Lawyer is disbarred after disciplinary review board alleges an 'egregious ethics history'
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The New Jersey Supreme Court has disbarred a Haddonfield, New Jersey, lawyer who was previously reprimanded once, censured once and suspended four times.
Lawyer Susan A. Lowden was disbarred in an Oct. 14 order that said she failed to cooperate with disciplinary authorities and engaged in conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice.
Law360, Bloomberg Law and the Cherry Hill Courier-Post have coverage.
Lowden was licensed to practice law in 1991 and has been suspended since April 2019. She is a member of Somerdale’s school board, according to the Cherry Hill Courier-Post.
The New Jersey Supreme Court’s Disciplinary Review Board had recommended disbarment in July. Lowden has an “egregious ethics history, which demonstrates a repeated and deep disdain for not only the disciplinary system but also for her clients,” the board said. Lowden “has reached a tipping point.”
Most of the past ethics violations were based on allegations of gross neglect, a lack of diligence in representing clients, and misrepresentations to clients.
Two temporary suspensions were based on failure to comply with determinations by fee arbitration committees that she owed $3,000 to one client and about $14,000 to another.
She was also suspended for six months for conduct in a client matter and for two years in two consolidated matters, according to the disciplinary review board. All the cases involved allegations of gross neglect.
When Lowden was suspended in 2019 and in 2020, she failed to file affidavits specifying how she complied with court disciplinary orders.
“Moreover, she has an extensive history that includes a demonstrable disregard for the disciplinary system,” the disciplinary review board said.
Lowden is also suspended from law practice in Pennsylvania. A phone number listed for Lowden on the website of Pennsylvania’s disciplinary board is no longer in service.
