The attorney in this story deserves to be disbarred, if not for his misconduct then for his sheer stupidity:
What started as a dispute between neighbors over a swimming pool has led to the arrest of a Long Island attorney.
Laurence S. Jurman of Dix Hills, N.Y., allegedly forged the name of Supreme Court Justice William Rebolini to a judicial order in a civil lawsuit filed as the result of the dispute, according to a statement issued by the Suffolk County district attorney’s office in May of this year.
On Wednesday, Jurman, 40, appearing without counsel, pleaded not guilty to a single count of criminal possession of a forged document in the second degree, a class D felony punishable by 2 1/3 to 7 years in prison. Jurman was released on his own recognizance by District Judge Paul Hensley and is due back to court on Nov. 19.
Jurman, who was admitted to the State Bar in 1991, allegedly advised his clients, plaintiffs who were dissatisfied with the pace of their lawsuit, that Rebolini on May 4 had denied a motion to vacate a nonexistent default by defendants. He subsequently supplied plaintiffs with a copy of the order purportedly signed by Rebolini.
Today, Nov. 21, 2008 Mr. Jurman was sentenced to 5 years probation, he must pay restitution to his damaged client victims, and he must make full restitution for the tax embezzlement he committed against his only employee.
Hopefully, the feds will render federal charges on Mr. Jurman as this is judical forgery is a federal crime, as well as a criminal one.
Sadly, not all of Mr. Jurman’s victims received the monetary justice they are owed.