Nazario v. Ciafone

In Nazario v. Ciafone, Index No. 22698/2007 [Sup Ct Queens County January 8, 2008], Justice Satterfield issued a seven page, single-spaced opinion, annexed as Exhibit C to Mesterman's reply papers, granting a similar order to show cause requiring Ciafone to produce a file and ordering that he pay $ 5,000 in sanctions to the Lawyers' Fund for Client Protection. Justice Satterfield, a prominent and well-respected jurist, leveled numerous criticisms of Ciafone. Ciafone explains that he has appealed Justice Satterfield's decision. Putting aside whether Justice Satterfield's opinion and sanctions award will be affirmed or reversed on appeal, the undersigned has to pause to wonder that (1) the present occasion is not the only time that Ciafone has been accused of not turning over the entire client file to a successor attorney and (2) Justice Satterfield, must have been driven to unusual lengths, by Ciafone's excuses and failure to cooperate, to produce the opinion she issued.