A Censure In New Jersey
The New Jersey Supreme Court recently censured an attorney with a disciplinary record dating back to 1995.
The Disciplinary Review Board having filed with the Court its decision in DRB 22-132, concluding that James R. Lisa of Jersey City, who was admitted to the bar of this State in 1984, should be censured for violating RPC 1.5(b) (failing to set forth in writing the basis or rate of the legal fee), RPC 8.1(b) (two instances -failing to cooperate with disciplinary authorities), and RPC 1.16(d) (failing to protect a client’s interests upon termination of the representation);
And good cause appearing;
It is ORDERED that James R. Lisa is hereby censured…
The Disciplinary Review Board set out the prior record along with its findings of misconduct and recommendation for a censure
Respondent’s disciplinary history, however, is far more egregious than that of the reprimanded attorney in Jaffe, who had two remote reprimands and a recent censure, and the reprimanded attorney in Keely-Cain, who had a remote admonition. By contrast, respondent has (1) a 1995 admonition for recordkeeping infractions; (2) a 1998 three-month suspension for possessing controlled dangerous substances; (3) a 1999 one-year suspension for practicing law while suspended; (4) a 2000 six-month suspension for attempting to establish an inappropriate fee-sharing agreement with a corrections officer; and (5) a 2008 censure for negligently misappropriating entrusted client funds and retaining excess recording fees in connection with numerous real estate closings. Although much of respondent’s prior misconduct occurred more than two decades ago, his 2008 censure demonstrates that he has had not enjoyed a prolonged period in which he has maintained consistent compliance with the Rules of Professional Conduct.
New Jersey.com noted pending criminal charges in a January 2023 article
A Jersey City attorney has been charged with defrauding his clients of more than $2 million and identity theft, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced Thursday.
James R. Lisa, 67, was indicted on three counts of wire fraud and four counts of aggravated identity theft.
Lisa was arraigned Thursday via videoconference before U.S. Magistrate Judge José R. Almonte. He pleaded not guilty and was release on $100,000 unsecured bond.
According to the indictment, in 2014, Lisa was retained by a family to help with the repatriation of millions of dollars that had been transferred to offshore bank accounts decades earlier by family members. He was also retained to assist with the resolution of tax issues related to the funds’ repatriation. In 2016, the family’s funds were repatriated by Lisa, but he misinformed the family that the funds remained offshore, the indictment alleges.
In 2017, Lisa provided the family with $4 million of the repatriated funds, but continued to falsely represent that the remaining $2 million was beyond his control, the indictment says.
Dating back to 1995, Lisa has faced sanctions from the New Jersey Office of Attorney Ethics related to practicing law in New York while his license was suspended in New Jersey, setting up an inappropriate fee-sharing arrangement with a Hudson County jail officer, record keeping deficiencies, and cocaine use, Hudson County View reported Thursday.
Lisa, whose law office is located on Newark Avenue, has represented some notable clients over the years in Hudson County.
He represented the Newport Centre Mall Easter bunny who was videotaped in 2016 brawling with a parent a week before Easter. Lisa then represented the Pennsylvania man who was pulled over near the Holland Tunnel with a truck full of guns in 2017.
Also in 2017, he represented a former dominatrix fighting to keep her job as a Hudson County sheriff’s officer.
Each count of wire fraud carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine not to exceed $250,000.
Each count of aggravated identity theft carries a mandatory penalty of two years in prison, which must run consecutively to any other term of imprisonment, and a fine not to exceed $250,000.
(Mike Frisch)