When New York Attorneys Fail To Respond To Bar Complaint, Disbarment Follows As Night Follows Day

In New York, an attorney who fails to cooperate with the bar’s investigation into allegations of misconduct is subject to an order of summary disbarment as a result.

The Appellate Division for the First Judicial Department entered two such orders yesterday.

One disbarment involved an investigation into allegations that the attorney had practiced while suspended.

The other disbarment was based on the following allegations

Respondent was suspended because he failed to cooperate with the Committee’s investigation into a complaint filed against him alleging neglect of an immigration matter, including respondent’s failure to appear on multiple court dates on behalf of his incarcerated client, and his failure to file required documents or to communicate with his client.

In both cases, the attorney was suspended on an interim basis, directed to respond and failed to do so.

Pursuant to the First Department rules, an order of disbarment is entered when the attorney has failed to respond six months after the interim suspension. (Mike Frisch)