Title: Board of Professional Responsibility v. Neilson

State: wyoming

Issuer: Wyoming Supreme Court

Document:

Board of Professional Responsibility v. Neilson1991 WY 102816 P.2d 120Case Number: D-90-2Decided: 07/30/1991Supreme Court of Wyoming
BOARD 
OF PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY PETITIONER,

 
 
v.

 
 
CLIFFORD 
J. NEILSON, RESPONDENT.

 
 
Randal 
R. Arp, Wyoming State Bar, Cheyenne, for petitioner.

 
 
Kenneth 
R. Marken, Casper, for respondent.

 
 
Before 
URBIGKIT, C.J., and THOMAS and MACY, JJ.

 
 
ORDER 
OF DISBARMENT

 
 

[¶1.]     The Board of 
Professional Responsibility of the Wyoming State Bar on July 25, 1991 presented 
to this Court its Report of Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law and 
Recommendations, charging the above-named respondent-attorney, regularly 
admitted to the practice of law in the state of Wyoming, with professional misconduct. 
Automatic review and final decision is required of this Court by Wyo. Const. 
art. 2, § 1 and art. 5, § 2; W.S. 5-2-118 and Rule VI(b)(4) and (h), 
Disciplinary Code for the Wyoming State Bar. After consideration 
thereof, the Court, by clear and convincing evidence, 
finds:

 
 

[¶2.]     The respondent-attorney 
was convicted of five felonies arising from activities pursued in the practice 
of law, which conduct involved generally preparation and use of forged 
instruments as trial evidence.

 
 

[¶3.]     Following conviction, a 
suspension order was issued by this Court dated February 12, 1990. This Court 
referred the matter to the Wyoming State Bar Board of Professional 
Responsibility for formal disciplinary proceedings as provided by Rules XVI and 
VI of the Disciplinary Code for the Wyoming State Bar.

 
 

[¶4.]     After a hearing and the 
receipt of evidence, the Board of Professional Responsibility made its Report of 
Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law and Recommendations to this Court. The 
Report of Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law and Recommendations is attached 
hereto and incorporated in haec verba as Appendix 
A.

 
 

[¶5.]     Having reviewed the 
record, briefs and memoranda, the Court further finds that the record sustains 
factually and justifies legally the Report of Findings of Fact, Conclusions of 
Law and Recommendations of the Board of Professional Responsibility and 
determines that the recommended disbarment from the practice of law is 
appropriate under Rule 8.4, Rules of Professional Conduct for Attorneys at 
Law.

 
 
ORDERED:

 
 

[¶6.]     1. Clifford J. Neilson 
is disbarred as a member of the Wyoming State Bar pursuant to his license to 
practice law, and costs incurred in this proceeding of $882.10 are assessed for 
repayment to the Wyoming State Bar Board of Professional 
Responsibility.

 
 

[¶7.]     2. The entry date for 
this decision is the date hereof. Since respondent has been under suspension 
since conviction by order of February 12, 1990, the effective date for 
disbarment for purposes of reinstatement is February 12, 1990 and, for any other 
purpose, will be the date of execution and filing of this 
order.

 
 

[¶8.]     3. Respondent-attorney 
is advised that he may not apply for reinstatement until the expiration of at 
least five (5) years from the effective date of the disbarment pursuant to Rule 
XXII(a) of the Disciplinary Code for the Wyoming State Bar. In the event that 
application should be made in the future, it will not be accepted until 
restitution of costs and expenses have been made and any other requirements then 
in effect for re-examination or continuing legal education have been 
satisfied.

 
 

[¶9.]     4. The clerk of this 
Court docket the Report of Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law and 
Recommendations, and all supporting papers of the Board of Professional 
Responsibility, as well as this Order as a matter coming regularly before this 
Court as a public record.

 
 
CARDINE 
and GOLDEN, JJ., not participating.

 
 

APPENDIX 
"A"

 
 
STATE 
OF WYOMINGCOUNTY OF LARAMIE

 
 
BEFORE 
THE BOARD OF PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY

 
 
WYOMING 
STATE BAR

 
 
STATE 
OF WYOMING

 
 
IN 
THE MATTER OF CLIFFORD J. NEILSON, Respondent.

 
 
Docket 
No. (72-89)

 
 
Filed 
July 25, 1991.

 
 
REPORT 
OF FINDINGS OF FACT, CONCLUSIONS OF LAW AND 
RECOMMENDATIONS

 
 

[¶10.]  COMES NOW the Board of Professional 
Responsibility of the Wyoming State Bar and hereby files its report in the 
above-captioned matter.

