In re Gluck
Decision Date | 15 July 2015 |
Docket Number | No. 13 MC 651.,13 MC 651. |
Citation | 114 F.Supp.3d 57 |
Parties | In the Matter of Joel M. GLUCK, an attorney admitted to practice before this court, Respondent. |
Court | U.S. District Court — Eastern District of New York |
Joel M. Gluck, Law Offices of Joel M. Gluck, New York, NY, for Respondent.
BRIAN M. COGAN, Chair of the Committee on Grievances.
Respondent Joel M. Gluck (the "Respondent") disregarded multiple court orders in more than ten federal actions, failed to appropriately communicate with clients and the court and delayed numerous litigations to the detriment of clients and adversaries. Accordingly, the Committee on Grievances for the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York (the "Committee")1 finds, by clear and convincing evidence, that Respondent violated the New York State Rules of Professional Conduct (the "Rules of Professional Conduct") and should be disciplined pursuant to Rule 1.5 (Discipline of Attorneys) of the Local Rules of the United States District Courts for the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York ("Local Rule 1.5").
Respondent asserts that mitigating circumstances—principally, his personal and financial struggles, a heavy caseload and difficult clients—weigh in favor of discipline in the form of a reprimand. The Committee, recognizing the extent of Respondent's financial hardships and his willingness to represent individuals for little or no compensation, finds that Respondent shall be subject to a public reprimand.
On August 21, 2013, the Committee issued an Order to Show Cause (the "August 2013 Order") as to why Respondent should not be disciplined pursuant to Rule 1.5 based on his noncompliance with numerous orders issued by Magistrate Judge Roanne Mann ("Judge Mann") in Akman v. Pep Boys Manny Moe & Jack of Delaware, Inc., 1:11–CV–03252–MKB–RLM. (Docket Entry No. 1).
Respondent submitted a response to the August 2013 Order on October 16, 2013 ("Respondent's Response"), stating that difficult financial circumstances and a limited office staff impacted his representation in Akman and asking the Committee to refrain from imposing discipline on him beyond a public reprimand. (Docket Entry No. 3). Respondent later submitted a Supplemental Response, dated November 20, 2013 ("Respondent's First Supplemental Response"), informing the Committee that he had paid the sanctions and fees imposed upon him in the Akman action by Judge Mann.
On May 5, 2014, the Committee issued an Order to Show Cause with a Supplemental Statement of Charges (the "May 2014 Order") tracing Respondent's extensive history of misconduct in connection with ten federal actions dating back to January 2005, and instructing Respondent to show cause as to why the Committee should not impose discipline. (Docket Entry No. 5). Respondent responded on August 5, 2014, reiterating that difficult personal and financial circumstances impacted his practice and stating that his violations of the Rules of Professional Conduct were unintentional. (Docket Entry No. 9). Respondent again took the position that his conduct warranted discipline in the form of a reprimand.
The facts relating to Respondent's misconduct have been set forth in the August 2013 and May 2014 Orders and are incorporated by reference herein.
Local Rule 1.5(b) provides that, upon notice and an opportunity to be heard, discipline may be imposed by the Committee if it is found by clear and convincing evidence that:
(5) In connection with activities in this Court, any attorney is found to have engaged in conduct violative of the New York State Rules of Professional Conduct as adopted from time to time by the Appellate Divisions of the State of New York. In interpreting the Code, in the absence of binding authority from the United States Supreme Court or the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, this Court, in the interests of comity and predictability, will give due regard to decisions of the New York Court of Appeals and other New York State courts, absent significant federal interests.
The record demonstrates that Respondent continuously breached his obligations under the following Rules of Professional Conduct: Rule 1.3 (diligence) ; Rule 1.4 (communication) ; Rule 3.2 (delay of litigation); Rule 3.3 ( ); Rule 3.4 ( ); Rule 8.4 (misconduct); and Rule 1.1 (competence).
Respondent's continuous disregard of approximately 25 court orders issued in 11 federal actions pending in the Eastern District of New York clearly violates several Rules of Professional Conduct and warrants discipline.
