Matter of Townsend

Matter of Townsend 2020 NY Slip Op 03972 Decided on July 16, 2020 Appellate Division, Third Department 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 and Entered: July 16, 2020
PM-89-20

[*1]In the Matter of Benjamin Potter Townsend, an Attorney. (Attorney Registration No. 5057237.)

Calendar Date: July 6, 2020
Before: Garry, P.J., Lynch, Clark, Aarons and Colangelo, JJ.

Benjamin Potter Townsend, Chelsea, Maine, pro se.

Monica A. Duffy, Attorney Grievance Committee for the Third Judicial Department, Albany, for Attorney Grievance Committee for the Third Judicial Department.

Per Curiam.

Benjamin Potter Townsend was admitted to practice by this Court in 2012 and lists a business address in Augusta, Maine with the Office of Court Administration. Townsend now seeks leave to resign from the New York bar for nondisciplinary reasons (see Rules for Attorney Disciplinary Matters [22 NYCRR] § 1240.22 [a]). The Attorney Grievance Committee for the Third Judicial Department (hereinafter AGC) advises that it does not oppose Townsend's application.

Upon reading Townsend's affidavit sworn to February 18, 2020 and filed February 21, 2020, and upon reading the July 2, 2020 correspondence in response by the Chief Attorney for AGC, and having determined that Townsend is eligible to resign for nondisciplinary reasons, we grant his application and accept his resignation.

Garry, P.J., Lynch, Clark, Aarons and Colangelo, JJ., concur.

ORDERED that Benjamin Potter Townsend's application for permission to resign is granted and his nondisciplinary resignation is accepted; and it is further

ORDERED that Benjamin Potter Townsend's name is hereby stricken from the roll of attorneys and counselors-at-law of the State of New York, effective immediately, and until further order of this Court (see generally Rules for Attorney Disciplinary Matters [22 NYCRR] § 1240.22 [b]); and it is further

ORDERED that Benjamin Potter Townsend is commanded to desist and refrain from the practice of law in any form in the State of New York, either as principal or as agent, clerk or employee of another; and Townsend is hereby 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 an opinion as to the law or its application, or any advice in relation thereto, or to hold himself out in any way as an attorney and counselor-at-law in this State; and it is further

ORDERED that Benjamin Potter Townsend shall, within 30 days of the date of this decision, surrender to the Office of Court Administration any Attorney Secure Pass issued to him.