A unanimous panel of the Appellate Division, First Department, has ordered that a former Cravath Swaine & Moore associate who pleaded guilty to misdemeanor assault after attacking his ex-girlfriend be suspended for three years, a much harsher penalty than the 60-day suspension recommended by the Disciplinary Committee.
In a Feb. 9 decision in Matter of Zulandt, M-1571, Justices Richard T. Andrias, David Friedman, James M. Catterson, Dianne T. Renwick and Leland G. DeGrasse rejected a psychotherapist’s claim that the attorney, Michael P. Zulandt, suffered from an “intermittent explosive disorder” that caused him to commit the attack. According to the decision, on Oct. 4, 2007, Mr. Zulandt “repeatedly threw” his ex-girlfriend “to the floor and slapped her about the face, causing physical injuries that required medical attention.” He also called her derogatory names and destroyed her property, smashing her Cartier watch with a hammer, filling her purse with water, gouging a painting that belonged to her and pouring water and oil on her couch.