Rule 1.3 provides that a lawyer "shall act with reasonable diligence and promptness in representing a client" and "shall not neglect a legal matter entrusted to the lawyer." The record clearly demonstrates, and Respondent admits, that Respondent practiced with far from the requisite diligence and neglected several actions, often to the detriment of his clients. See, e.g., Levitant v. The City of New York Human Resources Administration, et al., 1:08–CV–03979–KAM–MDG ( ); Caiozzo v. Commissioner of Social Security, 2:11–CV–02461–JS ( ); Williams v. Lutheran Medical Center, 1:12–CV–01881–SJ–VVP ( ); DeMarco v. Hartford Life and Accident Insurance Co., 1:12–CV–04313–BMC ( ); Levitant v. City of New York Human Resources Administration, 1:05–CV–00230–KAM–JO ( ).
Indeed, the court imposed sanctions or threatened to sanction Respondent on several occasions for ignoring court orders. See Glover v. Costco Wholesale Corporation, et al., 1:03–CV–05420 (threatening sanctions); Lukasiewicz v. Polish & Slavic Federal Credit Union,
1:11–CV–03422–CBA–VVP ( ); Williams v. Lutheran Medical Center, 1:12–CV–01881–SJ–VVP ( ); DeMarco v. Hartford Life and Accident Insurance Co., 1:12–CV–04313–BMC ( ); Akman v. Pep Boys Manny Moe & Jack of Delaware, Inc., 1:11–CV–03252–MKB–RLM ( ).
In failing to diligently comply with court-ordered deadlines and to appear at scheduled court conferences, Respondent displayed incompetence (Rule 1.1(c)(2)), needlessly delayed litigation (Rule 3.2 ), acted unfairly towards opposing parties and counsel (Rule 3.4) and engaged in improper conduct before a tribunal (Rule 3.3(f)) that adversely reflects on his fitness to practice law (Rule 8.4(h)). See, e.g., Matter of Abrahams, 5 A.D.3d 21, 770 N.Y.S.2d 369 (2d Dep't 2003) ( ). Such behavior not only violates Respondent's ethical obligations to his clients, but also indicates a disrespect for the court and the judicial process.
Respondent's lack of communication with clients regarding significant case developments also violates the Rules of Professional Conduct.
Rule 1.4 provides that a lawyer shall "keep the client reasonably informed about the status of the matter" and promptly inform the client of "material developments in the matter", among other things. There is ample evidence that Respondent failed to fulfill his obligation to communicate with his clients. See, e.g., Cohen v. Gerrald, et al., 1:05–CV–02696–FB–LB ( ); Lukasiewicz v. Polish & Slavic Federal Credit Union, 1:11–CV–03422–CBA–VVP ( );...
To continue reading
Request your trial-
Geltzer v. Brizinova (In re Brizinova), Case No. 12–42935–ess
...deadlines or appear at scheduled court conferences, and did not adequately investigate a matter before bringing suit. In re Gluck , 114 F.Supp.3d 57, 60 (E.D.N.Y. 2015).New York Rule of Professional Conduct 3.3 NY RPC 3.3 applies to conduct before a tribunal, and provides:(a) A lawyer shall......
-
In re Demetriades
...a standing rule of a tribunal" as conduct that is unfair per se. N.Y. Rules of Prof. Con. 3.4(c); see also, e.g. , In re Gluck , 114 F. Supp. 3d 57, 60 (E.D.N.Y. 2015) ("In failing to diligently comply with court-ordered deadlines and to appear at scheduled court conferences, Respondent .........
-
Attorney Grievance Comm. for the First Judicial Dep't v. Gluck (In re Gluck)
...of litigation), 3.3 (conduct before a tribunal), 3.4 (fairness to opposing party and counsel), and 8.4 (misconduct) ( Matter of Gluck, 114 F.Supp.3d 57, 58 [E.D.N.Y. 2015] ).Although the COG's decision specifically directed respondent to disclose its decision to all courts and bars of which......
- United States v. Bumagin, 11–cr–800 (WFK).
-
ATTORNEYS, E-DISCOVERY, AND THE CASE FOR 37(G).
...Dockets Nos. 1 1-070-088405 and 11-070-088422 (2013) (proceedings happened seven months after the misconduct occurred); In re Gluck, 114 F. Supp. 3d 57, 58 (E.D.N.Y. 2015) (proceedings happened two years after the misconduct (133) See supra note 128 (providing examples of some of the larges......