A unanimous Appellate Division, First Department, panel has disbarred Gideon Karlick for failing to respond to a disciplinary investigation into an allegation that he neglected a client matter. Karlick, a graduate of Brooklyn Law School admitted in 1978, was initially suspended for six months on July 17, 2012, and never moved for reinstatement, prompting the Departmental Disciplinary Committee to move for his disbarment.
The committee began investigating Karlick in response to a complaint by a client that he neglected a medical malpractice and wrongful death action filed on behalf of the client’s mother’s estate, according to last year’s suspension order. At the time, Karlick was still working on the case. Karlick initially failed to respond to the complaint, according to the suspension order, and when he did, he said the case was still pending and he was uncomfortable continuing to represent the client in light of the client’s complaint. The case was referred to the Bronx County Bar Association for mediation.
