Case Title: Matter of Noel

Citation: 350 N.E.2d 623

Docket Number: 974S177

State: indiana

Court: Indiana Supreme Court

Date: 1976-07-16T00:00:00Z

Document:
350 N.E.2d 623 (1976)
In the matter of Joseph A. Noel.
No. 974S177.

Supreme Court of Indiana.
July 16, 1976.
*624 James V. Donadio, G. Daniel Kelly, Jr., Indianapolis, for appellant.
Richard H. Grabham, Executive Secretary, John D. Cochran, Indianapolis, for appellee.
PER CURIAM.
This is a disciplinary proceeding before this Court on a six count amended complaint filed by the Indiana Supreme Court Disciplinary Commission against the respondent in this cause. By stipulation of the parties, Count VI of the complaint has been dismissed. A Hearing Officer was appointed in this cause, the cause was heard, and the Hearing Officer's Report, Findings of Fact and Recommendations have been filed and are now before this Court for consideration. In addition, we have before us the Disciplinary Commission's Petition for Review under Admission and Discipline Rule 23, Section 15(a), "Respondent's Brief in Opposition to the Commission's Petition for Review and in Support of the Hearing Officer's Findings of Fact and Recommendations," "Respondent's Petition for Oral Argument" and Respondent's supplemental brief in opposition to the petition for review.
The Court, having considered the foregoing matters, now denies the Commission's petition as to the Hearing Officer's report and findings of fact, but grants this petition for review as to the Hearing Officer's recommendation. Respondent's Petition for Oral Argument is hereby denied. Being duly advised, we now adopt and accept the hearing officer's findings of fact as our own in this cause.
The findings of fact which establish misconduct under Counts I, II, and IV of the amended complaint are as follows:
The above detailed findings of fact having been adopted and accepted by the Court, we now accordingly find that under Count I of the complaint, the respondent violated Disciplinary Rules 1-102(A)(6) and 9-102(A); under Count II, the respondent violated Disciplinary Rules 1-102(A)(6) and 6-101(A)(3); and under Count IV, the respondent violated Disciplinary Rules 1-102(A)(5), 6-101(A)(3) and 9-102(B)(3).
Having found misconduct in this case, it now becomes the duty of this Court to determine the appropriate disciplinary sanction to be imposed, taking under consideration the nature of the ethical violation, the specific acts of the respondent, and this Court's responsibility to preserve the integrity of the Bar of the State of Indiana. We also consider the risk, if any, to which we will subject the public by permitting the respondent to continue in the profession or to be reinstated at some future date, as well as the deterrent effect the imposition of discipline has on the Bar in general. In re Lee (1974) Ind. 317 N.E.2d 444.
The Hearing Officer appointed in this case has recommended that the respondent be censured, given a public reprimand and allowed to continue his practice of law without interruption. We do not believe that such proposed discipline is sufficient to meet the gravity of the misconduct found in this case nor is it sufficient to have the desired deterrent effect.
The respondent in this cause has been found guilty of commingling, neglecting legal matters entrusted to him, and failing to make an appropriate record and accounting of client's funds. All three of these incidents concern the handling of client's money and, taken in total, establish a pattern of conduct abhorred by this Court. The fiduciary relationship of a lawyer to his client involves trust. There is no surer way to undermine this trust than to become involved in questionable and unethical conduct in dealing with funds that belong *628 exclusively to a client. This type of misconduct reflects adversely upon a lawyer's fitness to continue the practice as well as brings severe discredit to the legal profession.
With the foregoing considerations in mind, by reason of the violations found under Counts I, II and IV of the complaint, as amended, it is now ordered that the respondent be, and he hereby is, suspended from the practice of law in the State of Indiana for a period of not less than 180 days, beginning August 4, 1976; and that he pay the costs of these disciplinary proceedings.
It is further ordered that the respondent may, at any time after the 170th day of suspension, file with the Clerk of this Court his petition for reinstatement, together with the receipt of said Clerk for the payment of the aforesaid costs, and a copy of said petition and receipt with the Supreme Court Disciplinary Commission, which Commission shall file objections thereto, if any, within ten (10) days thereafter. Absent such objections, said petition will be granted without further proceedings. Otherwise, such suspension shall continue pending the further order of this Court.
[1]  The Hearing Officer's reference to Canons refers to the Canons of Professional Ethics of the American Bar Association.
[1a]  The Estate Tax was $18,000 plus, and the Inheritance Tax was $3,104.18.