Appellate Division: Second Judicial Department

M259501

E/mm

ALAN D. SCHEINKMAN, P.J.

WILLIAM F. MASTRO

REINALDO E. RIVERA

MARK C. DILLON

CHERYL E. CHAMBERS, JJ.

2018-04765 In the Matter of Lenore Dowis, an attorney and counselor-at-law. Grievance Committee for the Tenth Judicial District, petitioner; Lenore Dowis, respondent. (Attorney Registration No. 2197259)

DECISION & ORDER ON MOTION

Motion by the respondent for leave to resign from the Bar, pursuant to 22 NYCRR 1240.22(a), for non-disciplinary reasons due to medical illness, and to stay a disciplinary proceeding commenced against her by the Grievance Committee for the Tenth Judicial District. The respondent was admitted to the Bar at a term of the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court in the Second Judicial Department on June 1, 1988. The Grievance Committee commenced a disciplinary proceeding against the respondent by filing a notice of petition and a verified petition both dated January 25, 2018. By order to show cause of this Court dated July 20, 2018, the respondent's time to answer the petition was held in abeyance pending determination of the motion.

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

ORDERED that the branch of the motion which is for leave to resign from the Bar pursuant to 22 NYCRR 1240.22(a) is denied; and it is further,

ORDERED that on the Court's own motion, the respondent, Lenore Dowis, is immediately suspended from the practice of law pursuant to 22 NYCRR 1240.14(b) on the ground that she is incapacitated due to medical illness, for an indefinite period of time and until further order of this Court; and it is further,

ORDERED that the respondent, Lenore Dowis, shall promptly comply with this Court's rules governing the conduct of disbarred and suspended attorneys (see 22 NYCRR 1240.15); and it is further,

ORDERED that pursuant to Judiciary Law § 90, during the period of suspension and until further order of this Court, the respondent, Lenore Dowis, is commanded to desist and refrain from (1) practicing law in any form, either as principal or agent, clerk, or employee of another, (2) appearing as an attorney or counselor-at-law before any court, Judge, Justice, board, commission, or other public authority, (3) giving to another an opinion as to the law or its application or any advice in relation thereto, and (4) holding herself out in any way as an attorney and counselor-at-law; and it is further,

ORDERED that if the respondent, Lenore Dowis, has been issued a secure pass by the Office of Court Administration, it shall be returned forthwith to the issuing agency and the respondent shall certify to the same in her affidavit of compliance pursuant to 22 NYCRR 1240.15(f); and it is further,

ORDERED that the branch of the motion which is to stay the disciplinary proceeding against the respondent, Lenore Dowis, is granted.

SCHEINKMAN, P.J., MASTRO, RIVERA, DILLON and CHAMBERS, JJ., concur.

ENTER:

Aprilanne Agostino

Clerk of the Court