Opinion
May 23, 2003.
Respondent was admitted to practice by this Court in 1973. He maintained an office for the practice of law in the City of Albany.
Mark S. Ochs, Committee on Professional Standards, Albany, for petitioner.
Robert P. Roche, Albany, for respondent.
Before: Mercure, J.P., Crew III, Carpinello, Mugglin and, Rose, JJ.
MEMORANDUM AND ORDER
On February 20, 2003, respondent pleaded guilty to three felonies in Supreme Court in Albany County: insurance fraud in the third degree, a class D felony (see Penal Law § 176.20), grand larceny in the fourth degree, a class E felony (see Penal Law § 155.30), and workers' compensation fraudulent practices, a class E felony (see Workers' Compensation Law § 96). He was sentenced on May 12, 2003.
Respondent ceased to be an attorney and was automatically disbarred when he entered his guilty pleas to these felonies and we, therefore, grant petitioner's motion to strike respondent's name from the roll of attorneys, a formality which merely confirms respondent's disbarred status (see Judiciary Law § 90 [4] [a]; Matter of Delaney, 87 N.Y.2d 508, 512; Matter of Russell, 216 A.D.2d 790; Matter of Freeman, 134 A.D.2d 726).
Mercure, J.P., Crew III, Carpinello, Mugglin and Rose, JJ., concur.
ORDERED that petitioner's motion is granted; and it is further
ORDERED that respondent is disbarred and his name is stricken from the roll of attorneys and counselors-at-law of the State of New York, effective immediately; and it is further
ORDERED that respondent is commanded to desist and refrain from the practice of law in any form either as principal or as agent, clerk or employee of another; he is forbidden to appear as an attorney or counselor-at-law before any court, judge, justice, board, commission or other public authority, or to give to another any opinion as to the law or its application, or any advice in relation thereto; and it is further
ORDERED that respondent shall comply with the provisions of this Court's rules regulating the conduct of disbarred attorneys (see 22 NYCRR 806.9).