Bonnie Frost Addresses Ethics Violations and Domestic Violence Committed by Attorneys, in New Jersey Lawyer Magazine

In the New Jersey Lawyer magazine article “A Lawyer’s Personal Behavior In Person and On the Internet is Not Immune From Discipline,” Einhorn, Barbarito, Frost, Botwinick, Nunn & Musmanno, PC partner Bonnie C. Frost addresses ethics violations specific to domestic violence. Citing a judicial opinion, “That an attorney’s conduct does not involve the practice of law or arise from an attorney client relationship will not excuse an ethics transgression or lessen the degree of a disciplinary sanction,” Bonnie further explains that the Rules of Professional Conduct provide that it is misconduct for an attorney to “commit a criminal act that reflects adversely on the lawyer’s honesty, trustworthiness, or fitness as a lawyer.” She discusses notable cases including:

• In re Magid and In re Margrabia: Early cases where attorneys were suspended for acts of domestic violence.  Magid was the first case and he was not suspended but the bar was put on alert-if you do engage in such acts you will be suspended.
• Frank Tobias: Suspended for six months for aggravated assault and failing to report his conviction.
• In Re Waldman: Suspended for three years for cyberstalking and harassment.
• John Toczydlowski: Suspended for three years for unlawfully disseminating intimate images and harassment.

Bonnie highlights that personal behavior, even outside the lawyer-client relationship, is subject to ethical scrutiny. She states, “The personal behavior of a lawyer is not outside the reach of the ethics system,” underscoring the importance of maintaining high standards of conduct both professionally and personally.

You can read Bonnie’s New Jersey Lawyer magazine article here.

This article was originally published in the December 2024 issue of New Jersey Lawyer and is being republished herein with permission of the New Jersey State Bar Association.