 
 

[¶11.]  On June 18, 1991, a hearing was held in 
the conference room of the office of the Wyoming State Bar, Cheyenne, Wyoming. Committee members present at the 
hearing were Joseph E. Vlastos, Chairman, James L. Edwards, Michael H. McCarty, 
Herb Carter, Mary Flitner and Timothy O. Beppler. Appearing on behalf of the 
Wyoming State Bar was Randal R. Arp. The Respondent, Clifford J. Neilson, 
appeared pro-se. Testimony was received from the 
Respondent.

 
 

[¶12.]  The Board of Professional Responsibility, 
after having reviewed the official file, the testimony of the witness and the 
evidence presented at the hearing, and after having otherwise reviewed the 
matter, does hereby make the following findings of fact and conclusions of 
law:

 
 
FINDINGS 
OF FACT

 
 

[¶13.]  1. Respondent is a member of the Wyoming 
State Bar licensed to practice law who maintained an office in Casper, Wyoming (Complaint para. 1; Answer para. 
1).

 
 

[¶14.]  2. Respondent was admitted to the Wyoming 
State Bar in 1979 (Tr. 7-7) and was engaged in the general practice of law since 
July, 1979 (Tr. 35-22). From 1974 through 1978 he was employed with a bank (Tr. 
36-2).

 
 

[¶15.]  3. On January 25, 1990, Respondent was 
convicted of five felony counts. The judgment of conviction was entered by the 
district court on February 5, 1990 (Complaint para. 2; Answer para. 
1).

 
 

[¶16.]  4. Respondent had assisted one of his 
clients with some back-dated notarized deeds (Tr. 7-15). This was to prevent his 
client's ex-wife from receiving real property she otherwise would have received 
from his client as a part of a divorce decree of distribution (Tr. 
7-19).

 
 

[¶17.]  5. Respondent ordered a notary stamp 
after the commission for the notary had expired (Tr. 8-11). Deeds were prepared 
and the notary stamp was placed on the deeds (Tr. 8-19). The deeds were recorded 
(Tr. 9-14).

 
 

[¶18.]  6. Respondent was convicted of two counts 
of aiding and abetting in the commission of a felony, two counts of conspiracy 
to commit forgery and one count of possession of a forgery device (Hearing 
exhibit A - judgment and sentence).

 
 

[¶19.]  7. On February 12, 1990, the Wyoming 
Supreme Court entered its ORDER OF SUSPENSION FROM THE PRACTICE OF LAW regarding 
Respondent. The Wyoming Supreme Court referred the matter to the Wyoming State 
Bar Board of Professional Responsibility for formal disciplinary proceedings as 
provided by Rules XVI and VI of the Disciplinary Code for the Wyoming State Bar 
(Complaint para. 3; Answer para. 1).

 
 

[¶20.]  8. The Respondent did not comply with the 
affidavit and notification procedure set forth in Rule XX(f) of the Disciplinary 
Code of the Wyoming State Bar (Tr. 13-4).

 
 

[¶21.]  9. The Respondent, while asserting 
diminished mental capacity in these proceedings regarding his actions underlying 
the convictions, never asserted diminished mental capacity in the course of the 
district court criminal proceedings (Tr. 11-22). Respondent has presented no 
medical evidence of diminished mental capacity. The medical report offered by 
Respondent by filing of May 6, 1991, to which Bar Counsel has objected as 
hearsay, is not admitted into evidence.

 
 

[¶22.]  10. The Respondent chose to ignore the 
criminal acts at the time (Tr. 20-6) but states he now regrets his acts (Tr. 
20-11).

 
 

[¶23.]  11. The Respondent was paid a fee and 
intended to accomplish a result for the client in the course of the paid legal 
representation for the client (Tr. 25-5, 6).

 
 

[¶24.]  12. The Respondent had other clients 
before and after the client and activities giving rise to his convictions, but 
prepared no false deeds or notaries in the course of those matters (Tr. 25-10 
through 21).

 
 

[¶25.]  13. The Respondent did not seek 
counseling after his criminal convictions, but he did see a psychiatrist and 
psychologist (Tr. 30-23).

 
 

[¶26.]  14. The Respondent is, at the time of the 
hearing, taking beta blockers and aspirin but no other medications (Tr. 35-1, 
6).

 
 

[¶27.]  15. The costs and expenses incurred in 
this grievance proceeding total $882.10. Respondent was notified of the costs 
and expenses of the proceedings and no objection thereto was received from 
Respondent (Affidavit of Costs and Expenses, official Board file). 

