Matter of Palau , 151 A.D.3d 1378 ( 2017 )

Matter of Palau (2017 NY Slip Op 04956)

Matter of Palau

2017 NY Slip Op 04956

Decided on June 15, 2017

Appellate Division, Third Department

Published by New York State Law Reporting Bureau pursuant to Judiciary Law § 431.

This opinion is uncorrected and subject to revision before publication in the Official Reports.

Decided and Entered: June 15, 2017

[*1]JUAN CARLOS PALAU, Respondent. (Attorney Registration No. 4177432)

Calendar Date: May 30, 2017
Before: Peters, P.J., Garry, Clark, Mulvey and Aarons, JJ.

Monica A. Duffy, Attorney Grievance Committee for the Third Judicial Department, Albany, for petitioner.

Juan Carlos Palau, Bogota D.C., Colombia, respondent

pro se.

Per Curiam

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER

Respondent was admitted to practice by this Court in 2003 and lists a business address in Colombia with the Office of Court Administration. This Court suspended respondent from the practice of law in New York in 2014 due to conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice arising from his failure to comply

with the attorney registration requirements of Judiciary Law § 468-a and Rules of the Chief Administrator of the Courts (22 NYCRR) § 118.1 (113 AD3d 1020, 1046 [2014]; see Judiciary Law § 468-a [5]; Rules of Professional Conduct [22 NYCRR 1200.0] rule 8.4 [d]). Respondent moves for his reinstatement (see Uniform Rules for Attorney Disciplinary Matters [22 NYCRR] § 1240.16 [a]; Rules of App Div, 3d Dept [22 NYCRR] § 806.16 [a]), and petitioner advises, by correspondence from its Chief Attorney, that it does not oppose the motion.

Respondent's application demonstrates that he has complied with the order of suspension and this Court's rules. Further, upon reading respondent's affidavit and the correspondence in response by petitioner's Chief Attorney, we are satisfied that respondent has the requisite character and fitness for the practice of law, and that it would be in the public's interest to reinstate him to practice in New York (see Uniform Rules for Attorney Disciplinary [*2]Matters [22 NYCRR] § 1240.16 [a]). Accordingly, respondent's motion for reinstatement is granted, and he is reinstated to the practice of law in New York, effective immediately.

Peters, P.J., Garry, Clark, Mulvey and Aarons, JJ., concur.

ORDERED that the motion for reinstatement by respondent is granted; and it is further

ORDERED that respondent is reinstated as an attorney and counselor-at-law in the State of New York, effective immediately.