Matter of Attorneys in Violation of Judiciary Law § 468-a (Burns)
2025 NYSlipOp 07070 [244 AD3d 1574]
December 18, 2025
Appellate Division, Third Department
Published by New York State Law Reporting Bureau pursuant to Judiciary Law § 431.
As corrected through Wednesday, February 4, 2026


[*1]
 In the Matter of Attorneys in Violation of Judiciary Law § 468-a. Attorney Grievance Committee for the Third Judicial Department, Petitioner; Richard Allen Burns, Respondent. (Attorney Registration No. 4309316.)

Monica A. Duffy, Attorney Grievance Committee for the Third Judicial Department, Albany (Alison M. Coan of counsel), for Attorney Grievance Committee for the Third Judicial Department.

Foley Griffin, LLP, Garden City (Kelly Guthy of counsel), for respondent.


HEADNOTES


Attorney and Client - Reinstatement - Motion Granted

Motion by respondent for an order reinstating him to the practice of law following his suspension by May 2019 order of this Court (Matter of Attorneys in Violation of Judiciary Law § 468-a, 172 AD3d 1706, 1713 [3d Dept 2019]; see Rules for Atty Disciplinary Matters [22 NYCRR] § 1240.16; Rules of App Div, 3d Dept [22 NYCRR] § 806.16).

Upon reading respondent's notice of motion and affidavit with exhibits sworn to October 9, 2025, and the November 14, 2025 responsive correspondence from the Attorney Grievance Committee for the Third Judicial Department, and having determined, by clear and convincing evidence, that (1) respondent has satisfied the requirements of Rules of the Appellate Division, Third Department (22 NYCRR) § 806.16 (c) (5), (2) respondent has complied with the order of suspension and the rules of this Court, (3) respondent has the requisite character and fitness to practice law, and (4) it would be in the public interest to reinstate respondent to the practice of law (see Rules for Atty Disciplinary Matters [22 NYCRR] § 1240.16 [a]), it is ordered that respondent's motion for reinstatement is granted; and it is further ordered that respondent is reinstated as an attorney and counselor-at-law, effective immediately.[FN*]

Clark, J.P., Pritzker, Lynch, Powers and Corcoran, JJ., concur.

Footnotes


Footnote *:Respondent is also reminded that he has an affirmative duty to keep the Office of Court Administration apprised of his up-to-date contact information (see Rules of Chief Admr of Cts [22 NYCRR] § 118.1[f]).