Lawyers who practiced under a misleading firm name, paid court fees with bad checks and failed to comply with the terms of a prior suspension were subject to disciplinary action this week.

The Supreme Court issued a three-year suspension to Flemington attorney Robert Bernot after he failed to comply with the terms of two prior suspensions. Bernot narrowly escaped more severe discipline—the Disciplinary Review Board voted 5-4 to recommend a three-year suspension, with the four-member minority calling for disbarment.