Opinion
2015-07-14
In the Matter of Samuel A. EHRENFELD, an attorney and counselor-at-law: Departmental Disciplinary Committee for the First Judicial Department, Petitioner, Samuel A. Ehrenfeld, Respondent.
Disciplinary proceedings instituted by the Departmental Disciplinary Committee for the First Judicial Department. Respondent, Samuel A. Ehrenfeld, was admitted to the Bar of the State of New York at a Term of the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court for the Second Judicial Department on March 28, 2001. Jorge Dopico, Chief Counsel, Departmental Disciplinary Committee, New York (Jeremy S. Garber, of counsel), for petitioner. Ballard Spahr LLP (John B. Harris, of counsel), for respondent.
Disciplinary proceedings instituted by the Departmental Disciplinary Committee for the First Judicial Department. Respondent, Samuel A. Ehrenfeld, was admitted to the Bar of the State of New York at a Term of the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court for the Second Judicial Department on March 28, 2001.
Jorge Dopico, Chief Counsel, Departmental Disciplinary Committee, New York (Jeremy S. Garber, of counsel), for petitioner. Ballard Spahr LLP (John B. Harris, of counsel), for respondent.
PER CURIAM.
Respondent Samuel A. Ehrenfeld was admitted to the practice of law in the State of New York by the Second Judicial Department on March 28, 2001. At all times relevant herein, respondent has maintained an office for the practice of law within the First Department.
By motion dated April 27, 2015, the Departmental Disciplinary Committee (Committee) seeks an order, pursuant to Rules of the Appellate Division, First Department (22 NYCRR 603.11), accepting respondent's affidavit of resignation and striking his name from the roll of attorneys.
On July 8, 2011, respondent received a letter of caution from the Grievance Committee for the Second, Eleventh and Thirteenth Judicial Districts for improper escrow practices, and on September 24, 2014, was publicly censured by the Second Department for failing to preserve a client's $25,100 real estate down payment in his escrow account (123 A.D.3d 26, 992 N.Y.S.2d 569 [2d Dept.2014] ).
Respondent is currently the subject of an investigation by the Committee arising from a January 2015 complaint filed by the president of a school. The complaint alleged that in February 2011, respondent was entrusted with $867,133 in escrow for the school, and then withdrew approximately $496,000 from escrow over the following four years without the school's consent, knowledge or authorization.
This Court has previously accepted the resignation of attorneys under investigation for misappropriation of client funds from escrow ( see Matter of Johnson, 125 A.D.3d 123, 998 N.Y.S.2d 891 [1st Dept.2015]; Matter of Scher, 123 A.D.3d 162, 994 N.Y.S.2d 860 [1st Dept.2014] ). Respondent's counsel has submitted an affirmation wherein he concurs in the relief sought by the Committee.
Accordingly, the Committee's motion should be granted to the extent of accepting respondent's resignation from the practice of law and striking his name from the roll of attorneys, effective nunc pro tunc to April 20, 2015.
Respondent's name stricken from the roll of attorneys and counselors-at-law in the State of New York, nunc pro tunc to April 20, 2015. LUIS A. GONZALEZ, Presiding Justice, PETER TOM, ROLANDO T. ACOSTA, SALLIE MANZANET–DANIELS, BARBARA R. KAPNICK, Justices, concur.