Title: In re Lane

State: vermont

Issuer: Vermont Supreme Court

Document:

In re Lane (2002-431); 174 Vt. 550; 811 A.2d 207

[Filed 09-Oct-2002]

                                 ENTRY ORDER
   
                      SUPREME COURT DOCKET NO. 2002-431

                            SEPTEMBER TERM, 2002

  In re Frederick S. Lane III, Esq.	}	 Original Jurisdiction
                                        }
                                        }	 From Professional
                                        }	 Responsibility Board
                                        }
                                        }	 PRB File No. 2002.205

             In the above-entitled cause, the Clerk will enter:

       Attorney Frederick S. Lane filed an Affidavit of Resignation pursuant
  to Rule 19(A) of Administrative Order 9.  Disciplinary Counsel submitted an
  additional Statement of Facts.  Having reviewed the filings, the Court
  finds that the evidence clearly and convincingly establishes that the
  respondent violated Rules 8.4(b), 8.4(c), and 8.4(h) of the Vermont Rules
  of Professional Conduct. Therefore, Frederick S. Lane's resignation from
  the Bar of the Vermont Supreme Court is accepted subject to the terms and
  conditions of Administrative Order 9, Rule 19.  It is hereby ordered that
  Frederick S. Lane is disbarred from the office of attorney and counselor at
  law.

       Frederick S. Lane is reminded that he must comply with A.O. 9, Rule 23.


                                       BY THE COURT:


                                       _________________________________
                                       Jeffrey L. Amestoy, Chief Justice

                                       _________________________________
                                       John A. Dooley, Associate Justice

                                       _________________________________
                                       James L. Morse, Associate Justice

                                       ________________________________
                                       Denise R. Johnson, Associate Justice

                                       ________________________________
                                       Marilyn S. Skoglund, Associate Justice


------------------------------------------------------------------------------
42 PRB

[9-Oct-2002]


                              STATE OF VERMONT
                      PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY BOARD

       In Re: Frederick S. Lane III
       PRB File No. 2002.205

                          AFFIDAVIT OF RESIGNATION

       NOW COMES Frederick S. Lane III and, pursuant to Rule 19(A) of
  Administrative Order 9, hereby submits this affidavit of resignation.  In
  so doing, and being duly sworn, I hereby depose and state as follows:

  1.  I am an attorney licensed in the State of Vermont.
  2.  I desire to resign my license to practice law in the State of
      Vermont.
  3.  My resignation is being tendered freely and voluntarily.
  4.  In submitting my resignation, I am not subject to coercion or
      distress.
  5.  I am fully aware of the implications of submitting my resignation.
  6.  I am aware that in PRB File No. 2002.205, the Office of Disciplinary
      Counsel is investigating my self-report that while serving as 
      Treasurer of the Chittenden Country Democrats, I temporarily used the 
      funds under my control (roughly $1500) for personal purposes.
  7.  The material facts upon which these allegations are based are true.
  8.  I submit my resignation because I know that if the Office of
      Disciplinary Counsel pursues charges of misconduct predicated upon the
      conduct under investigation, I could not successfully defend against 
      those charges.
  9.  Based on the foregoing, I freely and voluntarily resign my license to
      practice law in the State of Vermont.
   
 10.  The facts recited herein are based upon my personal
      knowledge.

  Dated at Burlington, Vermont this 6th day of August, 2002.
      
  /s/
  _____________________________
  Frederick S. Lane III


  STATE OF VERMONT
  COUNTY OF CHITTENDEN, ss.

  Subscribed and sworn to before me this 6th day of August 2002.

  /s/
                                                             
  Notary Public  
  My Commission Expires: 2-10-03

------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   
                              STATE OF VERMONT
                     PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY PROGRAM

       In Re:  PRB File No. 2002.205
       Frederick S. Lane, III, Esq., Respondent

            Disciplinary Counsel's Statement of Additional Facts

       NOW COMES Disciplinary Counsel Michael Kennedy and, pursuant to Rule
  19B of Administrative Order 9, submits to the Board this statement of facts
  supporting a finding of a violation of Rules 8.4(b), 8.4(c), and 8.4(h) of
  the Vermont Rules of Professional Conduct.

