MATTER OF KRISTIN COLLEEN WRIGHT, AN ATTORNEY, RESIGNOR. -- Voluntary resignation accepted and name removed from roll of attorneys (see Matter of Manown, 240 AD2d 83). PRESENT: SCUDDER, P.J., GORSKI, GREEN, AND PINE, JJ. (Filed Jan. 3, 2007.)

MATTER OF EDWARD TEFFT BARKER, AN ATTORNEY, RESPONDENT. GRIEVANCE COMMITTEE OF THE FIFTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT, PETITIONER. -- Order of suspension entered pursuant to 22 NYCRR 1022.23 (b). PRESENT: SCUDDER, P.J., GORSKI, GREEN, AND PINE, JJ. (Filed Jan. 18, 2007.)

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MATTER OF ROBERT R. CALLI, AN ATTORNEY, RESPONDENT. GRIEVANCE COMMITTEE OF THE FIFTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT, PETITIONER. -- Order of suspension entered pursuant to 22 NYCRR 1022.23 (b). PRESENT: SCUDDER, P.J., GORSKI, GREEN, AND PINE, JJ. (Filed Jan. 18, 2007.)

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MATTER OF ROSS M. CELLINO, FOR REINSTATEMENT TO THE PRACTICE OF LAW. -- Order entered terminating suspension and reinstating petitioner to the practice of law. PRESENT: SCUDDER, P.J., GORSKI, SMITH, AND PINE, JJ. (Filed Jan. 18, 2007.)

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MATTER OF DIANA G. CUNNINGHAM, AN ATTORNEY, RESPONDENT. GRIEVANCE COMMITTEE OF THE FIFTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT, PETITIONER. -- Order of censure entered. Per Curiam Opinion: Respondent was admitted to the practice of law by this Court on June 25, 1992, and maintains an office for the practice of law in Syracuse. The Grievance Committee filed a petition charging respondent with acts of misconduct arising from her neglect of client matters. Respondent filed an answer denying certain material allegations of the petition, and a referee was appointed to conduct a hearing. Prior to the hearing, outstanding issues of fact were resolved by stipulation. Respondent testified at the hearing regarding matters in mitigation. The Referee filed a report that the Grievance Committee has moved to confirm.

    Respondent admits that she neglected client matters, failed to respond to requests for information from the Grievance Committee and from the administrator of the fee arbitration program, and failed to comply in a timely manner with attorney registration requirements and with requests from clients for the unearned portions of retainer fees. Additionally, she admits that her failure to comply with a court order resulted in a finding of contempt, which she subsequently purged.

    The Referee found and counsel for the Grievance Committee does not dispute that respondent’s misconduct occurred during a period of time in which respondent suffered from episodes of depression for which she initially failed to seek appropriate treatment, based on her lack of understanding of the nature of her illness.

    We confirm the findings of the Referee and conclude that respondent has 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 her fitness as a lawyer;

    DR 2-106 (e) (22 NYCRR 1200.11 [e]) - failing to resolve fee disputes in civil matters by arbitration at the election of a client;

    DR 2-110 (a) (3) (22 NYCRR 1200.15 [a] [3]) - withdrawing from employment without refunding promptly any part of a fee paid in advance that has not been earned;

    DR 6-101 (a) (3) (22 NYCRR 1200.30 [a] [3]) - neglecting a legal matter entrusted to her;

    DR 7-101 (a) (2) (22 NYCRR 1200.32) [a] [2]) - intentionally failing to carry out a contract of employment entered into with a client for professional services;

    DR 7-106 (a) (22 NYCRR 1200.37 [a]) - disregarding a ruling of a tribunal made in the course of a proceeding;

    DR 9-102 (c) (1) (22 NYCRR 1200.46 [c] [1]) - failing to notify a client promptly of the receipt of funds in which the client has an interest;

    DR 9-102 (c) (3) (22 NYCRR 1200.46 [c] [3]) - failing to maintain complete records of funds of a client coming into her possession and to render appropriate accounts to the client regarding them; and

    DR 9-102 (c) (4) (22 NYCRR 1200.46 [c] [4]) - failing to pay or deliver to the client in a prompt manner as requested by the client the funds, securities or other properties in her possession that the client is entitled to receive.

    Additionally, respondent violated Judiciary Law § 468-a and 22 NYCRR 118.1 by failing to comply with attorney registration requirements.

    We have considered in mitigation the undisputed findings of the Referee that, at the time of the misconduct, respondent suffered from episodic depression for which she has sought treatment, that respondent made full restitution to her clients and that no client was harmed as a result of her misconduct, and that respondent has taken steps to ensure that the misconduct does not recur, including securing the assistance of another attorney to monitor her progress with her caseload. Additionally, we have considered respondent’s expression of extreme remorse for the misconduct. Accordingly, after consideration of all of the factors in this matter, we conclude that respondent should be censured. PRESENT: HURLBUTT, J.P., MARTOCHE, SMITH, AND CENTRA, JJ. (Filed Feb. 2, 2007.)

