Disbarred By Consent
The New Jersey Supreme Court has accepted an attorney’s consent to disbarment.
Morristown Minute reported on payments made as a consequence of the attorney’s conduct
In a significant move towards upholding the integrity of the legal profession, the New Jersey Lawyers’ Fund for Client Protection has compensated clients victimized by attorney misconduct. Between October and December 2023, the fund, overseen by trustees appointed by the Supreme Court of New Jersey, reimbursed a total of $708,864.40 across 16 claims, addressing misappropriations by 10 New Jersey lawyers.
These awards were necessitated by the theft of escrowed funds in real estate transactions and other civil matters, as well as cases where lawyers failed to deliver promised services despite receiving payment. Notably, two of the largest claims involved $300,000 and $257,21.40, misappropriated from a real estate matter and an estate, respectively…
Martin S. Fishman (Franklin Lakes): Suspended on 6/30/2023, with a claim of $90,000.00 for misappropriation of deposit money/real estate.
A press release from the Bergen County Prosecutor
Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the arrest of MARTIN S. FISHMAN (DOB: 02/24/1951; married; unemployed) of 954 Pines Terrace, Franklin Lakes, NJ on charges of misappropriating clients’ money, identity theft, and forgery. FISHMAN’S license to practice law is suspended in New Jersey and revoked in New York. The arrest is the result of an investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office under the direction of Acting Chief Matthew Finck.
Starting in May 2023, four victims reported to the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Financial Crimes Unit that, as early as 2014, they had been involved in real estate transactions with MARTIN S. FISHMAN, who had not repaid his loans, fraudulently drafted mortgage notes, dispersed bounced checks for real estate closings, misapplied funds intended for an attorney trust account, and then ceased communication with those attempting to recoup their money. The stolen funds totaled over $600,000.00.
On Tuesday, February 27, 2024, MARTIN S. FISHMAN was charged with second-degree theft by unlawful taking or disposition, N.J.S.A. 2C:20-3(a); second-degree theft by deception, N.J.S.A. 2C:20-4; second-degree theft by failure to make required disposition of property received, N.J.S.A. 2C:20-9; second-degree misapplication of entrusted property, N.J.S.A. 2C:21-15; second-degree impersonation, N.J.S.A. 2C:21-18(a)2; and third-degree forgery, N.J.S.A. 2C:21-1(a)3. Following his arrest, FISHMAN was remanded to the Bergen County Jail pending his first appearance in Central Judicial Processing Court in Hackensack, New Jersey.
Prosecutor Musella states that the charges are merely accusations, and that the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. He would like to thank the Franklin Lakes Police Department for its assistance with this investigation.
(Mike Frisch)