Matter of Ferrara

Summary

The Appellate Division, Second Department, granted the Grievance Committee's motion to deem established, based on default, charges that Jamie T. Ferrara failed to cooperate with a disciplinary investigation and failed to comply with a judicial subpoena. The court disbarred Ferrara effective immediately, struck his name from the roll of attorneys, and denied as academic the separate motion for immediate suspension.

Holdings

1. The respondent's failure to answer the petition or otherwise respond warranted granting the Grievance Committee's motion and deeming the charges established.
2. Effective immediately, Ferrara was disbarred and his name was stricken from the roll of attorneys and counselors-at-law.
3. The separate motion to immediately suspend Ferrara from the practice of law was denied as academic.

Questions Presented

1. Whether the charges of professional misconduct should be deemed established based on Ferrara's failure to answer the disciplinary petition.
2. What discipline should be imposed after the charges were established by default.
3. Whether the Committee's separate motion for immediate suspension remained necessary after the Court imposed disbarment.

Disposition

other