Matter of Ambe (2020 NY Slip Op 02151) Matter of Ambe 2020 NY Slip Op 02151 Decided on April 2, 2020 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: April 2, 2020 PM-43-20 [*1]In the Matter of Jude Ambe, an Attorney. (Attorney Registration No. 4687638.) Calendar Date: February 24, 2020 Before: Garry, P.J., Lynch, Aarons, Pritzker and Colangelo, JJ. Monica A. Duffy, Attorney Grievance Committee for the Third Judicial Department, Albany (Michael K. Creaser of counsel), for Attorney Grievance Committee for the Third Judicial Department. Jude Ambe, Silver Spring, Maryland, respondent pro se. Per Curiam. Respondent was admitted to practice by this Court in 2009 and currently maintains an immigration law practice in Maryland, where he is not admitted. In October 2019, the Court of Appeals of Maryland disbarred respondent based upon sustained allegations that he had, among other things, failed to provide competent representation to a client, neglected his client's matter and had lacked candor in statements to a tribunal concerning aspects of that representation (Attorney Grievance Commn. of Maryland v Ambe, 466 Md 270, 218 A3d 757 [2019]). Accordingly, the Attorney Grievance Committee for the Third Judicial Department (hereinafter AGC) now moves to impose discipline upon respondent pursuant to Rules for Attorney Disciplinary Matters (22 NYCRR) § 1240.13 and Rules of the Appellate Division, Third Department (22 NYCRR) § 806.13 due to his misconduct in Maryland. Respondent has submitted papers in opposition to the motion and AGC has replied. As part of its order disbarring respondent, the Court of Appeals of Maryland sustained the factual findings of a disciplinary judge following a hearing on the charged misconduct. The Court found that respondent, among other things, did not provide competent representation to his client by failing to appear at a scheduled hearing on his client's immigration matter and failing to adequately review and consult his client on his asylum application. The Court also determined that respondent had given untruthful testimony to a tribunal regarding the aforementioned failure to appear at his client's hearing, and provided conflicting statements to disciplinary authorities during the investigation into his misconduct. Further, the Court found that respondent did not act diligently and properly update his client concerning his representation by failing to discuss various scheduling decisions that ultimately prejudiced his client, and by refusing to discuss his client's appeal until he received further payments. Finally, the Court found that respondent had charged the client an unreasonable fee for deficient work, failed to properly account for certain client funds that he had received and to deposit certain client funds into his attorney escrow account, failed to properly withdraw from representing his client, failed to properly protect his client's interests after he was discharged from the case and improperly withheld the client's file after his discharge. Ultimately, the Court determined that respondent's aforementioned conduct had collectively violated 15 separate ...
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