Ex-Attorney Is Indicted for Stealing From Clients

Ex-Attorney Is Indicted for Stealing From Clients
The New York Law Journal by Andrew Keshner  -  October 18, 2011

A disbarred Manhattan attorney has been indicted on grand larceny charges for allegedly stealing from former clients. Howard L. Blau was indicted on five counts of grand larceny for allegedly stealing $138,500 from five clients and one count of first-degree scheme to defraud. He was arraigned on Oct. 12 and released on his own recognizance, according to a state court database. His next court appearance is scheduled for Dec. 21.  Mr. Blau was suspended in February 2008 for misappropriating client funds and subsequently disbarred in 2009 (NYLJ, Oct. 28, 2009). Last year, a special referee in Manhattan Supreme Court ordered Mr. Blau to pay almost $500,000 to an ex-client in a legal malpractice action. The client was found guilty of third-degree rape while represented by Mr. Blau but acquitted when he retained new representation (NYLJ, May 26, 2010). In his decision on the malpractice action, the referee faulted Mr. Blau for his lack of preparation in the underlying case and lack of communication with the defendant.

-------------------------------------  THE INDICTMENT:

SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF NEW YORK
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK
 -against-
Howard L. Blau,  Defendant.

THE GRAND JURY OF THE COUNTY OF NEW YORK, by this indictment, accuses the defendant of the crime of GRAND LARCENY IN THE SECOND DEGREE, in violation of Penal Law §155.40(1), committed as follows: The defendant, in the County of New York, on or about May 15, 2008, stole property from Daniel Fish and the value of the property exceeded fifty thousand dollars.

SECOND COUNT: AND THE GRAND JURY AFORESAID, by this indictment, further accuses the defendant of the crime of SCHEME TO DEFRAUD IN THE FIRST DEGREE, in violation of Penal Law §190.65(1)(b), committed as follows:  The defendant, in the County of New York, during the period from on or about March 12, 2007 to on or about October 26, 2007, engaged in a scheme constituting a systematic ongoing course of conduct with intent to defraud more than one person and to obtain property from more than one person by false and fraudulent pretenses, representations and promises, and so obtained property with a value in excess of one thousand dollars from one or more such persons.

THIRD COUNT:  AND THE GRAND JURY AFORESAID, by this indictment, further accuses the defendant of the crime of GRAND LARCENY IN THE THIRD DEGREE, in violation of Penal Law §155.35, committed as follows: The defendant, in the County of New York, on or about March 12, 2007, stole property from Robert Kaplan and the value of the property exceeded three thousand dollars.

FOURTH COUNT: AND THE GRAND JURY AFORESAID, by this indictment, further accuses the defendant of the crime of GRAND LARCENY IN THE THIRD DEGREE, in violation of Penal Law §155.35, committed as follows: The defendant, in the County of New York, on or about June 14, 2007, stole property from Sandra Geik and the value of the property exceeded three thousand dollars.

FIFTH COUNT: AND THE GRAND JURY AFORESAID, by this indictment, further accuses the defendant of the crime of GRAND LARCENY IN THE THIRD DEGREE, in violation of Penal Law §155.35, committed as follows: The defendant, in the County of New York, on or about July 18, 2007, stole property from Michael Kaplan and the value of the property exceeded three thousand dollars.

SIXTH COUNT: AND THE GRAND JURY AFORESAID, by this indictment, further accuses the defendant of the crime of GRAND LARCENY IN THE THIRD DEGREE, in violation of Penal Law §155.35, committed as follows: The defendant, in the County of New York, on or about October 26, 2007, stole property from Antony Geralis and the value of the property exceeded three thousand dollars.

CYRUS R. VANCE, JR. District Attorney  -  GJ #- 8  -  Filed:

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK 
-against-
Howard L. Blau, Defendant.

INDICTMENT  -  GRAND LARCENY IN THE SECOND DEGREE, P.L. §155.40(1) SCHEME TO DEFRAUD IN THE FIRST DEGREE, P.L. §190.65(1)(b) GRAND LARCENY IN THE THIRD DEGREE, P.L. §155.35, 4 Cts
CYRUS R. VANCE, JR., District Attorney
A True Bill
Joanne Siegmund, Special Prosecutions Bureau
Foreman  -  ADJOURNED TO PART _______ ON ________