The Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania recruits, employs, and promotes the most qualified applicants without regard to their political Communicate with, and obtain relevant documentation from, third parties regarding allegations of misconduct. In 1992, while respondent was finalizing his medical license debacles, he was accepted at Temple University School of Law. 217, and shall pay the costs of these proceedings pursuant to Pa.R.D.E. For The Conduct 1.7 requires attorneys to avoid conflicts of interest in the representation of As directed, take additional action, facts or considerations. Web1. Moreover, we recognize that the sentence imposed by the federal court has already provided Respondent with punishment for his misconduct. investigates and prosecutes complaints of misconduct against Pennsylvania attorneys. Respect. discussing presumption of reinstatement that follows five-year suspension and contrasting it with disbarment. The Disciplinary Board, however, has recommended this Court not only disbar respondent, but immediately revoke his license to practice law; this would require respondent to reapply for the bar examination, pass the Board of Law Examiners' character and fitness evaluation, and pass the bar examination before being eligible to seek reinstatement following his five-year disbarment. Conduct initial preliminary review of disciplinary complaints to recommend whether to dismiss the complaint or refer the. Make your practice more effective and efficient with Casetexts legal research suite. In October, 1986, the California Attorney General commenced a disciplinary action against respondent as a result of the false certificates submitted to the two Glendale hospitals. Report and Recommendation of the Disciplinary Board, 3/8/04, at 18. 7, February 18, 2023. 5156; amended May 22, 2015, effective immediately, 45 Pa.B. %PDF-1.7 % endstream endobj startxref From 1970 to 1977, respondent attended Brown University and earned a medical degree. Skill in analyzing and drafting legal documents, legal instruments, and other work product. Dr. Sadoff also referred respondent to Dr. Gerald Cooke, a neurophysiologist, who performed a series of psychological tests. affiliation, race, color, age, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, religion, disability, or other non-merit Web1. guW+@P'30@'3!|VM0zHq30~3j state and federal laws governing fair and nondiscriminatory hiring and employment practices and are subject to change as necessary to From 1981 to 1984, respondent engaged in the private practice of medicine in New York City and served as Assistant Clinical Professor of Ophthalmology at New York Medical College, St. Vincent's Hospital and Medical Center, and the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary. 4448; amended March 13, 1991, effective November 16, 1991, 21 Pa.B. Any previous Orders in this line shall expire according to their own terms. The location of the headquarters of the Office of Disciplinary Counsel and the office of the Chief Disciplinary Counsel is: Office of Disciplinary Counsel The Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania Pennsylvania Judicial Center 601 Commonwealth Avenue, Suite 2700 P. O. WebOffice of Disciplinary Counsel The Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania Pennsylvania Judicial Center 601 Commonwealth Avenue, Suite 2700 P. 389 0 obj <> endobj See Pa.R.D.E. The primary purpose of our lawyer discipline system in Pennsylvania is to protect the public, preserve the integrity of the courts, and deter unethical conduct. (following Office of Disciplinary Counsel v. Braun, 520 Pa. 157, 553 A.2d 894 (1989)). Unified Judicial System Hiring Policy Because respondent was untruthful to his treating psychiatrists during counseling sessions and treatment interviews, Drs. Respondent filed an answer to the complaint which contained and compounded the original misrepresentations and omissions. No statutes or acts will be found at this website. The Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court The New Jersey disciplinary hearing was held June 26, 2000, and Drs. We continue to monitor developments regarding the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) and its impact on court operations. Hearing, 5/8/02, at 146. Respondent, Akim Frederic Czmus, filed exceptions to the Disciplinary Board's report and recommendation that he be disbarred and his license to practice law in Pennsylvania be revoked. We communicate regularly with the Governors Office and the state Department of Health for guidance on measures to continue protecting the health and safety of court users and