Case ID: ohio_9/html/0039-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Lane, 0. J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

*The State, on the Relation of L. Kilbourn v. Alvah Hand.
    Where an attorney at law has collected money for his client, withheld its payment and applied it to his own use, he may be suspended for mal-practice Honesty and fidelity to clients are the essential virtues of an attorney’s calling, and whenever courts are satisfied he has lost these essential qualifications, they are wanting in their duties, if they do not take away his means, and destroy his opportunities of mischievous action.
    Complaint against a solicitor of this court, for mal-practice in his official and professional character. From Portage county. The relator states, that he, with Hand and others, were security for the payment of a debt by one M’Oúne ; that M’Cune deposited with Hand, in his character as attorney, sundry demands and notes to collect and pay over upon the debt, and thus relieve the securities from their responsibility. That Hand had collected the debts, but instead of duly appropriating the money, had expended it for his own uses, and that the debt of M’Cune’had been collected of relator and his co-securities by process of law. The relator, therefore, for this mal-practice, prays that Hand may be suspended from practising as an attorney at law. The defendant demurs, which is joined.
    The case was submitted without argument.
   By the Court,

Lane, 0. J.

In this case the question is raised, whether the non-payment of money collected by an attorney at law may he a sufficient cause for his suspension ? It is alleged to be a simple failure to keep a promise, for which the law provides a remedy, and that the statute, by imposing a specific penalty in such cases, implies that no severer punishment was intended.

The relation of attorney and elient is a necessary one, in every country whose civilization is in any degree advanced. The discharge of professional duties, demands great and unreserved confidence from the client, and the connection of the attorney with courts, and his access to papers, require unsuspected integrity. Hence general■ honesty and fidelity to clients, is not only necessary to his success, but even to the performance of his duties. Other good qualities may bé wanting in his character, and some vices may be present, but the$e are the essential virtues of his calling, no more to be dispensed with than courage in a soldier, or modesty in a woman. The statute regulating admission to the bar, requires the court to be satisfied that the applicant possesses these qualities. The public have a right to presume that the court are fully satisfied upon these ^points, and to regard a license to practice as a certificate of good character from them. And whenever the court shall become persuaded that an attorney has lost these qualifications, essential to his usefulness, and necessary to the safety of his employers, they are wanting in their duties, if they do not take away his means, and destroy his opportunities for mischievous action.

The defendant is charged with holding money collected by him and using it for his own purposes. Having received the money in his professional character, he was not only bound by his obligations of professional fidelity, to appropriate it as his client directed, but honesty to his eo-securities, in this case, demanded its due application. If the facts shall be proved, he ought not to be permitted to claim longer confidence, when he has shown himself so unworthy of his trust.

Demurrer overuled. Cause remanded.