Case Title: Matter of Higgins

Citation: 582 A.2d 929

Docket Number: 

State: delaware

Court: Delaware Supreme Court

Date: 1990-11-15T00:00:00Z

Document:
582 A.2d 929 (1990)
In the Matter of a Member of the Bar of the Supreme Court of Delaware James E. HIGGINS.

Supreme Court of Delaware.
Submitted: November 14, 1990.
Decided: November 15, 1990.
Charles Slanina, Disciplinary Counsel for the Board on Professional Responsibility, Wilmington.
Robert D. Goldberg of Biggs & Battaglia, Wilmington, for James E. Higgins.
*930 Before CHRISTIE, C.J., WALSH and HOLLAND, JJ.
PER CURIAM:
This is a Disciplinary Proceeding. A panel of the Board on Professional Responsibility ("Board")[1] held a hearing involving charges of professional misconduct against the Respondent, James E. Higgins ("Higgins"). Bd.Prof.Resp.R. 9(d). The Board's proceedings followed Higgins' guilty plea to a criminal charge of feloniously converting several clients' funds, which he held in trust, to his own use.
The Board has issued a final report to this Court ("Report"). The Board found that Higgins had violated various provisions of the Delaware Lawyers' Rules of Professional Conduct. Higgins, who is now incarcerated, has represented to this Court through his attorney that he takes no exception to the Board's findings. Therefore, the sole issue to be addressed by this Court is the form of discipline to be imposed. The Court has concluded that Higgins should be disbarred.
The Board's findings of fact with respect to the underlying charges of professional misconduct, as set forth in its Report, are in pertinent part, as follows:
The Board's Report to this court also reflects that:
The Board's conclusions of law with respect to the underlying charges of professional misconduct, as set forth in its Report, are in pertinent part, as follows:
This Court has made a careful and independent review of both the factual findings and the conclusions of law that are set forth in the Board's Report. Our scope of review with regard to the Board's factual findings is to determine whether the record contains substantial evidence to support those findings. Matter of Higgins, Del. Supr., 565 A.2d 901, 906-07 (1989); In re Lewis, Del.Supr., 528 A.2d 1192, 1193 (1987); In re Kennedy, Del.Supr., 472 A.2d 1317, 1326 (1984); Matter of Reed, Del. Supr., 429 A.2d 987, 991 (1981). We review the Board's conclusions of law de novo. Matter of Berl, Del.Supr., 540 A.2d 410, 413 (1988). We are satisfied that the record before us clearly supports the findings of fact and the conclusions of law made by the Board in this case. Matter of Sullivan, Del.Supr., 530 A.2d 1115, 1117 (1987); In re Lewis, Del.Supr., 528 A.2d 1192 (1987); In re Sanders, Del.Supr., 498 A.2d 148 (1985); In re Frabizzio, Del. Supr., 498 A.2d 1076 (1985). See also In re Ryan, Del.Supr., 498 A.2d 515 (1985).
Higgins' prior neglect of his clients' affairs resulted in his suspension from the practice of law last year. Matter of Higgins, Del.Supr., 565 A.2d 901 (1989). The misappropriation of clients' funds is one of the most egregious acts of professional misconduct that any attorney can commit. The appropriate sanction for Higgins in this matter is disbarment. In the Matter of Clark, Del.Supr., 250 A.2d 505 (1969); ABA Standards for Imposing Lawyer Sanctions, Standard 4.1 (1986).
*933 Under our exclusive jurisdiction over the Bar of Delaware, IT IS ORDERED that James E. Higgins be disbarred from membership in the Delaware Bar. His name shall be immediately stricken from the Roll of Attorneys entitled to practice before the courts of this State.
[1]  The Board is an agency of this Court, created under Supreme Court Rule 62. In re Kennedy, Del.Supr., 472 A.2d 1317, 1318-19 (1984).