ALBANY – Appellate justices in Albany disbarred an attorney from Saratoga County who had been practicing law since 1972.
Robert Morris Cohen, based in Ballston Lake, was suspended from practicing law a year ago after he ignored an attorney grievance committee’s inquiries into a client’s complaint that Cohen failed to refund the client’s retainer fee. Cohen has since been accused of two additional complaints of client neglect, according to the disbarment ruling from the Appellate Division of state Supreme Court’s Third Department in Albany on Thursday.
Cohen, 76, despite asking for multiple adjournments to respond to the complaints, did not answer numerous notifications of his potential disbarment by the Third Department, the decision said.
“We also conclude that (Cohen) has demonstrated his lack of interest in his fate as an attorney by way of his pattern of client neglect as well as his failure to adhere to his attorney registration obligations,” the decision said.
The ruling said appellate justices also considered allegations that Cohen may have practiced law while suspended, and that he failed to take any action to reach out to the attorney grievance committee, which is an arm of the Third Department.
“Accordingly, it is submitted that (Cohen’s) continuing noncompliance with (the attorney grievance committee), his pattern of client neglect, his practice of law in contravention of this court’s order and his failure to timely register warrant his disbarment,” the decision said.
Presiding Justice Elizabeth Garry and Justices Sharon Aarons, Molly Reynolds Fitzgerald and Eddie McShan imposed the disbarment.
Read the full article here
Leave a Reply