From Casetext: Smarter Legal Research

In re Block

Supreme Court of New Jersey
Feb 17, 2010
201 N.J. 159 (N.J. 2010)

Opinion

February 17, 2010.


ORDER

The Disciplinary Review Board having filed with the Court its decision in DRB 09-244, concluding that MICHAEL L. BLOCK of VOORHEES, who was admitted to the bar of this State in 1990, and who has been suspended from practice since March 21, 2007, should be suspended from the practice of law for a period of six months for violating RPC 1.1(a) (gross neglect), RPC 1.3 (lack of diligence), RPC 1.5(b) (failure to set forth basis of fee in writing), RPC 1.16(d) (failure to protect client's interests upon termination of representation), RPC 8.1(b) (failure to cooperate with ethics authorities), RPC 8.4(d) (conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice), and Rule 1:20-20(b)(10) (failure to timely file affidavit of compliance);

And the Disciplinary Review Board having further concluded that prior to reinstatement to practice, respondent should be required to submit proof of his fitness to practice and that on reinstatement, he should be supervised in his practice for a period of two years;

And good cause appearing;

It is ORDERED that MICHAEL L. BLOCK is suspended from the practice of law for a period of six months and until the further Order of the Court, effective immediately; and it is further

ORDERED that prior to reinstatement to practice, respondent shall submit to the Office of Attorney Ethics proof of his fitness to practice law as attested to by a mental health professional approved by the Office of Attorney Ethics; and it is further

ORDERED that following reinstatement to practice, respondent shall practice law under the supervision of a practicing attorney approved by the Office of Attorney Ethics for a period of two years and until the further Order of the Court; and it is further

ORDERED that respondent continue to comply with Rule 1:20-20 dealing with suspended attorneys; and it is further

ORDERED that pursuant to Rule 1:20-20(c), respondent's failure to comply with the Affidavit of Compliance requirement of Rule 1:20-20(b)(15) may (1) preclude the Disciplinary Review Board from considering respondent's petition for reinstatement for a period of up to six months from the date respondent files proof of compliance; (2) be found to constitute a violation of RPC 8.1(b) and RPC 8.4(c); and (3) provide a basis for an action for contempt pursuant to Rule 1:10-2; 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.


Summaries of

In re Block

Supreme Court of New Jersey
Feb 17, 2010
201 N.J. 159 (N.J. 2010)
Case details for

In re Block

Case Details

Full title:IN THE MATTER OF MICHAEL L. BLOCK, AN ATTORNEY AT LAW

Court:Supreme Court of New Jersey

Date published: Feb 17, 2010

Citations

201 N.J. 159 (N.J. 2010)
989 A.2d 254

Citing Cases

In re Yohan Choi

from his failure to appear at the trial; by scheduling more than one matter for the trial date, the attorney…

In re Tider

Suspensions were imposed where attorneys either had significant ethics histories or were guilty of violating…