Summary
The Appellate Division, First Department granted the Attorney Grievance Committee's motion for reciprocal discipline against Margarita Claribel Tejada. Based on her Utah discipline by consent for excessive fees and improper handling of client funds, the court publicly censured her in New York.
Court
Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York, First Department
Jurisdiction
New York Appellate Division, First Department
Decision date
January 6, 2026
Docket number
Motion No. 2025-05379; Case No. 2025-05981
Disposition
other
Questions Presented
- Whether reciprocal discipline was appropriate where respondent voluntarily admitted misconduct in a foreign disciplinary proceeding and did not establish any recognized defense.
- Whether a public censure was the appropriate New York sanction when the foreign jurisdiction imposed probation and New York's disciplinary rules did not provide for probation.
Holdings
- Reciprocal discipline was appropriate because respondent received notice and an opportunity to be heard in Utah, admitted the misconduct, and the misconduct involving excessive or illegal fees would constitute professional misconduct in New York.
- A public censure was the appropriate New York sanction for respondent's misconduct, notwithstanding the one-year probation imposed in Utah.
Court Document
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