court employees. Full vaccination against COVID-19. Dr. Kramer prescribed respondent a regiment of medications which he continues to take, including Paxil, Wellbutrin, Lithium, Zyprexa, and Ritalin. Organization: The Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania Position: Disciplinary Counsel, Central Intake Location: Pennsylvania Posting Date: Respondent conceded he made errors on the application, but attributed them to confusion; he alleged he thought he was to list only undergraduate schools and degrees, and claimed he did not list his medical disciplinary proceedings because he thought each had been dismissed and administratively expunged. (Word, video or audio submissions will not be accepted) noting position title to: Disciplinary Board Executive Offices Description: This Court commented on the effect a lawyer's dishonesty and false swearing had on the legal profession: Grigsby, at 733 (citation omitted). This position is professional legal work May utilize the assistance of staff (e.g. 39. Id. He was licensed to practice medicine in New York after completing his residency in internal medicine at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia; he also completed a residency in ophthalmology surgery. Bulletin, Vol 49, No. (1/4) 27 Feb 2023 13:35:28 Respondent failed to include in either bar application any mention of his medical education, career, or disciplinary proceedings. At the hearing, having already admitted to the four rules violations, respondent offered only mitigation to counter the ODC's disbarment recommendation. @/bL0D1r1. By order of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, the general statewide judicial emergency declared and maintained in previous Court Orders of March 16, March 18, March 24, April 1 and April 28 ceased as of June 1, 2020. No part of the information on this site may be reproduced for profit or sold for profit. .," as well as respondent's deceit with regard to his New Jersey bar application, the Hearing Committee recommended respondent's Pennsylvania license to practice law be suspended for five years followed by a two-year probationary period. . Contact your local county court for more information orvisit their website.You can also learn more about mitigating the spread of the virus atHealth.pa.gov. Rule 1.4. an interview should request so in advance. Below is a comparison between our most recent version and the prior quarterly release. The Pennsylvania Code website reflects the Pennsylvania Code changes effective through 52 Pa.B. Correspond and communicate with complainants to seek additional information regarding their complaints. . telephone notes, emails, or other documentation). Although the Hearing Committee found this pattern of deceit disturbing, it held Braun obligated only a sanction of suspension. His subsequent applications to Verdugo Hills Hospital and Glendale Adventist Medical Center in Glendale, California, falsely represented he was certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology. WebThe location of the headquarters of the Office of Disciplinary Counsel and the office of the Chief Disciplinary Counsel is: Office of Disciplinary Counsel. affiliation, race, color, age, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, religion, disability, or other non-merit Communicate with respondents to obtain information or documentation relevant to an investigation or to resolve matters. all applicants are given a fair and equal opportunity to compete for all employment positions. Sadoff and Kramer compounded respondent's untruthful testimony. 418 0 obj <>stream As this sanction was not sought by Office of Disciplinary Counsel, we decline to impose it at this juncture. I believe that revoking the license of Respondent is an appropriate exercise of such power given the egregiousness of the fraud perpetrated by Respondent on the Board of Law Examiners. Reasonable accommodations will be provided to applicants with disabilities as may be necessary to ensure that Perform other related duties and responsibilities as required and/or assigned. At the end of the conference, respondent sought and was granted a continuance to May 8, 2002 for his full hearing. See In re Iulo, 564 Pa. 205, 766 A.2d 335, 339 (2001). Braun, at 895-96. 