Matter of Stern
Docket &mdash
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- Filed
- Jurisdiction
- New York
- Court
- Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York
- Type
- Opinion
- Case type
- Other
- Disposition
- Granted
- Citation
- 2026 NY Slip Op 02587
- Docket
- &mdash
Application to resign for non-disciplinary reasons by an attorney, reviewed by the Appellate Division.
Summary
The Appellate Division, Fourth Department accepted Attorney Paul David Stern’s application to resign for non-disciplinary reasons and ordered his name removed from the roll of attorneys. The court treated the submission as a resignation petition, found no disciplinary proceeding necessary, and approved the voluntary withdrawal from the bar. The decision is procedural—it removes Stern’s authorization to practice law in New York without imposing any disciplinary sanction or further proceedings.
Issues Decided
- Whether an attorney's application to resign for non-disciplinary reasons should be accepted by the court.
- Whether to remove the attorney's name from the roll of attorneys upon acceptance of such a resignation.
Court's Reasoning
The court treated the filing as a voluntary resignation submitted for non-disciplinary reasons and found acceptance appropriate. Because the resignation was not part of any disciplinary action and complied with procedural expectations for voluntary withdrawal, the court had authority to grant the request and remove the attorney’s name from the roll. There was no indication that further proceedings or sanctions were required.
Parties
- Respondent
- Paul David Stern
- Judge
- Curran, J.P.
- Judge
- Bannister
- Judge
- Montour
- Judge
- Greenwood
- Judge
- Hannah
Key Dates
- Decision date
- 2026-04-24
- Filed
- 2026-04-21
What You Should Do Next
- 1
Confirm withdrawal from active matters
If Stern had ongoing client matters, he or his former firm should ensure clients are notified and appropriate transitions or substitutions of counsel are arranged promptly.
- 2
Update bar and professional records
The relevant bar authorities and professional directories should be updated to reflect removal from the roll of attorneys.
- 3
Consult counsel if impacted
Clients or opposing parties who believe they are affected should consult an attorney to determine how to proceed with any pending litigation or transactions.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What did the court decide?
- The court accepted Paul David Stern’s resignation for non-disciplinary reasons and removed his name from the roll of attorneys in New York.
- Does this mean he was disciplined?
- No; the resignation was accepted for non-disciplinary reasons and is not a disciplinary sanction.
- Who is affected by this decision?
- Paul David Stern is affected because he is no longer authorized to practice law in New York; his clients and opposing parties may be affected if he was handling active matters.
- Can this decision be appealed?
- Acceptance of a voluntary resignation is a final administrative action by the Appellate Division; further review would be unusual and is not typically available.
The above suggestions and answers are AI-generated for informational purposes only. They may contain errors. NoticeRegistry assumes no responsibility for their accuracy. Consult a qualified attorney before relying on them.
Full Filing Text
Matter of Stern - 2026 NY Slip Op 02587 Matter of Stern 2026 NY Slip Op 02587 April 24, 2026 Appellate Division, Fourth Department MATTER OF PAUL DAVID STERN, AN ATTORNEY, RESIGNOR. Supreme Court of the State of New York, Appellate Division, Fourth Judicial Department Decided on April 24, 2026 — Present: Curran, J.P., Bannister, Montour, Greenwood, And Hannah, JJ. (Filed Apr. 21, 2026.) MEMORANDUM AND ORDER Application to resign for non-disciplinary reasons accepted and name removed from roll of attorneys .