Disbarment Sought for Law Firm Partner Who Secreted $50,000 Payment

A New Jersey special master has recommended disbarment for David Gross -- who for 20 years was Budd Larner's managing partner -- for pocketing $50,000 from a client instead of depositing the money into the firm account. Though Gross insisted the money was a gift from a satisfied client, Special Master David Cramp was persuaded by testimony from Gross' former secretary that Gross instructed her to delete from the firm's computer system a letter he sent to the client about the payment.