Back in January of 2006, Zoraida Arafet paid an attorney $7,500 to file an appeal on her husband's behalf. Some seven months later, the lawyer supposedly showed her a copy of a brief which had been stamped by the clerk of the Appellate Division, Third Department. But, in actuality, the guy was only trying to "buy time" and hadn't actually filed the brief with the court.
After a disciplinary complaint was filed, a Special Referee issued a report, and the Appellate Division, Second Department, ended up suspending the attorney from the practice of law in the State of New York for a two-year period. (It was unmoved by the man's testimony that he suffered from stress and depression at the time of his misconduct.)
Who's got plenty of time now?
To view a copy of the Appellate Division's decision, please use this link: Matter of Brooks