Opinion
D-31 September Term 2020 085178
03-24-2021
In the MATTER OF Lawrence A. LEVEN, An Attorney At Law (Attorney No. 005581973)
ORDER The Disciplinary Review Board having filed with the Court its decision in DRB 20-002, concluding that Lawrence A. Leven of West Caldwell, who was admitted to the bar of this State in 1973, and who has been temporarily suspended from practice since December 4, 2018, should be reprimanded for violating RPC 1.15(d) (failure to comply with recordkeeping requirements), RPC 3.4(c) (knowingly disobeying an obligation under the rules of a tribunal), RPC 8.1(b) (failure to cooperate with disciplinary authorities), and RPC 8.4(d) (engaging in conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice);
And the Disciplinary Review Board having further concluded that respondent should deposit the unidentified funds in his attorney trust account into the Superior Court Trust Fund within thirty days and that following reinstatement to practice, respondent should be required to provide the Office of Attorney Ethics with monthly reconciliations of his attorney accounts for a period of two years;
And good cause appearing;
It is ORDERED that Lawrence A. Leven is hereby reprimanded; and it is further
ORDERED that Lawrence A. Leven shall transmit to the Clerk of the Superior Court the sum of $52,200.35 in unidentified trust account funds for deposit into the Superior Court Trust Fund in accordance with Rule 1:21-6(j), which respondent shall do within thirty days after the filing date of this Order; and it is further ORDERED that Lawrence A. Leven shall remain temporarily suspended from the practice of law pursuant to the Order of the Court filed December 4, 2018, pending respondent's petition for reinstatement to practice pursuant to Rule 1:20-3 (g) (4), proof of submission of the unidentified trust funds to the Clerk of the Superior Court, and until the further Order of the Court; and it is further
ORDERED that following his reinstatement to practice, respondent shall provide the Office of Attorney Ethics with monthly reconciliations of his attorney accounts on a quarterly basis for a period of two years, and until the further Order of the Court; and it is further
ORDERED that the entire record of this matter be made a permanent part of respondent's file as an attorney at law of this State; and it is further
ORDERED that respondent reimburse the Disciplinary Oversight Committee for appropriate administrative costs and actual expenses incurred in the prosecution of this matter, as provided in Rule 1:20-17.