The New Jersey Supreme Court has imposed a two-year suspension retroactive to an interim suspension for a conviction described by the Disciplinary Review Board

On September 15, 2015, after drinking in New York City, and while under the influence of alcohol and xanax, respondent drove his automobile onto the Long Island Expressway. At Exit 46, while respondent was in the high occupancy vehicle lane, his car collided with a vehicle driven by twenty-one year old student George Ragotte, who had stopped his car to avoid a collision with two vehicles that had just been involved in an unrelated accident ahead of him. Ragotte died from his injuries.

The attorney was convicted of several offenses and sentenced to imprisonment.

Sanction

respondent has taken substantial steps, while in prison, to become a better, sober person. Unfortunately, that betterment has come at a tragically high cost to the Ragotte family. Under all of these circumstances, we determine to impose a two-year suspension, to June 7, 2017, the date of respondent’s temporary suspension.