Opinion
Motion No. 2022-06357 Attorney Registration No. 1894344
06-02-2023
In the Matter of Steven H. Richman, admitted as Steven Howard Richman, an attorney and counselor-at-law. Grievance Committee for the Second, Eleventh, and Thirteenth Judicial Districts, petitioner; Steven H. Richman, respondent.
Unpublished Opinion
MOTION DECISION
M288972
HECTOR D. LASALLE, P.J., MARK C. DILLON, COLLEEN D. DUFFY, BETSY BARROS, WILLIAM G. FORD, JJ.
DECISION & ORDER ON MOTION
Motion by the Grievance Committee for the Second, Eleventh, and Thirteenth Judicial Districts pursuant to Judiciary Law § 90(4)(f) and 22 NYCRR 1240.12(b)(2) and (c)(2)(ii), to suspend the respondent from the practice of law based on his conviction of a serious crime, and pursuant to 22 NYCRR 1240.12(c)(2)(i), for an order directing the respondent to show cause why a final order of discipline should not be imposed. The respondent was admitted to the Bar at a term of the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court in the Second Judicial Department on January 18, 1984, under the name Steven Howard Richman.
On June 2, 2022, the respondent was convicted, upon his plea of guilty, in the Criminal Court of the City of New York, New York County, before the Honorable Nestor Diaz, of two counts of official misconduct, in violation of Penal Law § 195.00(1), a class A misdemeanor. The respondent was sentenced to an unconditional discharge and ordered to pay $250 for a mandatory surcharge and court fees.
Upon the papers filed in support of the motion and papers filed in opposition thereto, it is
ORDERED that the motion is granted; and it is further, ORDERED that the respondent, Steven H. Richman, admitted as Steven Howard Richman, is immediately suspended from the practice of law pursuant to Judiciary Law § 90(4)(f) and 22 NYCRR 1240.12(c)(2)(ii) as a result of his conviction of a serious crime, continuing until further order of this Court; and it is further, ORDERED that the respondent, Steven H. Richman, admitted as Steven Howard Richman, shall promptly comply with this Court's rules governing the conduct of disbarred or suspended attorneys (see 22 NYCRR 1240.15); and it is further, ORDERED that pursuant to Judiciary Law § 90, during the period of suspension and until further order of this Court, the respondent, Steven H. Richman, admitted as Steven Howard Richman, is commanded to desist and refrain from (1) practicing law in any form, either as principal or agent, clerk, or employee of another, (2) appearing as an attorney or counselor-at-law before any court, Judge, Justice, board commission, or other public authority, (3) giving to another an opinion as to the law or its application or any advice in relation thereto, and (4) holding himself out in any way as an attorney and counselor-at-law; and it is further, ORDERED that pursuant to 22 NYCRR 1240.12(c)(2)(i), the respondent, Steven H. Richman, admitted as Steven Howard Richman, is directed to show cause at a hearing pursuant to 22 NYCRR 1240.12(c)(2)(iii) before a Special Referee, appointed herein, why a final order of suspension, censure, or disbarment should not be made based on his conviction of a serious crime as defined in Judiciary Law § 90(4)(d); and it is further, ORDERED that pursuant to 22 NYCRR 1240.12(c)(2)(iii) this matter is referred to the Honorable Patricia M. DiMango, 330 East 38th Street, Suite 23C, New York, NY 10016-2759, as Special Referee, to hear and report, with the hearing to be completed within 60 days of the date of this decision and order on motion, or as soon thereafter as practicable, and the report, which contains the Special Referee's findings on any mitigating or aggravating factors, and a recommendation as to whether the respondent has demonstrated why a final order of public discipline should not be made, to be submitted within 60 days after the conclusion of the hearing or the submission of post-hearing memoranda; and it is further, ORDERED that if the respondent, Steven H. Richman, admitted as Steven Howard Richman, has been issued a secure pass by the Office of Court Administration, it shall be returned forthwith to the issuing agency, and the respondent shall certify to the same in his affidavit of compliance pursuant to 22 NYCRR 1240.15(f).
LASALLE P.J., DILLON, DUFFY, BARROS and FORD, JJ., concur.