On Wednesday, August 2, 2023, the Supreme Court of the State of New York Appellate Division: Second Judicial Department disbarred attorney Barton Paul Levine based on his failure to respond to the disciplinary charges accusing him of misappropriating funds, and failing to maintain proper bookkeeping records.

The case is entitled “In the Matter of Barton Paul Levine,” and was instituted by the Grievance Committee for the Tenth Judicial District, case no. 2023-00069.

The charges cited Levine’s violation of Rules of Professional Conduct 1.15(a) and (d)(2), and 8.4(h).

The Grievance Committee served Levine with a notice of petition and a verified petition on January 3, 2023. The verified petition contained seven charges of professional misconduct, accusing Levine of misappropriating funds entrusted to him as a fiduciary, failing to maintain proper bookkeeping records for his attorney trust account, and engaging in conduct that reflected poorly on his fitness as a lawyer.

According to the court document, Levine neither served an answer to the charges nor did he request an extension to do so. As a result, the Grievance Committee moved to have the charges deemed established based on Levine’s default.

Consequently, the Court granted the Grievance Committee’s motion and entered an order disbarring Levine from the practice of law.

Levine’s name was struck from the roll of attorneys and counselors-at-law of the State of New York and was prohibited from practicing law in any capacity, appearing as an attorney in court, providing legal opinions or advice, or holding himself out as an attorney.

The decision to disbar Levine was supported by a panel of judges, including Hector D. LaSalle, Mark C. Dillon, Colleen D. Duffy, Betsy Barros, and Paul Wooten.

According to his LinkedIn page, Mr. Levine is the managing member and estate planning attorney at the Law Offices of Barton P. Levine, based in Manhattan. He earned a law degree from St. John’s University, graduating in 1972. Levine had been licensed to practice in New York, license no. 1239771.

A copy of the original filing can be found here.