Appellate Division: Second Judicial Department

M148087

E/ct

RANDALL T. ENG, P.J.

WILLIAM F. MASTRO

REINALDO E. RIVERA

PETER B. SKELOS

LEONARD B. AUSTIN, JJ.

2012-06790 In the Matter of Benjamin E. Thwaites, admitted as Benjamin Emmanuel Thwaites, a suspended attorney. Grievance Committee for the Ninth Judicial District, petitioner; Benjamin E. Thwaites, respondent. (Attorney Registration No. 4505772)

DECISION & ORDER ON MOTION

Application by the respondent to extend his time to answer a verified petition of the Grievance Committee for the Ninth Judicial District, dated February 2, 2012. The respondent was admitted at a term of the Supreme Court in the Second Judicial Department on November 14, 2007, under the name Benjamin Emmanuel Thwaites. By decision and order on motion of this Court dated July 23 2012, the respondent was immediately suspended from the practice of law, pending further order of the Court; the Grievance Committee was authorized to institute and prosecute a disciplinary proceeding against the respondent based upon a verified petition dated February 2, 2012; the respondent was directed to serve and file a verified answer within 20 days after service upon him of a copy of the decision and order on motion; and the issues raised by the petition and any answer thereto were referred to Nicholas Leo, Jr., as Special Referee to hear and report.

Upon the papers filed in the support of the application and the papers filed in relation thereto, it is

ORDERED that the application is granted, the respondent's answer is accepted for filing and deemed timely served on the Grievance Committee for the Ninth Judicial District, and on or before January 4, 2013, the respondent must serve the answer upon the Special Referee and file proof of service with the Court.

ENG, P.J., MASTRO, RIVERA, SKELOS and AUSTIN, JJ., concur.

ENTER:

Aprilanne Agostino

Clerk of the Court