In the Matter of BARRY I. SPIEGLER (Admitted as BARRY IRA SPIEGLER), an Attorney, Respondent. DEPARTMENTAL DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE FOR THE FIRST JUDICIAL DEPARTMENT, Petitioner.
Supreme Court, Appellate Division, First Department, New York
August 3, 2006
821 NYS2d 546
APPEARANCES OF COUNSEL
Thomas J. Cahill, Chief Counsel, Departmental Disciplinary Committee, New York City (Roberta Kolar of counsel), for petitioner.
OPINION OF THE COURT
Per Curiam.
Respondent Barry I. Spiegler was admitted to the practice of law in the State of New York by the First Judicial Department on February 9, 1973. At all times relevant to this proceeding, respondent maintained an office for the practice of law within the First Judicial Department.
In August 2005, a complaint was filed with the Committee by Jeanette Sackett who, as executrix, hired respondent to represent her stepmother‘s estate. Ms. Sackett alleged that respondent was, among other things, unresponsive to her efforts to contact him and had in his possession $27,000 of undisbursed estate funds. The Committee forwarded a copy of the complaint to respondent on September 15, 2005, requesting that he submit an answer. When respondent failed to respond, the Committee telephoned respondent and left a message. When respondent did not return the call, Committee staff sent a second copy of the complaint by certified mail on November 4, 2005.
When no answer was received, the Committee telephoned respondent on four separate occasions, leaving messages. Finally, on December 16, 2005, counsel reached respondent by telephone at his home. Respondent agreed to appear at the Committee‘s offices on December 19th. Respondent did appear and agreed to provide an answer to the complaint and to provide specifically enumerated documents requested by staff, including a copy of the last will and testament of Ms. Sackett‘s stepmother, respondent‘s billing records for the estate, and the final accounting for the estate. Respondent also agreed to contact the Lawyers’ Assistance Program.
On December 28, 2005, respondent submitted his answer and provided some of the requested documents. With regard to the $27,000 distribution, respondent explained that the beneficiary could not be located and when he advised Ms. Sackett of this, she told him to hold the funds until such time as the beneficiary was located. Respondent stated that he then segregated those funds in a safe deposit box, and was ready and willing to forward such funds to the Public Administrator or to whom otherwise may be appropriate.
Respondent‘s answer was forwarded to Ms. Sackett for a response. However, in January 2006, the Committee learned that Ms. Sackett had died on December 25, 2005. Accordingly, the
On or about January 27, 2006, the Committee received a complaint from Susan Longo who alleged respondent had received $10,000 from her and had performed no legal work. That same day the Committee advised respondent about this new complaint and he agreed to return the $10,000 to Longo, and telephoned her to assure her that he would do so.
The January 27, 2006 phone call was the Committee‘s last contact with respondent. Since then, he has not responded to the Committee‘s letters and phone calls. On three consecutive days in March 2006, the Committee left messages for respondent on his home phone and cell phone but he did not respond. On April 4 and 5, 2006, a Committee investigator visited respondent‘s home to serve a subpoena duces tecum requesting his appearance on April 11, 2006, and for him to bring various documents and records, but no one was home. On April 6, 2006, the investigator again attempted personal service but when there was no response, he affixed a copy of the subpoena to the door of respondent‘s residence and mailed a copy via first class mail. Respondent failed to appear or otherwise answer the subpoena.
The Departmental Disciplinary Committee now seeks, pursuant to
Pursuant to
Respondent has not responded to this motion.
Respondent‘s failure to cooperate with the Committee is well documented. Although he initially cooperated, he failed to respond to Committee inquiries and failed to appear for a deposition or provide relevant records subpoenaed by the Committee. In addition, respondent has defaulted on this motion seeking his immediate suspension. Such conduct demonstrates a willful noncompliance with the Committee‘s investigation that threatens the public interest and warrants an immediate suspension from the practice of law.
Accordingly, the Committee‘s motion should be granted and respondent suspended from the practice of law, effective immediately, pursuant to
Buckley, P.J., Saxe, Friedman, Williams and Malone, JJ., concur.
Respondent suspended from the practice of law in the State of New York, effective the date hereof, until such time as disciplinary matters pending before the Committee have been concluded and until further order of this Court.