On Tuesday, October 29, 2024, the Supreme Court of New Jersey issued an order reprimanding attorney Dennis J. Barrett. This reprimand stems from Barrett’s violations of professional conduct rules related to recordkeeping and cooperation with disciplinary authorities.
The case is entitled “In the Matter of Dennis J. Barrett,” with case no. 089931.
The Disciplinary Review Board’s decision, detailed that Barrett failed to comply with the recordkeeping provisions set forth in Rule 1:21-6. The board found that he did not maintain adequate records for his attorney trust account, leading to significant deficiencies. Additionally, Barrett violated RPC 8.1(b) by failing to cooperate with the Office of Attorney Ethics (OAE) during their investigation into his financial practices.
The issues came to light after the OAE received an overdraft notice from PNC Bank regarding Barrett’s attorney trust account (ATA) in November 2020. Although this overdraft was eventually determined to be a bank error, the subsequent review of Barrett’s financial records revealed numerous violations, including the failure to maintain detailed receipts and disbursements journals, client ledger cards, and proper three-way reconciliations as mandated by state rules.
Despite multiple notifications from the OAE regarding the deficiencies in his recordkeeping, Barrett failed to resolve these issues over an extended period. The OAE noted that it had provided Barrett with specific steps to rectify his recordkeeping, but he did not comply adequately.
In response to these violations, the Disciplinary Review Board recommended a reprimand, considering Barrett’s admission of wrongdoing and his recent completion of a trust and business accounting course. However, the board also emphasized that Barrett’s lack of cooperation during the investigation and the ongoing nature of his recordkeeping problems warranted a serious response.
The Supreme Court’s order not only reprimanded Barrett but also mandated that he submit quarterly reconciliations of his attorney trust account to the OAE for two years. This oversight aims to ensure compliance with recordkeeping rules and protect the integrity of client funds.
As part of the disciplinary action, Barrett is also required to reimburse the Disciplinary Oversight Committee for administrative costs associated with the case. The entire record of this disciplinary matter will become a permanent part of Barrett’s file as an attorney in New Jersey.
According to avvo.com, Mr. Barrett attended the Eton Hall Law School. He acquired his law license in New Jersey in 1977.
A copy of the original filing can be found here.