 
 

[¶28.]  16. Pursuant to Rule XXIII of the 
Disciplinary Code, the costs are reasonable and necessary and should be assessed 
against the Respondent as part of these proceedings.

 
 
CONCLUSIONS 
OF LAW

 
 

[¶29.]  1. The Board has jurisdiction of this 
matter pursuant to Rule I of the Disciplinary Code for the Wyoming State 
Bar.

 
 

[¶30.]  2. By reason of conviction of five felony 
counts consisting of aiding and abetting in the commission of a felony, 
conspiracy to commit forgery and possession of a forgery device, Respondent has 
violated Rule 8.4(b) of the Rules of Professional Conduct promulgated by the 
Wyoming Supreme Court.

 
 

[¶31.]  3. Rule 8.4(b) provides as 
follows

 
 
It 
is professional misconduct for a lawyer to . . .:

 
 
(b) 
commit a criminal act that reflects adversely on the lawyer's honesty, 
trustworthiness or fitness as a lawyer in other respects. . . 
.

 
 

[¶32.]  4. Pursuant to Rule XVI(c) of the 
Disciplinary Code of the Wyoming State Bar, the certified copy of the judgment 
of conviction is conclusive evidence that the Respondent committed the crimes 
set forth therein.

 
 
RECOMMENDATIONS

 
 

[¶33.]  The Board of Professional Responsibility, 
based upon the foregoing findings of fact and conclusions of law, and further 
based upon a review of the ABA Standards For Imposing Lawyer Sanctions, makes 
the following recommendations to the Wyoming Supreme Court with respect to 
Clifford J. Neilson, Respondent.

 
 

[¶34.]  Section 5.0, "Violations of Duties Owed 
to the Public" is applicable. Pursuant to Section 5.11, disbarment is generally 
appropriate when: "(a) a lawyer engages in serious criminal conduct, a necessary 
element of which includes intentional interference with the administration of 
justice, false swearing, misrepresentation, fraud, extortion, misappropriation, 
or theft . . . or an attempt or conspiracy or solicitation of another to commit 
any of these offenses"; or "(b) a lawyer engages in any other intentional 
conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit or misrepresentation that seriously 
adversely reflects on the lawyer's fitness to practice."

 
 

[¶35.]  As noted in the commentary contained 
under Section 5.1, most courts impose disbarment on lawyers who are convicted of 
serious felonies.

 
 

[¶36.]  The Board of Professional Responsibility 
finds the following aggravating factors in regard to this disciplinary 
matter:

 
 
1. 
Substantial experience in the practice of law.

2. 
An intentional or willful state of mind.

3. 
A dishonest, selfish motive.

4. 
A failure to comply with the Disciplinary Code Rule XX affidavit and 
notification procedure upon suspension.

 
 

[¶37.]  The following factors constitute 
mitigation:

 
 
1. 
Lack of prior misconduct.

2. 
Remorse after the criminal convictions.

 
 

[¶38.]  No medical evidence, or evidence of good 
character and reputation, was presented at the hearing.

 
 

[¶39.]  As noted in the ABA Standards, overwork, 
poor business practices and reliance on others should not be considered in 
aggravation or mitigation.

 
 

[¶40.]  It is the recommendation of the Board of 
Professional Responsibility, in view of the seriousness and type of offenses for 
which Respondent was convicted, and weighing the factors of aggravation and 
mitigation as set forth at the hearing, that the Respondent be disbarred. The 
Board of Professional Responsibility has attached hereto its certification of 
the costs and expenses incurred in connection with the investigation and 
disciplinary proceeding, and recommends to the Court the assessment of the costs 
so certified in the amount of $882.10 against the Respondent. Respondent should 
be advised that a person who has been disbarred after hearing may not apply for 
reinstatement until the expiration of at least five (5) years from the effective 
date of the disbarment pursuant to Disciplinary Code Rule XXII(a). Should 
Respondent make such application in the future, application should not be 
permitted until such time as restitution of costs and expenses has been made. 
The Board further recommends that any order imposed by the Court specify an 
entry date and an effective date.

 
 

[¶41.]  The foregoing Report Of Findings Of Fact, 
Conclusions Of Law And Recommendations (with exception of costs and expenses) 
were adopted by the Board unanimously in conference on June 18, 1991. Costs and 
expenses were certified following notice, opportunity to contest and lack of 
objection thereto. There were no dissenting or minority 
views.

 
 
DATED this 24 day of 
July, 1991.

 
 

/s/ Joseph E. Vlastos Joseph E. Vlastos Chairman 
Board of Professional Responsibility Wyoming State Bar 
P.O. Box 109Cheyenne, WY82003
 (307) 
632-9061