How To Handle A Disciplinary Complaint

A lawyer who was charged with neglect of two clients' cases was censured, rather than suspended, because his approach to the disciplinary case was textbook perfect. The Appellate Division, Fourth Department imposed the sanction and noted that the attorney has cooperated with the disciplinary process and admitted the ethical violation. The attorney established that his inattention to client matters was related to ongoing personal domestic problems and that he had established office procedures that would help prevent recurrences of the misconduct. Most importantly, the court was clearly influenced by the attorney's "expressions of extreme remorse."

The link takes you to the court's web page--the case is P-07-014. (Mike Frisch)