In re Lane

Joseph C. Lane was admitted to practice by this Court in 1993 after being admitted in New Jersey in 1992. He currently practices law in New Jersey.

Effective October 24, 2009, Lane was indefinitely suspended from the practice of law by this Court due to his failure to comply with attorney registration requirements since 1999 (see Matter of Attorneys in Violation of Judiciary Law § 468-a, 65 AD3d 1447 , 1457 [2009]). He remains so suspended.

By order issued September 24, 2014, the Supreme Court of New Jersey censured Lane for failing to safeguard client funds, failing to promptly deliver funds to a client or third person and engaging in a conflict of interest by concurrently representing two clients despite the risk of conflicting interests (In re Lane, 219 NJ 321 , 98 A3d 573 [2014]). The Committee on Professional Standards now moves for an order imposing discipline upon Lane pursuant to this Court’s rules as a result of the discipline imposed in New Jersey (see Rules of App Div, 3d Dept [22 NYCRR] § 806.19). Lane has not replied to the Committee’s motion or otherwise raised any available defenses (see Rules of App Div, 3d Dept [22 NYCRR] § 806.19 [d]); therefore, we grant the Committee’s motion (see Matter of Halbfish, 78 AD3d 1320 , 1321 [2010]).

Turning to the issue of an appropriate disciplinary sanction, we note the presence of aggravating circumstances herein, including, among other things, Lane’s failure to respond to the subject motion and his longstanding delinquency in this state with respect to his biennial attorney registration obligation. Accordingly, under all the facts and circumstances presented, and especially noting Lane’s evident disregard for his fate as an attorney in this state, we conclude that he should be suspended for a period of six months (see e.g. Matter of Weil,

Lahtinen, J.P., Egan Jr., Rose and Devine, JJ., concur. Ordered that the motion of the Committee on Professional Standards is granted; and it is further ordered that Joseph C. Lane is suspended from the practice of law for a period of six months, effective at such time as Lane is reinstated following his current suspension, and until further order of this Court; and it is further ordered that, for the period of suspension, Joseph C. Lane is commanded to continue to desist and refrain from the practice of law in any form, either as principal or as agent, clerk or employee of another; and Lane is 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 further ordered that Joseph C. Lane shall comply with the provisions of this Court’s rules regulating the conduct of suspended attorneys (see Rules of App Div, 3d Dept [22 NYCRR] § 806.9).