Case Title: In the Matter of a Member of the Bar of the Supreme Court

Citation: 

Docket Number: 283-2018

State: delaware

Court: Delaware Supreme Court

Date: 2018-06-29T00:00:00Z

Document:
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE

IN THE MATTER OF A MEMBER §
OF THE BAR OF THE SUPREME §

COURT OF THE STATE OF § No. 283, 2018
DELAWARE: §
§
ERIK C, GRANDELL 5

Submitted: June 18, 2018
Decided: June 29, 2018

Before STRINE, Chief Justice; SEITZ and TRAYNOR, Justices.
ORDER

This 29" day of June 2018, it appears to the Court that:

(1) This is a lawyer disciplinary proceeding. On May 29, 2018, the
Board on Professional Responsibility filed its Report and Recommendation
(“Board’s Report”) with this Court, recommending that the respondent, Erik
C. Grandell, Eq

  

, be publicly reprimanded and placed on a period of
probation for two years, with the imposition of specific conditions. A copy of
the Board’s Report is attached to this order. Neither the Office of Disciplinary
Counsel nor Grandell has filed any objections to the Board's Report.

(2) The Court has considered the matter carefully. We find the
Board’s recommendation of a public reprimand with a two-year period of

probation with conditions to be appropriate. Thus, we accept the Board’s
findings and recommendation for discipline and incorporate the Board’s
findings and recommendation by reference.

‘NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS ORDERED that the Board’s Report is
hereby ACCEPTED. The Office of Disciplinary Counsel shall disseminate
this Order in accordance with Rule 14 of the Delaware Lawyers’ Rules of
Disciplinary Procedure.

BY THE COURT:

(s/ Gary F, Traynor
Justice
EFiled: May 29 2018 03:471
Filing ID 62074347
‘Case Number 283,2018

BOARD ON PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY OF THE SUPREME
‘COURT OF DELAWARE

 

 

Matter of a Member of the
Bar of the Supreme Court of
‘The State of Delaware

 

Board Case No, 113458-B
ERIK C. GRANDELL, :
Respondent

BOARD REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION

‘This is the report of The Board on Professional Responsibility of the Supreme Court of
the State of Delaware (the “Board”) setting forth its findings and recommendations in the above-
‘captioned matter,

‘The members of the panel of the Board (the “PaneI”) are Gary W. Ferguson, Jessica
Zeldin, Esquire and Patricia O. Vella, Esquire (the “Chair"). The Office of Disciplinary Counsel
(the “ODC”) was represented by Jennifer-Kate Aaronson, Esquire. The Respondent, Erik C.
Grandell, Esquire appeared prose.

‘A hearing was held on December 14, 2017. After receiving the transcript, the parties
filed post-hearing memoranda. Respondent filed his opening brief on February 8, 2018, ODC
filed its answering memorandum on liability and sanctions on February 21, 2018, and
[Respondent filed his reply on March 19, 2018,

1. PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

‘The ODC filed a Petition for Discipline on November 1, 2017 (the “Pettion”), In the
Petition, the ODC alleged a violation of Rule 7(¢) (“Rule 7()") ofthe Delaware Lawyers’ Rules
of Disciplinary Procedure (the “Procedural Rules") and Rule 8.4(4) (“Rule 8.4(4)") of the
Delaware Lawyers’ Rules of Professional Conduct (the “Rules"). Rule 7(c) provides that it
“shall be grounds for disciplinary action fora lawyer to... [violate the terms of any conditional
diversion or private or public disciplinary or disability disposition.” Rule 8.4(4) provides that it
is “professional misconduct for a lawyer to... engage in conduct that is prejudicial to the
‘administration of justice.” On November 28, 2017, Respondent filed his answer to the Petition
 . Respondent is prohibited from acting as managing partner in charge of

‘books and records of a firm;

}. Respondent shall notify any employer of these conditions,

Respondent shall seck treatment with Alice R. O'Brien, LPCMH or
alternate licensed mental health treatment provider until such time as Ms.
O'Brien or an alternate licensed mental health treatment monitor
determines such treatment to no longer be recommended, such
‘determination to be communicated to ODC;

5. Respondent shall execute a formal monitoring agreement with DE-LAP

‘and comply with all conditions deemed appropriate by DE-LAP;

Respondent shall meet on a monthly basis with a mutually agreed upon
practice monitor who will closely review Respondent's legal work and
‘cases. This practice monitor shall provide quarterly reports to ODC of the
Respondent's compliance with monitoring;

. Respondent shall report any violations ofthe conditions of his probation to

ODC directly;

. Respondent shall cooperate promptly and fully with ODC in its efforts to

‘monitor compliance with his conditions of probation. Respondent shall
cooperate with ODC's investigation of any allegations of unprofessional
conduct which may come to the attention of ODC. Upon request of ODC,
Respondent shall provide suthorization for release of information and
documentation, to the extent not granted above, to verify compliance with
the conditions of probation;

16
issn

9. Respondent shall pay cost of the disciplinary proceedings; and

10. Respondent shall notify ODC of any changes in his employment status
‘within 10 days after such change in employment status.

7
 

Ne. 3558)

Gary W. Ferguson

Datod: May 25,2018
Respectfully submitted,

(72
‘atricia O. Vella (Bar No. 3529)

Jessica Zeldin (Bar No. 3558)

 

Dated: May 25, 2018