An Orange County lawyer who failed to cooperate with a judicial investigation has been disbarred.
The Second Appellate Court concluded on Feb. 4 that Jamie T. Ferrara, of Goshen, engaged in professional misconduct and must desist from practicing law in any form.
Ferrara has practiced law in New York since 2007. He worked as an assistant district attorney in Orange County, and in 2018 he incorporated Ferrara Law P.C. in Goshen. He handled criminal cases, such as white collar crime, drugs, assaults and drunk driving, according to his web site, as well as business and real estate matters.
Last year, the regional lawyers grievance committee accused Ferrara of conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice, for failure to cooperate with a disciplinary investigation, and conduct that adversely reflects his fitness as a lawyer, for failure to produce subpoenaed documents.
Ferrara was given 20 days to respond, according to the appellate court decision, but neither answered the charges nor asked for more time to do so.
The grievance committee asked the court to deem the charges established and to impose discipline. Ferrara did not respond to the motion, the appellate court decision states, and a panel of five appellate court judges ruled that the charges had been established.
The appellate court does not say why Ferrara was investigated.
According to court records, he was sued twice last year.
Thomas Kincade, a client who claimed police officers injured him in a 2024 incident, accused Ferrara of legal malpractice and negligence. Kincade alleged that Ferrara failed to pursue claims, the time to do so expired, and the opportunity to win monetary damages was lost.
Ferrara did not answer the lawsuit.
A nonprofit organization that manages The Paddock townhouses and condominiums in Goshen accused Ferrara of failing to pay monthly assessments and fees for a townhouse he owns. The association is demanding nearly $12,000.
Ferrara did not reply to an email asking for his side of the story in the disbarment proceeding.
