep in a
special account funds belonging in part to a client and in part
potentially to him; DR 9-102 (c) (1) (22 NYCRR 1200.46 [c] [1]) -
failing to notify a client or third person promptly of the receipt
of funds in which the client or third person has an interest; and
DR 9-102 (c) (4) (22 NYCRR 1200.46 [c] [4]) - failing to pay or
deliver promptly to a client or third person as requested funds in
his possession that the client or third person is entitled to
receive. We have considered the matters submitted in mitigation,
including that during the time period when the misconduct
occurred, respondent was handling a large volume of criminal
cases. He has since hired additional staff and made changes in his
office procedures in order to ensure that matters are handled more
efficiently. Accordingly, we conclude that respondent should be
censured. PRESENT: GREEN, J.P., WISNER, SCUDDER, GORSKI, AND
LAWTON, JJ. (Filed Oct. 1, 2002.)
MATTER OF ROGER A. OLSON, AN ATTORNEY,
RESPONDENT. GRIEVANCE COMMITTEE OF THE EIGHTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT,
PETITIONER. – Resignation accepted, name stricken from roll of
attorneys and order of restitution entered. PRESENT: GREEN, J.P.,
WISNER, SCUDDER, GORSKI, AND LAWTON, JJ. (Filed Oct. 1, 2002.)
MATTER OF JAMES A. RESTI, A SUSPENDED ATTORNEY,
RESPONDENT. – Order of disbarment entered. PRESENT: PIGOTT, JR.,
P.J., WISNER, HURLBUTT, KEHOE AND LAWTON, JJ. (Filed Sept. 6,
2002.)
MATTER OF MICHAEL B. RUDIN, A SUSPENDED
ATTORNEY, RESPONDENT. – Order of disbarment entered. PRESENT:
PIGOTT, JR., P.J., HURLBUTT, GORSKI, AND LAWTON, JJ. (Filed June
17, 2002.) |