New York Appellate Divisions

ATTORNEYS – The New York Appellate Division disbarred attorney Lloyd M. Berns because he pleaded guilty to a felony count in connection with his filing of false retainer statements with the Office of Court Administration.    ATTORNEY FEES – The New York Appellate Division found that the lower court properly denied defendant’s motion for sanctions while granting plaintiff’s cross-motion for sanctions and attorney fees. But the circuit reduced the award of $10,000 in attorney fees to $1,875, given that the plaintiff’s lawyer charges $375 an hour and spent just five hours on the sanctions motion. Costantini v. Costantini    ATTORNEYS – The New York Appellate Division upheld the judgment and granted the defense attorney’s motion to withdraw because there are no non-frivolous points that could be raised on appeal. People v. Andujal