Opinion
2021-05006
09-16-2021
In the Matter of James Michael Bruhn Jr., an Attorney. Attorney Registration No. 2653285.
Monica A. Duffy, Attorney Grievance Committee for the Third Judicial Department, Albany (Alison M. Coan of counsel), for Attorney Grievance Committee for the Third Judicial Department.
Calendar Date: August 23, 2021
Monica A. Duffy, Attorney Grievance Committee for the Third Judicial Department, Albany (Alison M. Coan of counsel), for Attorney Grievance Committee for the Third Judicial Department.
Before: Garry, P.J., Egan Jr., Pritzker, Reynolds Fitzgerald and Colangelo, JJ.
PER CURIAM.
Respondent was admitted to practice by this Court in 1995 and currently maintains a law practice in Ulster County. Following its receipt of a client complaint in November 2019, the Attorney Grievance Committee for the Third Judicial Department (hereinafter AGC) commenced an investigation into potential misconduct on the part of respondent. In November 2019, AGC sent respondent a notice of complaint requesting that respondent provide a response to the allegations made by his client. Initially, respondent submitted a response to AGC's notice; however, after that point, respondent offered no further cooperation. Specifically, respondent failed to respond to numerous follow-up requests for information and he later failed to appear for a scheduled examination under oath. Accordingly, AGC now moves to suspend respondent from the practice of law during the pendency of its investigation (see Rules for Attorney Disciplinary Matters [22 NYCRR] § 1240.9 [a] [1], [3]; Rules of the App Div, 3d Dept [22 NYCRR] § 806.9). Respondent has not responded to the motion.
Pursuant to Rules for Attorney Disciplinary Matters (22 NYCRR) § 1240.9 (a), a respondent may be suspended during the pendency of a disciplinary investigation upon a showing that he or she "has engaged in conduct immediately threatening the public interest." In order to establish such conduct, an attorney grievance committee may submit evidence establishing that a respondent has "'defaulted in responding to a notice to appear for formal interview, examination or pursuant to subpoena, or has otherwise failed to comply with'" the attorney grievance committee's lawful demands pursuant to its investigation (Matter of McCoy-Jacien, 175 A.D.3d 801, 802 [2019], quoting Matter of DiStefano, 154 A.D.3d 1055, 1057 [2017]; see Rules for Attorney Disciplinary Matters [22 NYCRR] § 1240.9 [a] [1], [3]).
Owing to respondent's failure to respond to AGC's motion, we deem the allegations underlying the motion uncontroverted (see Matter of Oluwatobi, 186 A.D.3d 1875, 1877 [2020]; Matter of Channing, 163 A.D.3d 1259, 1260 [2018]). In doing so, we find that AGC has submitted sufficient evidence establishing respondent's failure to cooperate with its investigation into the allegations underlying his client's complaint. Although respondent provided a response to AGC's initial request, he failed to respond to all further requests for documents pertaining to the investigation (see Matter of Nestler, 193 A.D.3d 1320, 1321 [2021]; Matter of Siegel, 193 A.D.3d 1177, 1177-1178 [2021]; Matter of Burney, 183 A.D.3d 1005, 1006-1007 [2020]). Further, respondent failed to appear for a scheduled examination under oath, and has made no attempt to contact AGC to request an extension to provide the requested documents, to reschedule the examination or to otherwise indicate any desire to cooperate in the future (see Matter of Basch, 175 A.D.3d 1772, 1774 [2019]). Respondent's course of conduct "immediately threaten[s] the public interest" and warrants his suspension during the pendency of AGC's investigation (Rules for Attorney Disciplinary Matters [22 NYCRR] § 1240.9 [a]; see Matter of Cracolici, 173 A.D.3d 1430, 1431-1432 [2019]). We therefore grant AGC's motion and, in doing so, we remind respondent of his affirmative obligation to respond or appear for further investigatory or disciplinary proceedings before AGC within six months of this order of suspension, and note that his failure to do so may result in his disbarment without further notice (see Matter of Wolfe, 195 A.D.3d 1224, 1225-1226 [2021]).
Garry, P.J., Egan Jr., Pritzker, Reynolds Fitzgerald and Colangelo, JJ., concur.
ORDERED that the motion of the Attorney Grievance Committee for the Third Judicial Department is granted; and it is further
ORDERED that respondent is suspended from the practice of law, effective immediately, and until further order of this Court (see generally Rules for Attorney Disciplinary Matters [22 NYCRR] § 1240.16); and it is further
ORDERED that, for the period of suspension, respondent is commanded to desist and refrain from the practice of law in any form in the State of New York, either as principal or as agent, clerk or employee of another; and respondent is hereby forbidden to appear as an attorney or counselor-at-law before any court, judge, justice, board, commission or other public authority, or to give to another an opinion as to the law or its application, or any advice in relation thereto, or to hold himself out in any way as an attorney and counselor-at-law in this State; and it is further
ORDERED that respondent shall comply with the provisions of the Rules for Attorney Disciplinary Matters regulating the conduct of suspended attorneys (see Rules for Attorney Disciplinary Matters [22 NYCRR] § 1240.15); and it is further
ORDERED that, within 20 days from the date of service of this memorandum and order, respondent may submit a request, in writing, to this Court for a postsuspension hearing (see Rules for Attorney Disciplinary Matters [22 NYCRR] § 1240.9 [c]); and it is further
ORDERED that respondent's failure to respond to or appear for further investigatory or disciplinary proceedings within six months from the date of this decision may result in his disbarment by the Court without further notice (see Rules for Attorney Disciplinary Matters [22 NYCRR] § 1240.9 [b]); and it is further
ORDERED that the Attorney Grievance Committee for the Third Judicial Department is directed to serve a copy of this memorandum and order to respondent's address on file with the Office of Court Administration.