Appellate Division: Second Judicial Department

M62461

E/nl

A. GAIL PRUDENTI, P.J.

HOWARD MILLER

ROBERT W. SCHMIDT

STEPHEN G. CRANE

PETER B. SKELOS, JJ.

1998-05572 In the Matter of Paul Leff, admitted as Paul Arden Leff, a disbarred attorney. (Attorney Registration No. 1006642)

DECISION & ORDER ON MOTION FOR REINSTATEMENT

Motion by the respondent for reinstatement as an attorney and counselor-at-law. The respondent was admitted to the Bar at a term of the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court in the First Judicial Department on January 26, 1976, under the name Paul Arden Leff. By opinion and order of this court dated March 20, 2000, the respondent was disbarred based on five charges of professional misconduct. By decision and order on motion of this court dated July 5, 2000, the respondent's motion for leave to reargue the opinion and order of this court dated March 20, 2000, was denied. By opinion and order of this court dated August 14, 1995, the respondent was suspended from the practice of law for a period of two years as a result of an unrelated disciplinary proceeding.

Upon the papers submitted in support of the motion and the papers submitted in response thereto, it is

ORDERED that the motion is held in abeyance and the matter is referred to the Committee on Character and Fitness to investigate and report on the respondent's current fitness to be an attorney, including but not limited to, a 2003 order of suspension from the United States District Court for the State of New Jersey.

PRUDENTI, P.J., MILLER, SCHMIDT, CRANE and SKELOS, JJ., concur.

ENTER:

James Edward Pelzer

Clerk of the Court