Matter of Hetzer

Matter of Hetzer 2013 NY Slip Op 05746 Decided on August 28, 2013 Appellate Division, Second Department Per Curiam. Published by New York State Law Reporting Bureau pursuant to Judiciary Law § 431. This opinion is uncorrected and subject to revision before publication in the Official Reports.

Decided on August 28, 2013
SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORKAPPELLATE DIVISION : SECOND JUDICIAL DEPARTMENT
RANDALL T. ENG, P.J.
WILLIAM F. MASTRO
REINALDO E. RIVERA
PETER B. SKELOS
MARK C. DILLON, JJ.
2013-03941

[*1]In the Matter of Michael J. Hetzer, admitted as Michael Joseph Hetzer, an attorney and counselor- at-law. Grievance Committee for the Second, Eleventh, and Thirteenth Judicial Districts, petitioner; Michael J. Hetzer, respondent. (Attorney Registration No. 2340974)

Motion by the Grievance Committee for the Second, Eleventh, and Thirteenth Judicial Districts to strike the respondent's name from the roll of attorneys and counselors-at-law, pursuant to Judiciary Law § 90(4)(b), based upon his felony conviction. The respondent was admitted to the Bar at a term of the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court in the Second Judicial Department on May 30, 1984, under the name Michael Joseph Hetzer.


Diana Maxfield Kearse, Brooklyn, N.Y. (Sharon Gursen Ades of
counsel), for petitioner.
Frank T. Di Piazza, Ridgewood, N.Y., for respondent.

OPINION & ORDER

PER CURIAM.On February 26, 2013, the respondent entered a plea of guilty in the Supreme Court, Queens County, to grand larceny in the second degree, a class C felony, in violation of Penal Law § 155.40.(1). He was sentenced, on April 9, 2013, to a one-year term of incarceration.

The Grievance Committee for the Second, Eleventh, and Thirteenth Judicial Districts now moves to strike the respondent's name from the roll of attorneys and counselors-at-law pursuant to Judiciary Law § 90(4)(b), based upon his felony conviction. The respondent has submitted no papers in response to the Grievance Committee's motion.

By virtue of his felony conviction, the respondent ceased to be an attorney and counselor-at-law pursuant to Judiciary Law § 90(4)(a), and was automatically disbarred on February 26, 2013. Accordingly, the Grievance Committee's motion to strike the respondent's name from the roll of attorneys and counselors-at-law is granted, effective February 26, 2013, and the respondent's name is stricken from the roll of attorneys based on his disbarment.
ENG, P.J., MASTRO, RIVERA, SKELOS and DILLON, JJ., concur.

ORDERED that the petitioner's motion is granted; and it is further,

ORDERED that pursuant to Judiciary Law § 90(4)(a), the respondent, Michael J. Hetzer, admitted as Michael Joseph Hetzer, is disbarred, effective February 26, 2013, and his name is stricken from the roll of attorneys and counselors-at-law, pursuant to Judiciary Law § 90(4)(b); [*2]and it is further,

ORDERED that the respondent, Michael J. Hetzer, admitted as Michael Joseph Hetzer, shall 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, the respondent, Michael J. Hetzer, admitted as Michael Joseph Hetzer, is commanded 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; and its is further,

ORDERED that if the respondent, Michael J. Hetzer, admitted as Michael Joseph Hetzer, 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