Opinion
No. A04-1536.
March 28, 2005.
ORDER
The Director of the Office of Lawyers Professional Responsibility has filed an amended and supplementary petition for disciplinary action alleging that respondent Steven F. Soronow has committed professional misconduct warranting public discipline, namely, sending an email to a witness in another's lawyer's disciplinary matter asking the witness not to cooperate with the Director's Office, and making misleading statements on Internet websites for the law firm of which he was a member, both before and after his suspension from the practice of law, in violation of Minn. R. Prof. Conduct 3.4(f), 7.1(a) and (c), and 8.4(d). Respondent is currently indefinitely suspended from the practice of law. In re Soronow, 651 N.W.2d 197 (Minn. 2002).
Respondent admits his conduct violated the Rules of Professional Conduct, waives his rights under Rule 14, Rules on Lawyers Professional Responsibility (RLPR), and has entered into a stipulation with the Director in which they jointly recommend that the appropriate discipline is an extension of respondent's current suspension and that respondent not be eligible to apply for reinstatement for a minimum of 30 months from the date of this order, and payment of $900 in costs under Rule 24, RLPR. The parties further agree that all conditions for reinstatement set forth in the prior suspension order shall remain in effect.
This court has independently reviewed the file and approves the jointly recommended disposition.
Based upon all the files, records and proceedings herein,
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that respondent Steven F. Soronow's current indefinite suspension is extended for at least an additional 30 months from the date of this order. Respondent shall pay $900 in costs under Rule 24, RLPR.
BY THE COURT:
/s/Russell A. Anderson Associate Justice