5552. Accordingly, respondent is disbarred from practicing law in the courts of Pennsylvania; respondent shall comply with the provisions of Pa.R.D.E. Respondent was questioned by an investigator with the New Jersey Office of Attorney Ethics about the discrepancies between his New Jersey bar application and the record evidence of his career as a physician and medical disciplinary proceedings. Additional Requirements: Kramer and Sadoff testified to respondent's mental infirmities. Simply to disbar Respondent without revoking his license rewards him for having lied successfully because a petition for reinstatement will not require him to submit a new application for admission to the Board of Law Examiners and take another bar examination. September 28, 2019, Pennsylvania Code (Rules and Regulations), Title 204 - JUDICIAL SYSTEM GENERAL PROVISIONS, Subpart C - DISCIPLINARY BOARD OF THE SUPREME COURT OF PENNSYLVANIA, Chapter 93 - ORGANIZATION AND ADMINISTRATION, Subchapter D - OFFICE OF DISCIPLINARY COUNSEL, 204 Pa. Code 93.63 - Powers and duties of Office of Disciplinary Counsel. . He agreed to surrender his California medical license. Appeal from the Pennsylvania Office of Disciplinary Counsel. remain in compliance with such laws. Dr. Sadoff also testified that if respondent continued his therapy sessions and medications, he believed respondent's mental infirmities would not inhibit his future ability to practice law or conform to ethical conduct. Philadelphia, Trooper, Harrisburg, or Pittsburgh office, remote work is available for many of the positions duties. Filing of a complaint typically takes 2-3 weeks after getting authorization, Yates wrote to Newsline in an email Wednesday evening. Box 61260Suite 1500Harrisburg, PA 17106, 601 Commonwealth Avenue Suite 1500 Harrisburg, PA 17120, 1515 Market Street Suite 1414 Philadelphia, PA 19102, 2023 The Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania, Follow the Unified Judicial System on Twitter, INFORMATION ABOUT STATEWIDE COURT RESPONSE TO COVID-19. The Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania recruits, employs, and promotes the most qualified applicants without regard to their political Conduct 1.7 requires attorneys to avoid conflicts of interest in the representation of multiple clients. 215(d), and respectfully represent that: I. OGC Main Office Attorneys. Abandoned Client Files Bar Associations 164 0 obj <>stream In light of the falsehoods and material omissions that riddled Respondent's application to sit for the bar examination, it is patently obvious that the Board of Law Examiners did not have a full and fair opportunity to determine whether he should have been admitted as an attorney in the first instance. Accordingly, while I agree with the Majority to disbar Respondent, I dissent from the portion of its Opinion that rejects the recommendation of the Disciplinary Board to revoke the license of Respondent. auditors, paralegals, or interns). State regulations are updated quarterly; we currently have two versions available. The Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts does not serve as a centralized hiring facility for all court offices within the Commonwealth. WebDisciplinary Counsel conducts a preliminary review or inquiry. Candidates interested in applying for this position are requested to submit a written resume and cover letter in .PDF format Only disbarment, which places a higher burden on respondent if he should seek readmittance, will properly protect the goals of the profession and require respondent to be totally candid to the reviewing tribunal before his readmittance will be considered. Conduct 1.1 and 1.7, relating to competence and conflicts of interest, because she had inadequate information for a conflict of interest analysis and there was significant risk that representation of any individual client would materially limit her ability to represent the others. A day before his hearing was to begin, respondent endorsed a Joint Stipulation of Law and Facts admitting all the factual averments contained in the disciplinary complaint, and conceded: "[a]s a result of his conduct, as set forth above, [r]espondent violated RPC 8.1(a), RPC 8.4(b), RPC 8.4(c) and RPC 8.4(d)." Further, the Disciplinary Board noted that respondent subverted the truth-determining process of the Board of Law Examiners while applying to sit for the bar exam and obtained his law license under false pretenses. Knowledge of Disciplinary Board policies and procedures. However, I respectfully dissent from the portion of the Opinion that declines to follow the recommendation of the Disciplinary Board to revoke the license of Respondent to practice law. The board further alleged respondent knowingly made false documents and altered surgical treatment records to hide his inept treatment of the patients. Respondent stipulated to the violations and agreed to have his California medical license revoked in exchange for an agreement that the revocation would be stayed for five years, respondent would be placed on probation, and he would complete a course in medical ethics. WebThe Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts does not serve as a centralized hiring facility for all court offices within the Commonwealth. 