Opinion
Docket No. DRB 11-451 Docket No. DRB 11-452 Docket No. DRB 11-453
03-19-2012
Re: In the Matters of Raymond Armour
LOUIS PASHMAN, ESQ. CHAIR BONNIE C. FROST, ESQ. VICE-CHAIR EDNA Y. BAUGH, ESQ. BRUCE W. CLARK, ESQ. JEANNE DOREMUS HON. MAURICE J. GALUPOLI SPENCER V. WISSINGER, III MORRIS YAMNER, ESQ. ROBERT C. ZMIRICH JULIANNE K. DECORE CHIEF COUNSEL ISABEL FRANK DEPUTY CHIEF COUNSEL ELLEN A. BRODSKY FIRST ASSISTANT COUNSEL LILLIAN LEWIN DONA S. SEROTA -TESCHNER COLIN T. TAMS KATHRYN ANNE WINTERLE ASSISTANT COUNSEL
LOUIS PASHMAN, ESQ. CHAIR
BONNIE C. FROST, ESQ. VICE-CHAIR
EDNA Y. BAUGH, ESQ.
BRUCE W. CLARK, ESQ.
JEANNE DOREMUS
HON. MAURICE J. GALUPOLI
SPENCER V. WISSINGER, III
MORRIS YAMNER, ESQ.
ROBERT C. ZMIRICH JULIANNE K. DECORE
CHIEF COUNSEL ISABEL FRANK
DEPUTY CHIEF COUNSEL ELLEN A. BRODSKY
FIRST ASSISTANT COUNSEL LILLIAN LEWIN
DONA S. SEROTA -TESCHNER
COLIN T. TAMS
KATHRYN ANNE WINTERLE
ASSISTANT COUNSEL RICHARD J. HUGHES JUSTICE COMPLEX VIA CERTIFIED , R.R.R. AND REGULAR MAIL Raymond Armour, Esq.
c/o John D. Arseneault, Esq.
Arseneault Whipple Fassett &
Azzarello, LLP
560 Main Street
Chatham, New Jersey 07928 District Docket Nos. VA-2009-0044E, VA-2009-0049E, and VA-2009-0051E
LETTER OF ADMONITION Dear Mr. Armour:
The Disciplinary Review Board has reviewed your conduct in the above matters and has concluded that it was improper. Following a review of the record, the Board determined to impose a strong admonition for your ethics infractions.
Specifically, in each of the individual client matters, you represented the client in a personal injury action, on a contingency fee basis. During the course of your representation, you failed to keep your clients apprised of the status of their matters and were non-responsive to their attempts to communicate with you, a violation of RPC 1.4(b). Moreover, prior to settling each of their cases, you did not explain to them that a certain amount of the settlement monies would be withheld for the payment of medical expenses, a violation of RPC 1.4(c). Finally, you did not promptly notify any of the clients of your receipt of the settlement funds and did not promptly disburse their portion of the proceeds to them, a violation of RPC 1.15(b).
In imposing only an admonition, the Board took into consideration that your conduct occurred during the same timeframe, that your medical condition required you to work abbreviated hours at the time, that you have since taken appropriate action to improve your office procedures to keep your clients adequately informed, and that you have increased the amount of time that you spend in the office. In addition, no clients suffered any harm as a result of your transgressions and you have an unblemished disciplinary history since your admission to the New Jersey bar in 1994.
Your conduct 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/
Julianne K. DeCore
Chief Counsel JDK:paa c. Chief Justice Stuart Rabner
Associate Justices
Louis Pashman, Chair
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
Office of Attorney Ethics
Stephen V. Falanga, Chair
District VA Ethics Committee
William B. Ziff, Secretary
District VA Ethics Committee
Syid Afrika, Grievant (VA-2009-0044E)
Alicia Kibunja, Grievant (VA-2009-0049E)
Pauline Haskins, Grievant (VA-2009-0051E)