Matter of Tunney
Annotate this CaseDecided on July 17, 2013
SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORKAPPELLATE DIVISION : SECOND JUDICIAL DEPARTMENT
RANDALL T. ENG, P.J.
WILLIAM F. MASTRO
PETER B. SKELOS
MARK C. DILLON
DANIEL D. ANGIOLILLO, JJ.
2012-08119
[*1]In the Matter of John A. Tunney, admitted as John Anthony Tunney, a suspended attorney. Grievance Committee for the Second, Eleventh, and Thirteenth Judicial Districts, petitioner; John A. Tunney, respondent. (Attorney Registration No. 2065480)
Application by the petitioner, Grievance Committee for the Second, Eleventh, and Thirteenth Judicial Districts, pursuant to 22 NYCRR 691.3, to impose discipline on the respondent based upon disciplinary action taken against him by the Supreme Court of New Jersey. The respondent was admitted to the Bar in the State of New York at a term of the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court in the Second Judicial Department on May 7, 1986, under the name John Anthony Tunney.
Diana Maxfield Kearse, Brooklyn, N.Y. (Melissa D. Broder of
counsel), for petitioner.
OPINION & ORDER
PER CURIAM.By order dated March 13, 2012, and filed March 16, 2012, the Supreme Court of New Jersey disbarred the respondent, effective immediately, and permanently enjoined him from practicing law. The order of disbarment was preceded by an order of the same court dated February 9, 2011, temporarily suspending the respondent from the practice of law in New Jersey for unethical conduct in ten matters, including violations of New Jersey Rules of Professional Conduct (hereinafter RPC) 1.1(a) (gross neglect); RPC 1.1(b) (pattern of neglect); RPC 1.3 (lack of diligence); RPC 1.4(b) (failure to keep client reasonably informed about the status of the matter); RPC 1.15(a) (negligent misappropriation); RPC 1.15(d) (recordkeeping violations); RPC 1.16(d) (failure to protect client's interests on termination of representation); RPC 8.1(b) (failure to cooperate with disciplinary authorities); RPC 8.4(c) (conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit, and misrepresentation); and RPC 8.4(d) (conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice) (see Matter of Tunney, 205 NJ 48).
The order of disbarment of the Supreme Court of New Jersey was based upon a decision of the Disciplinary Review Board (hereinafter the DRB) dated December 21, 2011. Of the ten matters before the DRB, the respondent defaulted on nine of the matters. Only one matter was scheduled for oral argument; however, the respondent did not appear, despite proper notice. The DRB's decision noted at the outset that the respondent had an egregious disciplinary history. Including the matters then currently before the DRB, the respondent had been found guilty of ethics improprieties in 25 disciplinary matters. In view of the new violations, the respondent's significant disciplinary history, and substantial aggravating factors (the respondent's refusal to learn from his [*2]past disciplinary experiences and demonstrated disregard for his clients' interests and for the ethics authorities), the DRB recommended that the respondent be disbarred.
By order dated March 13, 2012, and filed March 16, 2012, the Supreme Court of New Jersey, based on the DRB's decision, disbarred the respondent, effective immediately, permanently enjoined him from practicing law, and directed that he reimburse the Disciplinary Oversight Committee for appropriate administrative costs and actual expenses incurred in the prosecution of that matter.
By opinion and order of this Court dated July 11, 2005, the respondent was suspended from the practice of law for a period of one year based upon an order of the Supreme Court of New Jersey dated September 28, 2004, which, inter alia, suspended him from the practice of law in New Jersey for a period of six months (see Matter of Tunney, 21 AD3d 115). The respondent remains suspended in New York. New York State Office of Court Administration records reflect that the respondent has been delinquent in his biennial attorney re-registration fees for the periods 1994-1995, and 1998 to the present.
On August 9, 2012, the Grievance Committee for the Second, Eleventh, and Thirteenth Judicial Districts personally served a copy of a notice pursuant to 22 NYCRR 691.3 upon the respondent. More than 20 days have elapsed since service of the notice, and the respondent has neither filed a verified statement asserting any defenses or demanding a hearing, nor requested additional time in which to do so. Accordingly, there is no impediment to the imposition of reciprocal discipline.
Based on the discipline imposed by the Supreme Court of New Jersey, the Grievance Committee's application to impose reciprocal discipline is granted, and the respondent is disbarred, effective immediately.
ENG, P.J., MASTRO, SKELOS, DILLON and ANGIOLILLO, JJ., concur.
ORDERED that the petitioner's application to impose reciprocal discipline is granted; and it is further,
ORDERED that pursuant to 22 NYCRR 691.3, effective immediately, the respondent, John A. Tunney, admitted as John Anthony Tunney, is disbarred and his name is stricken from the roll of attorneys and counselors-at-law; and it is further,
ORDERED that the respondent, John A. Tunney, admitted as John Anthony Tunney, shall continue to comply with this Court's rules governing the conduct of disbarred, suspended, and resigned attorneys (see 22 NYCRR 691.10); and it is further,
ORDERED that pursuant to Judiciary Law § 90, effective immediately, the respondent, John A. Tunney, admitted as John Anthony Tunney, is commanded to continue to desist and refrain from (l) practicing law in any form, either as principal or as 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.
ORDERED that if the respondent, John A. Tunney, admitted as John Anthony Tunney, 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 691.10(f).
ENTER:
Aprilanne Agostino
Clerk of the Court
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