Opinion
Docket No. DRB 14-291
01-20-2015
Re: In the Matter of Stephanie A. Hand
ELLEN A. BRODSKY CHIEF COUNSEL ISABEL FRANK DEPUTY CHIEF COUNSEL MELISSA URBAN FIRST ASSISTANT COUNSEL TIMOTHY M. ELLIS LILLIAN LEWIN BARRY R. PETERSEN JR. COLIN T. TAMS KATHRYN ANNE WINTERLE ASSISTANT COUNSEL
BONNIE C. FROST, ESQ., CHAIR
EDNA Y. BAUGH, ESQ., VICE-CHAIR
BRUCE W. CLARK, ESQ.
HON. MAURICE J. GALLIPOLI
THOMAS J. HOBERMAN
EILEEN RIVERA
ANNE C. SINGER, ESQ.
ROBERT C. ZMIRICH ELLEN A. BRODSKY
CHIEF COUNSEL ISABEL FRANK
DEPUTY CHIEF COUNSEL MELISSA URBAN
FIRST ASSISTANT COUNSEL TIMOTHY M. ELLIS
LILLIAN LEWIN
BARRY R. PETERSEN JR.
COLIN T. TAMS
KATHRYN ANNE WINTERLE
ASSISTANT COUNSEL RICHARD J. HUGHES JUSTICE COMPLEX VIA CERTIFIED MAIL , R.R.R. & REGULAR MAIL
Stephanie A. Hand, Esq.
c/o John McGill, III, Esq.
McGill Law Practice, LLC
406 Grant Avenue
Edgewater Park, New Jersey 08010 District Docket No. VA-2013-0013E
LETTER OF ADMONITION Dear Ms. Hand:
The Disciplinary Review Board has reviewed your conduct in the above matter and has concluded that it was improper. Following a review of the record, the Board determined to impose an admonition.
Specifically, between July 23, 2012 and April 26, 2013, you failed to communicate with your client, Peter Barrett, about the status of his case. Furthermore, you failed to inform Mr. Barrett that your legal research had revealed that the arbitrator's decision in favor of his contractor was not appealable and continued to allow him to believe that you would complete and file a complaint on his behalf. Your conduct was unethical and a violation of RPC 1.4(b).
Additionally, other than a meeting with Mr. Barrett, in June 2012, the record is bereft of any evidence that you performed any work, after March 6, 2012, to advance his potential claims. At the DEC hearing, you admitted that you never completed the legal research necessary to file the complaint and did not have time to research legal matters outside the scope of your normal practice. Your lack of diligence in this matter constituted a violation of RPC 1.3.
In imposing only an admonition, the Board took into account that your inaction was largely the result of your inexperience in both litigation and the areas of law implicated in this matter.
Your conduct has adversely reflected not only upon you as an attorney but also upon all members of the bar. Accordingly, the Board has directed the issuance of this admonition to you. R. 1:20-15(f)(4).
A permanent record of this occurrence has been filed with the Clerk of the Supreme Court and the Board's office. Should you become the subject of any further discipline, it will be taken into consideration.
The Board has also directed that the costs of the disciplinary proceedings be assessed against you. An invoice of costs will be forwarded under separate cover.
Very truly yours,
/s/
Ellen A. Brodsky
Chief Counsel See attached list c: Chief Justice Stuart Rabner
Associate Justices
Bonnie Frost, Chair (via email)
Disciplinary Review Board
Mark Neary, Clerk
Supreme Court of New Jersey
Gail G. Haney, Deputy Clerk
Supreme Court of New Jersey (w/ethics history)
Charles Centinaro, Director (via email)
Office of Attorney Ethics
Frank J. DeAngelis, Chair
District VA Ethics Committee
Natalie S. Watson, Secretary
District VA Ethics Committee
Peter Barrett, Grievant