Opinion
2002-02795
August 12, 2002
MOTION by the Grievance Committee for the Ninth Judicial District to strike the respondent's name from the roll of attorneys and counselors-at-law, pursuant to Judiciary Law § 90(4), upon a finding that he has been convicted of criminal offenses classified as felonies under the laws of New York State. The respondent was admitted to the Bar on December 16, 1992, at a term of the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court in the Second Judicial Department.
Gary L. Casella, White Plains, N.Y. (Matthew Renert of counsel), for petitioner.
Before: A. GAIL PRUDENTI, P.J., DAVID S. RITTER, FRED T. SANTUCCI, MYRIAM J. ALTMAN, NANCY E. SMITH, JJ.
On December 12, 2001, the respondent pleaded guilty in the County Court, Westchester County, before the Honorable Peter M. Leavitt, to grand larceny in the second degree (two counts), in violation of Penal Law § 155.40 (1), a class C felony; grand larceny in the third degree (six counts), in violation of Penal Law § 155.35, a class D felony; and attempted grand larceny in the third degree, in violation of Penal Law § 110.00, 155.35, a class E felony. The respondent specifically admitted, with respect to the grand larceny in the second degree charges, that between October 22, 1998, and December 29, 1999, he stole approximately $468,996.68 from the Village of Tuckahoe by stealing the proceeds of three cashier's checks belonging to the Village. Under Count Two, he admitted stealing approximately $220,285 from the County of Westchester by taking the proceeds of four tax refund checks.
With respect to the six charges of grand larceny in the third degree, the respondent admitted that between August 7, 1998, and April 17, 2000, he stole the proceeds of six New York State and Federal tax refund checks, ranging from $4,063 to $20,154. With respect to Charge Seven, the respondent admitted committing the crime of grand larceny in the third degree in that between June 2, 1998, and January 31, 1999, he stole the proceeds of two Federal tax refund checks in the amounts of $3,059 and $165.
The respondent was sentenced on March 20, 2002, to concurrent terms of probation of five years, together with restitution.
Having been convicted of nine separate offenses classified as felonies in New York State, the respondent is automatically disbarred pursuant to Judiciary Law § 90(4)(a).
Accordingly, the petitioner's motion is granted. The respondent is disbarred and, effective immediately, his name is stricken from the roll of attorneys and counselors-at-law.
PRUDENTI, P.J., RITTER, SANTUCCI, ALTMAN and SMITH, JJ., concur.
ORDERED that pursuant to Judiciary Law § 90, effective immediately, the respondent, Lawrence Kalkstein, is disbarred and his name is stricken from the roll of attorneys and counselors-at-law; and it is further,
ORDERED that the respondent shall comply with this court's rules governing the conduct of disbarred, suspended, and resigned attorneys (see 22 NYCRR 691.10); and it is further,
ORDERED that pursuant to Judiciary Law § 90, effective immediately, Lawrence Kalkstein, is commanded to desist and refrain from (1) practicing law in any form, either as principal or as agent, clerk, or employee of another, (2) appearing as an attorney or counselor-at-law before any court, Judge, Justice, board, commission, or other public authority, (3) giving to another an opinion as to the law or its application or any advice in relation thereto, and (4) holding himself out in any way as an attorney and counselor-at-law.