Opinion
D-65 083799
07-07-2020
In the Matter of Ali A. Ali, An Attorney At Law (Attorney No. 008072009)
ORDER
The Disciplinary Review Board having filed with the Court its decision in DRB 19-171, concluding that Ali A. Ali of Princeton, who was admitted to the bar of this State in 2009, and who has been suspended from the practice of law since January 4, 2019, pursuant to the Order of the Court filed December 5, 2018, should be suspended from practice for a period of two years for violating RPC 1.1(a)(gross neglect), RPC 1.3(lack of diligence), and RPC 8.1(b)(failure to cooperate with disciplinary authorities);
And the Disciplinary Review Board having further concluded that respondent should be required to comply with the conditions the Court ordered in its prior orders of discipline;
And respondent having been ordered to show cause why he should not be disbarred or otherwise disciplined;
And the Court having determined from its review of the matter that a two-year period of suspension is the appropriate quantum of discipline for respondent's unethical conduct and that in addition to the conditions previously ordered by the Court, respondent should be precluded from practicing law as a sole practitioner;
And good cause appearing;
It is ORDERED that Ali A. Ali is suspended from the practice of law for a period of two years, effective immediately, and until the further Order of the Court; and it is further
ORDERED that prior to reinstatement to the practice of law, respondent shall identify to the Office of Attorney Ethics a practicing attorney approved by the OAE under whose supervision respondent shall practice until the OAE determines that supervision is no longer necessary, and until the further Order of the Court; cooperate fully with the OAE and provide proof that he has corrected identified recordkeeping deficiencies; and complete two ethics courses, including a course in law office management, which shall be in addition to those required for CLE credit; and it is further
ORDERED that respondent shall not practice law as a sole practitioner until the further Order of the Court; and it is further
ORDERED that respondent comply with Rule 1:20-20 dealing with suspended attorneys; and it is further
ORDERED that pursuant to Rule 1:20-20(c), respondent's failure to comply with the Affidavit of Compliance requirement of Rule 1:20-20(b)(15) may (1) preclude the Disciplinary Review Board from considering respondent's petition for reinstatement for a period of up to six months from the date respondent files proof of compliance; (2) be found to constitute a violation of RPC 8.1(b) and RPC 8.4(d); and (3) provide a basis for an action for contempt pursuant to Rule 1:10-2; and it is further
ORDERED that the entire record of this matter be made a permanent part of respondent's file as an attorney at law of this State; and it is further
ORDERED that respondent reimburse the Disciplinary Oversight Committee for appropriate administrative costs and actual expenses incurred in the prosecution of this matter, as provided in Rule 1:20-17.
WITNESS, the Honorable Stuart Rabner, Chief Justice, at Trenton, this 7th day of July, 2020.
/s/
CLERK OF THE SUPREME COURT