On Monday, June 3, 2024, the Supreme Court of New Jersey issued an order suspending attorney Mary Elizabeth Lenti for three months.

The case is entitled “In the Matter of Mary Elizabeth Lenti,” with case no. 089177.

The suspension stems from two consolidated disciplinary matters before the Disciplinary Review Board (DRB). In these matters, Lenti was found to have violated numerous Rules of Professional Conduct in her handling of two separate client matters.

In DRB 23-227, involving a client identified as M.R., Lenti was charged with violating RPC 8.4(c) for engaging in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit, or misrepresentation. According to the DRB decision, Lenti misled M.R. for at least five months between September 2021 and January 2022 by falsely telling him that a motion to increase his parenting time had been filed with the court and scheduled for two separate hearing dates. In reality, the DRB found that Lenti had never filed the motion at all.

In DRB 23-228, pertaining to a client named Mary Anne Cosentino, Lenti was found to have violated RPC 1.3 for lack of diligence, RPC 1.4(b) for failure to communicate with a client, RPC 3.2 for failure to expedite litigation, and RPC 8.1(b) for failure to cooperate with disciplinary authorities. Specifically, the DRB decision states that Lenti failed for nearly two years between January 2019 and November 2020 to take any meaningful action to advance Cosentino’s tax foreclosure matter, resulting in the dismissal of two foreclosure complaints. Lenti also ignored Cosentino’s requests for information about the case.

The DRB determined that in both matters, Lenti was also in violation of RPC for failing to file answers to the formal ethics complaints, which resulted in defaults. However, the DRB dismissed alleged violations of RPC 8.4(d) in both cases.

The Supreme Court adopted the recommendations of the DRB, suspending Lenti from the practice of law for a period of three months. The order also mandates that upon reinstatement, Lenti must practice under supervision by a proctor for one year. She is further required to reimburse administrative costs associated with the prosecution of the matter.

According to avvo.com, Ms. Lenti is an attorney in Mount Holly, New Jersey. She acquired her law license in New Jersey in 2012.

A copy of the original filing can be found here.