New York Codes, Rules and Regulations
Title 22 - JUDICIARY
Subtitle C - Ancillary Agencies
Chapter VII - The Lawyers' Fund For Client Protection
Part 7200 - Trustees' Regulations And Procedures
Section 7200.10 - Processing claims

Universal Citation: 22 NY Comp Codes Rules and Regs ยง 7200.10

Current through Register Vol. 46, No. 39, September 25, 2024

(a) Whenever it appears that a claim is not eligible for reimbursement pursuant to section 7200.8 of this Part, the claimant shall be advised of the reasons why the claim is not eligible for reimbursement, and that unless additional facts to support eligibility are submitted to the fund within 30 days, the claim shall be dismissed.

(b) All claims that are eligible for reimbursement from the fund shall be investigated in such manner as the trustees deem appropriate. The trustees shall be furnished a written report of each investigation.

(c) The appropriate Appellate Division of the Supreme Court shall be requested to assist the trustees, to the extent the court deems appropriate, in the investigation of claims for reimbursement from the fund.

(d) A certified copy of an order disciplining an attorney for the same act of conduct alleged in a claim, or a final judgment imposing civil or criminal liability therefor, shall, for the purpose of this Part, be evidence that the attorney committed such act.

(e) Upon receipt of the investigation report, the trustees shall determine whether to conduct additional investigation. If the attorney whose alleged conduct gave rise to the claim has not been previously notified of the claim, a copy shall be provided the attorney. The attorney shall be invited to respond to the claim within 20 days.

(f) The trustees may request that testimony be presented to complete the record. Upon request, the claimant and the attorneys, or their respective representatives, shall be given an opportunity to be heard.

(g) The trustees shall determine, in their sole discretion, whether a claim merits reimbursement from the fund and the amount, time, manner of its payment and the conditions upon which payment shall be made. The award of a claim shall require the affirmative vote of at least four trustees.

(h) Unless the trustees direct otherwise, no claim shall be awarded during the pendency of a disciplinary proceeding involving the same act of conduct that is alleged in the claim.

(i) In the exercise of their discretion in determining claims, the trustees shall consider, together with such other factors as they deem appropriate:

(1) the amount of money available and likely to become available to the fund for the payment of claims, and the size and number of claims that have been or are likely to be presented;

(2) the amount of the claimant's loss as compared with the amount of losses sustained by other claimants who may merit reimbursement from the fund;

(3) the degree of hardship suffered by the claimant as a result of the loss;

(4) any conduct of the claimant that contributed to the loss; and

(5) the existence of other sources to reimburse the claimant's loss, such as insurance, fidelity bonds or surety agreements.

(j) Written notice of the trustees' determination shall be provided the claimant and the attorney whose alleged conduct gave rise to the claim, or their representatives.

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