225 A.D. 250 | N.Y. App. Div. | 1929
A petition has been presented to this court in
which the respondent, who was admitted to the bar in 1924, is charged with having given a valuable consideration to four certain persons, who were not attorneys and counselors at law, as an inducement for procuring to be placed in respondent’s hands certain claims for personal injuries for the purpose of bringing actions thereon or representing the claimants in pursuit of a civil remedy for the recovery of damages.
Respondent does not seek to justify his conduct. In extenuation he urges that, before he was admitted to the bar and while he was serving his clerkship, he lived in an atmosphere of ambulance chasing; and as soon as he was admitted to the bar he began “ negligence case ” practice, and soon found himself with the usual attendant outfit. He knew the practice was unlawful, must have known that the courts condemned it, but observed that nevertheless it was going ahead at full speed and radical steps were not taken to bring it to an end. Respondent, with full knowledge of the law and of the Canons of Ethics of the Bar, has openly and notoriously violated them. However, it would be unjust to him to be blind to the state of affairs of the bar for the four years during which he has been a member of it, and to the fact that his derelictions were in part induced by the continuance of the practice despite the warning of the court — matters elsewhere referred to by this court. In light of these circumstances, and bearing in mind the youth of the respondent, his frankness in acknowledging his shortcomings, and the fact that no other wrongdoing in connection with his practice is charged against him, it has been determined by the court that a suspension for two years will meet the requirements of the situation and fairly serve the ends of justice.
Unless the public has complete confidence in the bar, the efficacy of its service must be seriously impaired. An attorney and counselor at law is an officer of the court, independent in function, but an adjunct of importance. By honorable service he should uphold the dignity and power of that vitally important branch of our Government. Unless he serves with fidelity and integrity those
The respondent should be suspended from the practice of the law for a period of two years.
Present ■ — Lazansky, P. J., Young, Hagarty, Carswell and Scudder, JJ.
Respondent suspended from the practice of the law for a period of two years.