Appellate Division: Second Judicial Department

M275036

E/sl

WILLIAM F. MASTRO, A.P.J.

REINALDO E. RIVERA

MARK C. DILLON

CHERYL E. CHAMBERS

LEONARD B. AUSTIN, JJ.

2020-00318 In the Matter of Paul X. Lima, admitted as Paul Xavier Lima, a suspended attorney. Grievance Committee for the Second, Eleventh, and Thirteenth Judicial Districts, petitioner; Paul X. Lima, respondent. (Attorney Registration No. 2343846)

DECISION & ORDER ON MOTION

Disciplinary proceeding commenced by the Grievance Committee for the Second, Eleventh, and Thirteenth Judicial Districts pursuant to 22 NYCRR 1240.8 by the service and filing of a notice of petition and a verified petition, both dated January 8, 2020. Subsequently, the respondent served and filed a verified answer dated February 27, 2020, and the Grievance Committee served and filed a statement of disputed and undisputed facts dated July 1, 2020, which was not challenged by the respondent. By decision and order on motion of this Court dated September 16, 2020, the respondent was immediately suspended from the practice of law in the State of New York, pursuant to 22 NYCRR 1240.9(a)(2) and (5), and Roger Bennet Adler was assigned as Special Referee, to hear and report. 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 20, 1990, under the name Paul Xavier Lima.

On the Court's own motion, it is

ORDERED that Roger Bennet Adler is relieved as Special Referee in the above- entitled matter; and it is further,

ORDERED that on or before February 5, 2021, the Grievance Committee for the Second, Eleventh, and Thirteenth Judicial Districts shall serve copies of the notice of petition, the verified petition, and the statement of disputed and undisputed facts, and the respondent shall serve a copy of the verified answer, upon the Special Referee, appointed herein; and it is further,

ORDERED that the issues raised are reassigned to the Hon. Abraham G. Gerges, 31 Elizabeth Lane, P.O. Box 5025, Quogue, NY 11959, as Special Referee, to hear and report, with the hearing to be completed within 60 days of the date of this decision and order on motion, or as soon thereafter as practicable, and the report, which contains his findings on the issues and the charges, to be submitted within 60 days after the conclusion of the hearing or the submission of post-hearing memoranda.

MASTRO, A.P.J., RIVERA, DILLON, CHAMBERS and AUSTIN, JJ., concur.

ENTER:

Aprilanne Agostino

Clerk of the Court