Matter of Rockind
2011 NY Slip Op 06013 [86 AD3d 859]
July 21, 2011
Appellate Division, Third Department
Published by New York State Law Reporting Bureau pursuant to Judiciary Law § 431.
As corrected through Wednesday, August 31, 2011


In the Matter of Neil S. Rockind, an Attorney, Respondent. Committee on Professional Standards, Petitioner.

[*1] Peter M. Torncello, Committee on Professional Standards, Albany (Elizabeth M. Devane of counsel), for petitioner.

Sarah Diane McShea, New York City, for respondent.

Per Curiam. Respondent was admitted to practice by this Court in 2006. He was previously admitted in Michigan in 1993, where he maintains an office for the practice of law.

By order dated March 8, 2011, the Michigan Attorney Discipline Board publically reprimanded respondent and ordered him to pay restitution after finding that he engaged in professional misconduct by, among other things, neglecting a criminal client's post-appeal proceedings.

As a result of the discipline imposed in Michigan, petitioner moves for an order imposing discipline pursuant to this Court's rules (see 22 NYCRR 806.19). Respondent has filed a responsive affidavit in which he acknowledges the misconduct and indicates that he does not raise any available defenses to the imposition of discipline (see 22 NYCRR 806.19 [d]). Accordingly, we grant petitioner's motion and further conclude that, under the circumstances presented, respondent should be censured in this state. [*2]

Mercure, J.P., Rose, Malone Jr., McCarthy and Egan Jr., JJ., concur. Ordered that petitioner's motion is granted; and it is further ordered that respondent is hereby censured.