5325; amended September 11, 1992, effective September 12, 1992, 22 Pa.B. However, this Court undoubtedly has the inherent power to revoke a license granted in the first place under this Court's rules and authority. Graduation from an approved school of law, PLUS progressively responsible experience in professional legal work. The Office of Disciplinary Counsel (ODC ) is the branch of the Disciplinary Board of 208(g). Office of Disciplinary Counsel v. Pozonsky, Office of Disciplinary Counsel v. Cappuccio, California Business and Professions Code 2261. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (376986) to (376987). We find respondent's level of fraud, which transcended professions and jurisdictions, requires disbarment. UJS hiring and employment policies and procedures are intended to conform to all applicable At the hearing, respondent offered the following false testimony: Report and Recommendation of the Disciplinary Board, 3/18/04, at 9-10. September 28, 2019, Pennsylvania Bulletin, Vol 49, No. 53, No. 0 Copyright 2008-2023, Glassdoor, Inc. "Glassdoor" and logo are registered trademarks of Glassdoor, Inc, Disciplinary Counsel, Central Intake - Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court of PA. Get alerts to jobs like this, to your inbox. PARTIES TO DISCIPLINE ON CONSENT 1. $30 - 75/hour depending on qualifications. Each year, the Board appoints volunteer HCMs who review recommendations offered by Office of Disciplinary Counsel, conduct hearings, and prepare a report and recommendation. Perform other related duties and responsibilities as required and/or assigned. ." and analysis, communication with complainants and respondent-attorneys, and legal writing. Knowledge of state and federal laws, particularly in regard to disciplinary administration. Box 62485, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17106, The committee has now authorized Jessica Yates, the attorney regulation counsel, to file a formal complaint against Ellis with the presiding disciplinary judge, according to Yates. WebOffice of Disciplinary Counsel v. Baldwin | Case Brief for Law School | LexisNexis Law School Case Brief Office of Disciplinary Counsel v. Baldwin - 657 Pa. 339, 225 A.3d 817 (2020) Rule: Pa. R. Prof. The Disciplinary Board recommended respondent's license be revoked so he would have to retake the bar exam and face the Board of Law Examiners again, this time subject to an authentic evaluation. James Patrick Leonard, Philadelphia, for Akim Frederic Czmus. Candidates interested in applying for this position are requested to submit a written resume and cover letter in .PDF format %%EOF The Office of Disciplinary Counsel did not seek revocation of respondent's license to practice law. September 28, 2019, Pennsylvania Code (Rules and Regulations), Title 204 - JUDICIAL SYSTEM GENERAL PROVISIONS, Subpart C - DISCIPLINARY BOARD OF THE SUPREME COURT OF PENNSYLVANIA, 204 Pa. Code 85.5 - Location of Office of Disciplinary Counsel. Fairness. Office of Disciplinary Counsel v. Chung, 548 Pa. 108, 695 A.2d 405, 407 (1997). No part of the information on this site may be reproduced forprofit or sold for profit. Each of the appellate courts and each of the local or county courts acts separately to hire those individuals needed to maintain their respective operations. Ability to work without significant supervision. Additionally, respondent falsely represented he lived in Delaware and worked for Kennard Lab Associates during the time he was actually working in California as a physician; Kennard Lab Associates has never been licensed to do business in Delaware and the address respondent provided for this business was fraudulent. Although the hearing Committee found this pattern of deceit disturbing, it held Braun obligated only sanction! Recommend whether to dismiss the complaint which contained and compounded the original misrepresentations and.. Office of Disciplinary Counsel v. Chung, 548 Pa. 108, 695 A.2d 405, 407 1997... Psychiatrists during counseling sessions and treatment interviews, Drs the Courts of Courts. See in re Iulo, 564 Pa. 205, 766 A.2d 335, 339 ( 2001.! Conduct initial preliminary review of Disciplinary complaints to recommend whether to dismiss the complaint which contained and compounded original. Telephone notes, emails, or Pittsburgh Office, remote work is available many! 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