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MATTER OF TODD S. ENGEL, AN ATTORNEY, RESPONDENT. GRIEVANCE COMMITTEE OF THE FIFTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT, PETITIONER. -- Order of censure entered. Per Curiam Opinion: Respondent was admitted to the practice of law by this Court on February 18, 1998, and maintains an office for the practice of law in Syracuse. The Grievance Committee filed a petition charging respondent with acts of misconduct arising from the facts underlying his conviction in 2005 of harassment in the second degree (Penal Law § 240.26), and with other misconduct, including neglecting client matters. Respondent filed an answer admitting the material allegations of the petition and appeared before this Court and submitted matters in mitigation.

    Respondent admits that he subjected a client to inappropriate physical contact, neglected client matters and used retainer agreements in matrimonial matters that failed to include information required by the rules of this Court.

    We conclude that respondent has violated the following Disciplinary Rules of the Code of Professional Responsibility:

    DR 1-102 (a) (3) (22 NYCRR 1200.3 [a] [3]) - engaging in illegal conduct that adversely reflects on his honesty, trustworthiness or fitness as a lawyer;

    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 2-110 (a) (2) (22 NYCRR 1200.15 [a] [2]) - withdrawing from employment without giving due notice to the client; and

DR 6-101 (a) (3) (22 NYCRR 1200.30 [a] [3]) - neglecting a legal matter entrusted to him.

    Additionally, respondent violated 22 NYCRR 1400.2 and 1400.3 by failing to provide billing statements at required intervals in domestic relations matters and failing to include necessary information in retainer agreements used in such matters.

    We have considered the matters submitted by respondent in mitigation, including that the misconduct occurred at a time when he suffered from depression for which he has sought treatment, his marriage was failing and his mother was seriously ill. Additionally, we note that respondent has an otherwise unblemished record and has expressed extreme remorse for his misconduct. Accordingly, after consideration of all of the factors in this matter, we conclude that respondent should be censured, on condition that he agree to participate in and be monitored by a program sponsored by the New York State Bar Association Lawyers Assistance Program for a period of one year. In the event that respondent fails to participate in the program or to comply with a condition of the program, or he commits additional misconduct during the period of monitoring, the Grievance Committee shall immediately apply for an order returning the proceeding to this Court for the imposition of appropriate discipline. PRESENT: SCUDDER, P.J., GORSKI, GREEN, AND PINE, JJ. (Filed Feb. 2, 2007.)

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MATTER OF JEFFREY M. JAYSON, A SUSPENDED ATTORNEY, RESPONDENT. GRIEVANCE COMMITTEE OF THE SEVENTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT, PETITIONER. -- Order of suspension entered. Per Curiam Opinion: Respondent was admitted to the practice of law by this Court on January 10, 1991, and formerly maintained offices for the practice of law in Erie County and Monroe County. By order entered December 31, 2003, we suspended respondent from the practice of law for 18 months and until further order of the Court for misconduct that included failing to provide adequate supervision for two nonlawyer employees and neglecting client matters (Matter of Jayson, 3 AD3d 80). Respondent has not applied for reinstatement to practice.

    The instant proceeding was commenced by the filing of a supplemental petition directed to the commission of acts of misconduct that allegedly occurred during the same time period as the misconduct alleged in the original petition. Respondent filed an answer denying material allegations of the supplemental petition and objecting to the filing of a supplemental petition subsequent to the imposition of discipline by this Court on the charges in the original petition.

    We appointed a referee to conduct a hearing, and, prior to the hearing, the parties stipulated to amend the answer, thereby resolving outstanding issues of fact. Respondent testified at the hearing regarding matters in mitigation of the charges. The Referee has submitted a report, which the Grievance Committee has moved to confirm. Respondent has cross-moved to dismiss the supplemental petition.

    As an initial matter, we note our agreement with the respondent that the pleading filed by the Grievance Committee in this matter is incorrectly denominated a supplemental petition. Inasmuch as the original petition was no longer pending when this proceeding was commenced, the pleading at issue herein was a petition and not a supplemental petition. We decline to dismiss the pleading based upon that error, however, and we instead treat the supplemental petition as a petition (see CPLR 103 [c]).

    Respondent was charged with acts of misconduct arising from his representation of a client who retained him to represent her in a criminal matter. The client entered pleas of guilty under two indictments following the denial of her request for substitution of counsel. We reversed the judgments of conviction, vacated the pleas and remitted the matters for further proceedings on the ground that respondent failed to provide meaningful representation (People v Laraby, 305 AD2d 1121).

    The Referee found, based upon the facts underlying our decision in Laraby, that respondent accepted representation of a client when he knew or should have known that he was unable to provide meaningful representation, that he failed to represent the client zealously, as he was obligated to do, and that he failed to withdraw from representation when it became obvious that he should do so. The Referee further found that respondent had an obligation to refund the retainer fee to his client and that he had failed to do so.

