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NEW YORK---Valerie S. Amsterdam, authorized to practice law since 1977, has been disbarred by the Appellate Division, First Department, after she admitted that between June 2003 and November 2003, she had defrauded the federal court system for billing the court system for assigned counsel assignments while at the same time accepting money from the clients themselves for the same legal services.
Amsterdam pleaded guilty to fraud charges in April and agreed to surrender her law license as part of the plea bargain. She also agreed to forfeit $374,000. She has yet to be sentenced and could receive up to six years in prison.
Amsterdam had already submitted her resignation from the practice of law. Although her counsel was served with the disbarrment petition, no response was been filed. http://www.courts.state.ny.us/reporter/3dseries/2005/2005_09633.htm
12-21-05
© 2005 North
Country Gazette
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