In re Goldman

7 A.D.3d 18, 777 N.Y.S.2d 89, 2004 N.Y. App. Div. LEXIS 6980
CourtAppellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York
DecidedMay 18, 2004
StatusPublished
Cited by6 cases

This text of 7 A.D.3d 18 (In re Goldman) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
In re Goldman, 7 A.D.3d 18, 777 N.Y.S.2d 89, 2004 N.Y. App. Div. LEXIS 6980 (N.Y. Ct. App. 2004).

Opinion

OPINION OF THE COURT

Per Curiam.

[19]*19Respondent Michael L. Goldman was admitted to the practice of law in the State of New York by the Second Judicial Department on November 15, 1978. At all times relevant to this proceeding, he has maintained an office for the practice of law within the First Judicial Department.

The Departmental Disciplinary Committee now seeks an order, pursuant to 22 NYCRR 603.4 (e) (1) (i) and (iii), immediately suspending respondent from the practice of law based upon his failure to comply with the Committee’s investigation of various complaints against him and based upon uncontested evidence of misconduct.

The Committee is currently investigating six complaints against respondent: two sua sponte complaints, each based on his endorsement of a check or checks drafted from his IOLA account and returned for insufficient funds, one complaint involving a check in the amount of $3,433.45 on November 26, 2001, and the other involving checks in the amount of $2,800 on January 16, 2002 and $3,626.56 on January 17, 2002, a complaint alleging that respondent, at a real estate closing, had tendered a check to a title insurance company in the amount of $60,000 which was dishonored for insufficient funds, a complaint alleging neglect and failure to communicate with his client regarding legal matters pertaining to the represented action, a complaint alleging misappropriation of $5,000 in funds and failure to disburse and/or account for those funds and a complaint alleging misappropriation of $10,000 held in escrow for the benefit of the complainant’s client and failure to disburse and/or account for those funds.

By letters dated March 8, 2002, the Committee notified respondent of its sua sponte complaints involving the two dishonored check matters and requested an answer relative to each as well as copies of bank records pertaining to his attorney special/trust/escrow account for the six months preceding the date of the letters of complaint. At the time the instant petition was filed, respondent had still not submitted an answer or furnished the requested bank records with respect to those matters and another dishonored check matter, despite having requested a number of extensions.

As to the complaint alleging the misappropriation of $5,000 in funds and failure to disburse and/or account for those funds, following the initial pleadings, the Committee requested that respondent submit various documents to aid its investigation. During the period April 2002 to April 2003, the Committee [20]*20wrote three letters requesting information and. documentation regarding the disposition of a $4,898.89 check respondent received for his client’s lost earnings. Respondent’s response, by letter dated May 1, 2003, failed to explain why it was almost one year overdue and failed to include the requested documentation pertaining to the $4,898.89 check.

As to the complaint regarding the misappropriation of $10,000 held in escrow for the benefit of the complainant’s client, respondent submitted his answer more than two months after it was due and has failed to comply with numerous requests and a subpoena for the production of bank records relevant to the matter. In addition, respondent has failed to submit escrow records to substantiate that the $10,000 held in his escrow account since 1998 has remained intact and, although he has sporadically provided some of the requested documents, he has failed to return numerous telephone calls relating to this matter.

A deposition of respondent, at which he was to produce bank records and other documents, was scheduled for July 10, 2003. Two days before the scheduled deposition date, respondent requested and was granted an adjournment to July 22, 2003. He was instructed to submit all the requested documents on or before July 18, 2003. On July 21, respondent requested another adjournment and the deposition was rescheduled for August 5, 2003, with the records to be submitted by July 25, 2003. Respondent failed to produce the records on that date or at any time prior to the August 5, 2003 deposition date. Respondent appeared on August 5, but without the requested records, and the deposition was conducted with respect to three of the pending complaints. The proceedings were adjourned until the Committee had reviewed the records pertaining to the dishonored check matters. Respondent was directed to produce bank and escrow records, including all monthly statements, all records of deposits and withdrawals, copies of canceled checks and all records of wire and/or computer generated transfers, from his J.E Morgan Chase account from January 2002 to the present and from his Israel Discount Bank of New York account from September 2001 to the present. On or about August 8, 2003, the Committee subpoenaed the banking institutions for the required records.

On August 19, 2003, the final date by which respondent was to have produced the records, he informed the Committee that he needed more time and asked for an extension to September 3, 2003. The Committee granted the extension, stressing that it [21]*21was a “final extension” and that any subsequent requests must be made by application to the Appellate Division. Without any explanation, respondent failed to submit any bank or escrow records by the September 3, 2003 deadline. By letter dated September 8, 2003, respondent informed the Committee that he had been “out of town,” that he had various medical problems and had medical appointments scheduled and that he “should have [the banking records] by the end of next week.” The letter included some explanation and documentation as to one of the matters the Committee was investigating. Respondent failed to produce the banking records by the end of the following week, despite his assurance that he would do so.

A judicial subpoena duces tecum calling for production of the banking and escrow records, a written explanation for respondent’s lack of cooperation with the Committee and respondent’s personal appearance on October 29, 2003 was issued by this Court on October 10, 2003 and sent to respondent with a cover letter advising him that his failure to comply with the subpoena would result in a motion by the Committee for respondent’s immediate suspension. Respondent’s secretary accepted service of the subpoena on an investigator’s third attempt to serve respondent at his office. A copy of the subpoena was also mailed to respondent’s office. Respondent neither appeared on the scheduled date nor provided the requested records or explanation. After the Committee tried to reach him by telephone on that date, respondent telephoned the Committee and left a message that he was unaware of his scheduled appearance.

By letter dated October 31, 2003, the Committee advised respondent that he was in default of the subpoena and urged his immediate compliance in order to avoid a motion to suspend. Respondent did not respond.

According to an analysis of bank records subsequently received from the banking institutions, respondent’s Israel Discount Bank escrow account contained negative balances on multiple dates.

In seeking respondent’s immediate suspension, the Committee asserts that respondent has thwarted its investigation for many months despite many extensions and that his conduct, including ignoring the subpoena issued by this Court and the Committee’s repeated directives seeking cooperation with the investigation, “evinces a shocking disregard for the judicial system, and can only be interpreted as a deliberate and willful attempt to impede the Committee’s investigation”

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Bluebook (online)
7 A.D.3d 18, 777 N.Y.S.2d 89, 2004 N.Y. App. Div. LEXIS 6980, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/in-re-goldman-nyappdiv-2004.