Opinion
07-23-2015
In the Matter of Goldie C. SOMMER, an Attorney.
Monica A. Duffy, Committee on Professional Standards, Albany (Sarah A. Leggio of counsel), for Committee on Professional Standards. Goldie C. Sommer, Fairfield, New Jersey, pro se.
Monica A. Duffy, Committee on Professional Standards, Albany (Sarah A. Leggio of counsel), for Committee on Professional Standards.
Goldie C. Sommer, Fairfield, New Jersey, pro se.
Before: LAHTINEN, J.P., GARRY, LYNCH and CLARK, JJ.
Opinion
PER CURIAM.Goldie C. Sommer was admitted to practice by this Court in 1981 after being admitted in New Jersey in 1976, where she maintains an office for the practice of law.
By order entered May 16, 2014, the Supreme Court of New Jersey suspended Sommer from the practice of law for one year for violating Rule 8.4(b) of the New Jersey Rules of Professional Conduct by committing a criminal act that reflects adversely on her honesty, trustworthiness or fitness as a lawyer. That rule violation was premised upon Sommer's May 2013 conviction in the United States District Court of the District of New Jersey, upon her plea of guilty of the federal crime of conspiracy to structure transactions in order to evade a bank reporting requirement (see 18 U.S.C. § 371 ; see also 31 U.S.C. § 5324 [a][3]; [d][1] ).
As a result of the discipline imposed in New Jersey, the Committee on Professional Standards moves for an order imposing discipline pursuant to this Court's rules (see Rules of App.Div., 3d Dept. [22 NYCRR] § 806.19 ). Sommer replied to the motion, but failed to raise any available defenses (see Rules of App.Div., 3d Dept. [22 NYCRR] § 806.19 [d] ), and, therefore, we grant the Committee's motion. Moreover, having considered the nature of Sommer's misconduct, her letter memorandum in mitigation and the consequent discipline imposed in New Jersey, we conclude that she should also be suspended from the practice of law in this state for a period of one year (see Matter of Engelhart, 125 A.D.3d 1094, 1094, 999 N.Y.S.2d 904 [2015] ; Matter of Yannon, 117 A.D.3d 1380, 1381, 986 N.Y.S.2d 360 [2014] ).
ORDERED that the motion of the Committee on Professional Standards is granted; and it is further
ORDERED that Goldie C. Sommer is suspended from the practice of law for a period of one year, effective immediately, and until further order of this Court; and it is further
ORDERED that, for the period of suspension, Goldie C. Sommer 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 Sommer 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; and it is furtherORDERED that Goldie C. Sommer shall comply with the provisions of this Court's rules regulating the conduct of suspended attorneys (see Rules of the App.Div., 3d Dept. [22 NYCRR] § 806.9 ).
LAHTINEN, J.P., GARRY, LYNCH and CLARK, JJ., concur.