In re Wheatley

Respondent was admitted to practice by this Court in 1998 and practiced law in Albany County.

By decision dated September 25, 2002, this Court disbarred respondent for serious professional misconduct set forth in a petition of charges (Matter of Wheatley, 297 AD2d 872 [2002]). *1040Respondent did not answer or otherwise appear in response to the petition or the subsequent motion for a default judgment by petitioner. Thereafter, respondent moved for an order vacating our disbarment decision and permitting him to answer and defend the charges. At oral argument on the motion, respondent admitted…