    Additionally, the Referee found that respondent collected excessive fees from clients, failed to refund unearned fees or to satisfy an arbitration award, issued a check drawn against his trust account that was dishonored for insufficient funds, and, in a matrimonial matter in which he represented the wife, agreed to prepare and file a qualified domestic relations order on behalf of the husband, without making required disclosures to the wife or obtaining her consent.

    We confirm the Referee’s findings of fact and conclude that respondent violated the following Disciplinary Rules of the Code of Professional Responsibility:

    DR 1-102 (a) (4) (22 NYCRR 1200.3 [a] [4]) - engaging in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit or misrepresentation;

    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 2-106 (a) (22 NYCRR 1200.11 [a]) - entering into an agreement for, charging or collecting an illegal or excessive fee;

    DR 2-106 (c) (3) (22 NYCRR 1200.11 [c] [3]) - entering into an arrangement for, charging or collecting a fee proscribed by law or rule of court;

    DR 2-110 (a) (3) (22 NYCRR 1200.15 [a] [3]) - withdrawing from employment without refunding promptly any part of a fee paid in advance that has not been earned;

    DR 2-110 (b) (2) (22 NYCRR 1200.15 [b] [2]) - failing to withdraw from employment when he knows or it is obvious that continued employment would result in violation of a disciplinary rule;

    DR 5-105 (a) (22 NYCRR 1200.24 [a]) - failing to decline proffered employment if the exercise of independent professional judgment on behalf of a client will be or is likely to be adversely affected by the acceptance of the proffered employment, or if it would be likely to involve him in representing differing interests, and a disinterested lawyer would not believe that he or she could competently represent the interest of each client and each client did not consent to the representation after full disclosure of the implications of the simultaneous representation and the advantages and risks involved;

    DR 5-105 (c) (22 NYCRR 1200.24 [c]) - representing multiple clients with differing interests without disclosing the implications of the simultaneous representation and obtaining the consent of the clients to the representation;

    DR 5-108 (a) (1) (22 NYCRR 1200.27 [a] [1]) - representing a client in the same matter in which he represented a former client when the client’s interests are materially adverse to the interests of the former client without obtaining the consent of the former client after full disclosure;

    DR 6-101 (a) (1) (22 NYCRR 1200.30 [a] [1]) - handling a legal matter when he knows or should know that he is not competent to handle it;

    DR 7-101 (a) (1) (22 NYCRR 1200.32 [a] [1]) - intentionally failing to seek the lawful objectives of a client through reasonably available means permitted by law and the disciplinary rules;

    DR 7-101 (a) (3) (22 NYCRR 1200.32 [a] [3]) - intentionally prejudicing or damaging a client during the course of the professional relationship;

    DR 9-102 (b) (1) (22 NYCRR 1200.46 [b] [1]) - failing to maintain client funds in a special account separate from his business or personal accounts;

    DR 9-102 (c) (3) (22 NYCRR 1200.46 [c] [3]) - failing to maintain complete records of all funds of a client coming into his possession and to render appropriate accounts to his client regarding them;

    DR 9-102 (d) (22 NYCRR 1200.46 [d]) - failing to maintain required records of bank accounts; and

    DR 9-102 (i), (j) (22 NYCRR 1200.46 [i], [j]) - failing to make available to the Grievance Committee financial records required by the disciplinary rules to be maintained.

    We have considered the matters in mitigation found by the Referee, including that respondent, at the time of the misconduct, suffered from severe health problems. Additionally, we have considered that most of the misconduct that is the subject of the instant proceeding occurred prior to respondent’s suspension. Accordingly, we conclude that respondent should be suspended for 18 months, effective June 30, 2005, and until further order of the Court. Respondent is directed to make restitution pursuant to the order entered herewith. PRESENT: SCUDDER, P.J., GORSKI, GREEN, AND PINE, JJ. (Filed Feb. 2, 2007.)

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MATTER OF JAMES W. RICHARDS, FOR REINSTATEMENT TO THE PRACTICE OF LAW. -- Order entered denying application for reinstatement. PRESENT: SCUDDER, P.J., GORSKI, GREEN, AND PINE, JJ. (Filed Feb. 2, 2007.)

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MATTER OF JAMES J. SHAPIRO, FOR REINSTATEMENT TO THE PRACTICE OF LAW. -- Order entered terminating suspension and reinstating petitioner to the practice of law. PRESENT: HURLBUTT, J.P., MARTOCHE, SMITH, AND CENTRA, JJ. (Filed Jan. 18, 2007.)

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MATTER OF JOHN B. ZANKOWSKI, A SUSPENDED ATTORNEY, RESPONDENT. GRIEVANCE COMMITTEE OF THE SEVENTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT, PETITIONER. -- Order of disbarment entered. Memorandum: Respondent’s unexcused failure to appear or answer the petition constitutes a default (see Matter of Schwartz, 34 AD3d 1369; Matter of Termini, 28 AD3d 1256). PRESENT: SCUDDER, P.J., GORSKI, GREEN, AND PINE, JJ. (Filed Feb. 2, 2007.)

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