Appellate Division: Second Judicial DepartmentM306853

KS/

HECTOR D. LASALLE, P.J.

MARK C. DILLON

COLLEEN D. DUFFY

BETSY BARROS

DEBORAH A. DOWLING, JJ.

2024-07389 D In the Matter of Melissa Ringel, admitted as Melissa Beth Ringel, a suspended attorney. Grievance Committee for the Ninth Judicial District, petitioner; Melissa Ringel, respondent. (Attorney Registration No. 2908606)

ECISION & ORDER ON APPLICATION

On the Court's own motion, it is

ORDERED that the decision and order on application of this Court dated July 23, 2025, in the above-entitled case is recalled and vacated, and the following decision and order on application is substituted therefor:

Application by the respondent pursuant to 22 NYCRR 1240.12(c)(2)(iii) to refer this matter to a hearing before a Special Referee. 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. By decision and order on motion of this Court dated February 10, 2025, the respondent was immediately suspended from the practice of law pursuant to Judiciary Law § 90(4)(f) and 22 NYCRR 1240.12(c)(2)(ii) based upon her conviction of a serious crime, official misconduct, in violation of Penal Law § 195.00(1), a class A misdemeanor, in the Supreme Court, New York County. On April 26, 2024, the respondent was sentenced to a one-year conditional discharge and fined $55,000. By the same order, the respondent was 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.

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

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

ORDERED that pursuant to 22 NYCRR 1240.12(c)(2)(iii), this matter is referred to the Honorable Lester B. Adler, 34 Berrybush Lane, Hastings-On-Hudson, NY 10706, as Special Referee, to hear and report, with the hearing to be conducted within 60 days of this decision and order on motion, or as soon as practicable, and to submit a report, which contains the Special Referee's findings on any mitigating or aggravating factors, and a recommendation as to whether the respondent has demonstrated why a final order of public discipline should not be made, within 60 days after the conclusion of the hearing or the submission of post-hearing memoranda.

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

ENTER:

Darrell M. Joseph

Clerk of the Court