Attorney Grievance Committees
The Attorney Grievance Committees are authorized 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 14,000 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: 1/01/12
- 12/31/12
| I. Matters Processed:* | ||
| A. Matters Pending at Start of Period | 509 | |
| B. New Matters During Period | 1928 | |
| C. Closed Matters Reactivated During Period | 17 | |
| D. Total Matters to be Processed During Period (A+B+C) | 2454 | |
| E. Total Matters Disposed of During Period | 1988 | |
| F. Matters Pending at End of Period | 466 | |
| II. Matters Disposed of by Committee: | Cases** | Matters |
| A. Rejected as Failing to State a Complaint | 910 | 1034 |
| B. Referred to Other Disciplinary Committees | 115 | 119 |
| C. Referred to Other Agencies | 4 | 4 |
| D. Dismissed or Withdrawn | 417 | 459 |
| E. Dismissed through Mediation | 0 | 0 |
| F. Letter of Caution | 153 | 187 |
| G. Letter of Admonition | 21 | 37 |
| H. Admonition (or reprimand) | 0 | 0 |
| I. Referred to Appellate Division (Disc. Proc) | 85 | 148 |
| Total Disposed of During Period (Same as I.E.) | 1705 | 1988 |
| III. Cases Processed in all Courts:** | ||
| A. Cases Pending at Start of Period | 23 | |
| 1. Disciplinary Proceedings | 15 | |
| 2. Other | 8 | |
| B. Cases Received During Period | 85 | |
| 1. Disciplinary Proceedings | 28 | |
| 2. Other | 60 | |
| C. Total to be Processed During Period | 108 | |
| D. Cases Closed | ||
| 1. Disbarred | 4 | |
| 2. Disciplinary Resignations | 1 | |
| 3. Suspended *** | 22 | |
| 4. Censured | 10 | |
| 5. Private Censure | 0 | |
| 6. Remanded to Grievance Committee | 1 | |
| 7. Discontinued | 1 | |
| 8. Dismissed | 1 | |
| 9. Reinstatements Granted | 4 | |
| 10. Reinstatements Denied | 1 | |
| 11. Non-Disciplinary Resignations | 14 | |
| 12. All other Dispositions | 15 | |
| 13. Total Closed | 74 | |
| E. Total Cases Pending at End of Period | 34 | |
| 1. Disciplinary Proceedings | 24 | |
| 2. Other | 10 | |
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.
FIFTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT
| 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | |
| Committee Meetings | 3 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 4 |
| Attorney Appearances | 9 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 25 | 27 | 19 | 20 | 14 |
| Caution Letters | 42 | 26 | 21 | 76 | 37 | 32 | 33 | 44 | 41 | 46 |
| Admonition Letters | 7 | 4 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 10 | 14 | 4 | 7 | 12 |
| Petitions Referred to the Appellate Division | 2 | 8 | 5 | 11 | 8 | 8 | 12 | 9 | 9 | 8 |
| Complaints Received - (Includes Reopened Complaints) | 562 | 584 | 601 | 577 | 597 | 631 | 634 | 638 | 739 | 495 |
SEVENTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT
| 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | |
| Committee Meetings | 3 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 5 |
| Attorney Appearances | 8 | 12 | 15 | 7 | 17 | 18 | 16 | 13 | 17 | 11 |
| Caution Letters | 33 | 39 | 35 | 30 | 45 | 44 | 42 | 47 | 44 | 33 |
| Admonition Letters | 2 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 6 | 7 | 5 | 6 | 4 |
| Petitions Referred to the Appellate Division | 4 | 6 | 12 | 15 | 18 | 17 | 6 | 6 | 13 | 6 |
| Complaints Received - (Includes Reopened Complaints) | 730 | 758 | 766 | 736 | 630 | 638 | 739 | 630 | 666 | 613 |
EIGHTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT
| 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | |
| Committee Meetings | 6 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 5 |
| Attorney Appearances | 34 | 22 | 28 | 39 | 21 | 16 | 18 | 21 | 13 | 16 |
| Caution Letters | 81 | 78 | 90 | 108 | 65 | 82 | 89 | 63 | 74 | 74 |
| Admonition Letters | 11 | 7 | 11 | 17 | 12 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 5 | 5 |
| Petitions Referred to the Appellate Division | 14 | 9 | 9 | 21 | 11 | 2 | 10 | 5 | 5 | 11 |
| Complaints Received - (Includes Reopened Complaints) | 930 | 927 | 1,387 | 1,211 | 1,034 | 1,405 | 1,177 | 944 | 898 | 837 |