On Wednesday, May 3, 2023, the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania suspended attorney Barry Jay Beran for failing to respond to a notice and order directing him to provide a response against an imposition of reciprocal discipline for his initial suspension in the State of New Jersey for failing to diligently pursue his client’s personal injury matter.

The case is entitled “In the Matter of Barry Jay Beran” with case no. 25 DB 2023.

On September 23, 2022, the Supreme Court of New Jersey suspended the respondent from the practice of law for his misconduct involving neglect and failure to diligently pursue his client’s personal injury matter by having failed to take any formal action for three years to protect the interest of the same. It was further alleged that the respondent failed to keep his client reasonably informed as to the status of the matter and to ensure he communicated with his client in a clear and understandable manner. Moreover, Attorney Beran failed to safeguard the client’s property by failing to take the necessary steps to obtain the settlement proceeds.

The report states:

“For the next three years, respondent failed to take any successful formal action to secure the release of MacAdams’ssettlement funds from the Superior Court. Eventually, on March 8, 2019, nearly three years after the funds had been deposited with the Superior Court, the respondent filed a motion for the release of the funds. As a result of respondent’s failure to serve all interested parties with the motion, however, that motion was denied.”

The report continues:

“Respondent took no further action until March 13, 2020, nearly one year later, when, following the filing of the ethics grievance in this matter, the respondent refiled the motion for the release of funds. Respondent, again, failed to cure the service defect that had resulted in the denial of his first motion, and the motion was denied. Respondent took no further action and, to date, the funds remain on deposit with the Superior Court.”

In lieu of this, the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania issued a notice and order directing the respondent to provide reasons against the imposition of reciprocal discipline. Failing to respond to the said order, the Court decided to suspend the respondent from the practice of law.

The Disposition states:

“AND NOW, this 3rd day of May 2023, having failed to respond to a Notice and Order directing him to provide reasons against the imposition of reciprocal discipline, Barry Jay Beran, a/k/a Barry J. Beran, is suspended from the practice of law in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for a period of five years, consecutive to the three-year term of suspension ordered by this Court on October 5, 2022. He shall comply with the provisions of Pa.R.D.E. 217.”

Mr. Beran practices in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. He is licensed in New Jersey. His info can be found on lawyer.com.

A copy of the original filing can be found here.