Appellate Division: Second Judicial Department

M302622

KS/HECTOR D. LASALLE, P.J.

MARK C. DILLON

COLLEEN D. DUFFY

BETSY BARROS

DEBORAH A. DOWLING, JJ.

2024-07389 In the Matter of Melissa Ringel, admitted as Melissa Beth Ringel, an attorney and counselor-at-law. Grievance Committee for the Ninth Judicial District, petitioner; Melissa Ringel, respondent. (Attorney Registration No. 2908606)

DECISION & ORDER ON MOTION

Motion by the Grievance Committee for the Ninth Judicial District pursuant to Judiciary Law § 90(4)(f) and 22 NYCRR 1240.12(b)(2), (c)(2)(i) and (ii) to suspend the respondent from the practice of law based upon her conviction of a serious crime and to direct the respondent to show cause why a final order of discipline should not be made. The respondent was admitted to the Bar at a term of the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court in the First Judicial Department on July 13, 1998, under the name Melissa Beth Ringel.

On April 4, 2024, the respondent was convicted, following a jury trial, in the Supreme Court, New York County, before the Honorable Robert Mandelbaum, of one count of official misconduct, in violation of Penal Law § 195.00(1), a class A misdemeanor. On April 26, 2024, the respondent was sentenced to a one-year conditional discharge and fined in the amount of $55,000.

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

ORDERED that the motion is granted; and it is further,

ORDERED that the respondent, Melissa Ringel, admitted as Melissa Beth Ringel, is immediately suspended from the practice of law pursuant to Judiciary Law § 90(4)(f) and 22 NYCRR 1240.12(b)(2)(ii) as a result of her conviction of a serious crime, and continuing until further order of this Court; and it is further,

ORDERED that the respondent, Melissa Ringel, admitted as Melissa Beth Ringel, shall promptly comply with the rules governing the conduct of disbarred or 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, Melissa Ringel, admitted as Melissa Beth Ringel, 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, Melissa Ringel, admitted as Melissa Beth Ringel, 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, pursuant to 22 NYCRR 1240.12(c)(2)(i), the respondent, Melissa Ringel, admitted as Melissa Beth Ringel, is directed to show cause why a final order of suspension, censure, or disbarment should not be made based on her conviction of a serious crime by uploading a digital copy of an affidavit with the Clerk of the Court, with proof of service upon the Grievance Committee for the Ninth Judicial District, through the digital portal on this Court's website, on or before March 26, 2025; and it is further,

ORDERED that the Grievance Committee for the Ninth Judicial District shall upload a digital copy of a response to the papers filed by the respondent, Melissa Ringel, admitted as Melissa Beth Ringel, if any, with proof of service thereof, through the digital portal on this Court's website on or before April 9, 2024; and it is further,

ORDERED that the Clerk of the Court, or his designee, shall serve a copy of this order to show cause on the Grievance Committee for the Ninth Judicial District, via email; and it is further,

ORDERED that the Grievance Committee for the Ninth Judicial District shall serve the respondent, Melissa Ringel, admitted as Melissa Beth Ringel, with a copy of this order to show cause pursuant to CPLR 2103(c) and upload proof of service through the digital portal on this Court's website on or before February 24, 2025.

LASALLE P.J., DILLON, DUFFY, BARROS and DOWLING, JJ., concur.

ENTER:

Darrell M. Joseph

Clerk of the Court