Opinion
06-16-2016
In the Matter of Ali EBRAHIMZADEH, an Attorney. (Attorney Registration No. 5184148).
Ali Ebrahimzadeh, Oakland, California, pro se.
Ali Ebrahimzadeh, Oakland, California, pro se.
Before: LAHTINEN, J.P., EGAN JR., LYNCH, DEVINE and AARONS, JJ.
PER CURIAM. Ali Ebrahimzadeh was admitted to practice by this Court in 2013. He was admitted to practice in California in 2003, where he maintains an office for the practice of law.
Pursuant to a stipulation with the California State Bar Court, Ebrahimzadeh admitted violating California Rules of Professional Conduct, Rule 4–200(A), which prohibits an attorney from charging or collecting “an illegal or unconscionable fee.” In the stipulation, Ebrahimzadeh admitted charging and collecting such a fee from a vulnerable client with diminished capacity. As a sanction, the Supreme Court of California, by order filed December 16, 2015, among other things, suspended Ebrahimzadeh from the practice of law for two years, with all but the first six months stayed. Ebrahimzadeh provided timely notice to this Court of the disciplinary order as required by Rules of the Appellate Division, Third Department (22 NYCRR) § 806.19(b). The Committee on Professional Standards now moves pursuant to Rules of the Appellate Division, Third Department (22 NYCRR) § 806.19 for an order imposing discipline upon Ebrahimzadeh by reason of the discipline imposed in California. Ebrahimzadeh has submitted a response which presents only arguments in mitigation and does not raise any of the available defenses to said motion (see Rules of App.Div., 3d Dept. [22 NYCRR] § 806.19 [d] ).
We grant the Committee's motion and further conclude that, upon consideration of all of the facts and circumstances, including the discipline imposed in California, Ebrahimzadeh should be suspended in this state for a period of six months (see Matter of Yehl, 90 A.D.3d 1139, 933 N.Y.S.2d 624 [2011] ; Matter of Channing, 66 A.D.3d 1110, 1111, 885 N.Y.S.2d 650 [2009] ; Matter of Convery, 284 A.D.2d 557, 726 N.Y.S.2d 165 [2001] ).
ORDERED that the motion of the Committee on Professional Standards is granted; and it is further
ORDERED that Ali Ebrahimzadeh is suspended from the practice of law for a period of six months, effective immediately, and until further order of this Court; and it is further ORDERED that, for the period of suspension, Ali Ebrahimzadeh 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; and Ebrahimzadeh 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 an opinion as to the law or its application, or any advice in relation thereto; and it is further
ORDERED that Ali Ebrahimzadeh shall comply with the provisions of this Court's rules regulating the conduct of suspended attorneys (see Rules of App.Div., 3d Dept. [22 NYCRR] § 806.9 ).
LAHTINEN, J.P., EGAN JR., LYNCH, DEVINE and AARONS, JJ., concur.