268 A.D. 987 | N.Y. App. Div. | 1944
By order of this court, entered January 23, 1939 [256 App. Div. 829], the respondent was disbarred and removed from the office of attorney and counsellor at law. The order, pursuant to the provisions of the Judiciary Law (§ 88, subd. 2), directed respondent “ to desist and refrain from the practice of law in any form, either as principal or as agent, clerk or employee of another, and he is forbidden for compensation or reward to appear as attorney or counselor at law before any court, judge, justice, board, commission or other public authority or to give to another his opinion as to the law or its application or any advice in relation thereto.” On December 1, 1939, respondent was appointed temporarily as a process server in the referee section of the Unemployment Insurance Appeal Board of the Hew York State Department of Labor, and on July 8, 1940, he was appointed permanently to that position. On July 16, 1941, respondent was provisionally promoted to the position of senior law clerk. On December 10, 1941, respondent filed a sworn application with the Hew York State Department of Civil Service to take an examination for the position of senior law clerk. One of the questions on the application was: had the applicant “ a license issued by any Hew York State Board of Examiners or other official board authorized by law to practice any * * * profession ” and “ If so, state nature of such license, by whom issued, date of issue and expiration.” In answer to that question respondent stated he had a license to practice law issued by this court, but he did not disclose he had been disbarred. Subsequently respondent passed the examination for the position of senior law clerk and was certified by the Department of Civil Service, and on April 1,1942, he was appointed permanently to the position of senior law clerk. On March 9, 1944, respondent filed a sworn application with the Department of Civil Service to take a promotion examination for the position of principal law clerk, with knowledge that applicants for that position were required to be members of the Bar. In his application respondent stated he had a license to practice law issued by this court, but he again failed to disclose he had been disbarred. In answer to a question relating to his experience and duties, respondent stated: “ Provisionally promoted to title on 7/16/41 — permanently 4/1/42. Examination and preparation of contested cases, preparatory to hearing before Referees, disposing of all applications for adjournments — Handling correspondence — initiating investigations— issuing subpoenas — legal research — determining proper parties to hearing.” Later, when the fact of respondent’s disbarment was brought to the attention of the Chairman of the Unemployment Insurance Appeal Board of the Department of Labor by the Grievance Committee of the Bar Association