Lying To Clients Draws Censure

The New Jersey Supreme Court has imposed a censure on an attorney who neglected a consumer fraud action undertaken on behalf of several clients and lied to the clients about the progress of the case. According to the Disciplinary Review Board:

We find that this matter is similar to the Cellino and Franks matters. Like these attorneys, respondent lied to his clients that their matters were progressing. Like Cellino, he did so repeatedly. In addition, he has an admonition on his ethics record.

We, therefore, find that a censure is the appropriate form of sanction here.

The leniency here is distressing. (Mike Frisch)