A First Department panel has publicly censured a Manhattan litigator for assaulting a taxi driver three years ago, in adopting a recommendation by the departmental disciplinary committee.
The panel, which consisted of Justices Helen E. Freedman (See Profile), Rosalyn H. Richter (See Profile), Sheila Abdus-Salaam (See Profile), Sallie Manzanet-Daniels (See Profile) and Nelson S. Román (See Profile), said Tuesday that it agreed with a departmental disciplinary referee and hearing panel that Roman Leonov’s assault was “a deplorable but isolated and uncharacteristic act by a young lawyer who understands and regrets the gravity of his offense.”
