Opinion
D-12-21
06-07-2022
In the Matter of Gerard A. Del Tufo, An Attorney At Law (Attorney No. 247651969)
ORDER
The Disciplinary Review Board having filed with the Court its decision in DRB 21-071, concluding that Gerard A. Del Tufo of Matawan, who was admitted to the bar of this State in 1969, should be censured for violating RPC 1.15 (a) (negligent misappropriation of client funds), RPC 1.15 (b) (failure to promptly deliver client funds that the client is entitled to receive), RPC 1.15 (d) (failure to comply with recordkeeping provisions of Rule 1:21-6), RPC 5.4 (a) (improper fee sharing with a nonlawyer), and RPC 8.4 (c) (conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit, or misrepresentation);
And the Disciplinary Review Board having determined also that respondent should be required to pay restitution to certain clients;
And good cause appearing;
It is ORDERED that Gerard A. Del Tufo is hereby censured; and it is further
ORDERED that respondent shall pay restitution to those from whom he received payments and fees in excess of what was required, which shall be paid as full payments to the affected parties or through a payment plan approved by the Director of the Office of Attorney Ethics, with proof of payment of full restitution to be provided to the Office of Attorney Ethics within a timeframe to be established by that office; 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 1st day of June, 2022.