Matter of Martin

Matter of Martin 2010 NY Slip Op 07015 [78 AD3d 55] October 1, 2010 Per Curiam Appellate Division, Fourth Department Published by New York State Law Reporting Bureau pursuant to Judiciary Law § 431. As corrected through Wednesday, December 22, 2010

[*1] In the Matter of Paul W. Martin, an Attorney, Respondent. Grievance Committee of the Seventh Judicial District, Petitioner.

Fourth Department, October 1, 2010

APPEARANCES OF COUNSEL

Andrea E. Tomaino, Principal Counsel, Seventh Judicial District Grievance Committee, Rochester, for petitioner.

Gerald W. Dibble, Rochester, for respondent.

{**78 AD3d at 55} OPINION OF THE COURT

Per Curiam.

Respondent was admitted to the practice of law by this Court on December 3, 1990, and maintains an office for the practice of law in East Rochester. On October 26, 2009, respondent was convicted upon his plea of guilty in Monroe County Court of failure to pay tax (Tax Law former § 1810), an unclassified misdemeanor. Respondent admitted that he failed to pay New York State personal income tax for a one-year period. The plea was entered in satisfaction of a felony complaint that charged respondent with failing to file personal income tax returns for a six-year period and with failing to pay personal income tax for a one-year period. Respondent was sentenced to an unconditional discharge.

The Grievance Committee filed a petition charging respondent with acts of misconduct arising from his failure to pay personal income tax and his failure to file personal income tax returns. Respondent filed an answer admitting the material allegations of the petition, and he appeared before this Court and submitted matters in mitigation.

We conclude that respondent has violated the following Disciplinary Rules of the Code of Professional Responsibility:

DR 1-102 (a) (3) (22 NYCRR 1200.3 [a] [3])engaging in illegal conduct that adversely reflects on his honesty, trustworthiness or fitness as a lawyer; and

DR 1-102 (a) (7) (22 NYCRR 1200.3 [a] [7])engaging in conduct that adversely reflects on his fitness as a lawyer.

We have considered, in determining an appropriate sanction, the submissions of respondent in mitigation, including that he has filed all New York State tax returns, has paid all taxes due with interest and penalties, and has cooperated with both the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance and the Grievance Committee. Additionally, we have considered respondent's previously unblemished record and expression of extreme remorse. Accordingly, after consideration of all of the factors in this matter, we conclude that respondent should be censured (see Matter of Coletti, 70 AD3d 32 [2009]).

Smith, J.P., Centra, Fahey, Sconiers and Gorski, JJ., concur.

Order of censure entered.