       1.  The Respondent is an attorney admitted to practice law in the
  State of Vermont.

       2.  The Respondent was admitted to the Vermont Bar in 1991.  

       3.  In 1997, the Respondent's license to practice law in Vermont
  became inactive after he failed to pay the licensing fee.  It has remained
  inactive ever since.

       4.  In approximately February or March of 2001, the Respondent became
  the Treasurer of the Chittenden County Democratic Party ("the Party").  

       5.  Attorney Ian Carleton is the Party Chair.

       6.  Attorney Carleton assumed the role of County Chair in March or
  April of 2001.

       7.  One of his first acts as Chair was to hold a fund-raiser.   

       8.  The event raised between $1,500 and $2,000 that was deposited into
  the  Party's savings account.  

       9.  The money was to be used for miscellaneous expenses such as
  advertising.

       10.  In his role as the Treasurer, the Respondent was responsible for
  the account.
   
       11.  In July of 2001, the Respondent removed money from the Party's
  account and "loaned it" to himself.  

       12.  The Party did not authorize the Respondent to take the money.

       13.  The Respondent continued to remove money from the Party's account
  without permission for the next several months.  

       14.  The Respondent occasionally paid money back to the Party's
  account, but  would end up taking more out.  

       15.  Eventually the Respondent closed the savings account and
  transferred the  Party's money to a checking account.  

       16.  Without having permission to do so, the Respondent wrote checks
  to cash and used the money for personal reasons.   

       17.  Between July of 2001 and March of 2002, the Respondent removed
  between $1,500 and $2,000 from the Party's account and used it for personal
  expenses. 

       18.  As a result of the fact that the Respondent was using the Party's
  money for personal reasons, the account was often overdrawn. 

       19.  The bank charged a daily fee to the overdrawn account.  

       20.  The fee eventually rose to slightly more than $300.  

       21.  Inn February or March of 2002, Attorney Carleton used some of his
  own  money to pay for the Party's subscriptions to various periodicals.  

       22.  Attorney Carleton asked the Respondent to issue him a check for
  reimbursement.

       23.  The Respondent wrote the check on the Party's account.

       24.   When Attorney Carleton tried to cash the check, it bounced.

       25.  Attorney Carleton called the Respondent and asked that he drop
  off the Party's account records.  

       26.  The Respondent provided the records to Attorney Carleton the next
  day.

       27.   Attorney Carleton quickly realized that money was missing from
  the Party's account.

       28.  Attorney Carleton demanded that the Respondent come to see him
  the next day.

       29.  Attorney Carleton met with the Respondent the next day. 

       30.  The Respondent admitted to Mr. Carleton that he had used the
  Party's money for personal reasons.  

       31.  The Respondent repaid the money, plus the bank charges that
  accrued.  

       32.  The Respondent resigned as Party Treasurer.

       33.  The Respondent has not worked as an attorney for several years.

       34.  The Respondent's primary occupation is writing fiction.  He also
  works as an expert witness who testifies on matters related to internet
  pornography. 

       35.  Rule 8.4(b) of the Vermont Rules of Professional Conduct
  prohibits attorneys from engaging in conduct involving a serious crime. 

       36.  Rule 8.4(c) of the Vermont Rules of Professional Conduct
  prohibits attorneys from engaging in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud,
  deceit and/or misrepresentation.

       37.  Rule 8.4(h) of the Vermont Rules of Professional Conduct
  prohibits attorneys from engaging in conduct that adversely reflects on
  their fitness to practice law.

  DATED at Burlington, Vermont, on November 7, 2002.                       

  /s/
  _________________________________
  Michael Kennedy
  Disciplinary Counsel
  32 Cherry Street, Suite 213
  Burlington, Vermont 05401
  (802) 859-3000
   
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

                              STATE OF VERMONT
                      PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY BOARD

       In re:  Frederick S. Lane, III, Esq.
       PRB Docket No. 2002-205

                              Decision No.  42

       Upon receipt of the Affidavit of Resignation submitted to the Board
  and pursuant to Administrative Order No. 9, Rule 19, we recommend to the
  Court that the above referenced Respondent be disbarred.   Attached hereto
  are the Affidavit of Resignation, Statement of Additional Facts and
  Proposed Order.

  Dated at Montpelier, Vermont this 19th day of September, 2002.


       /s/
  __________________________
  Joan Loring Wing, Esq. - Chair
  Professional Responsibility Board


  attachments
  cc:  Frederick S. Lane III, Esq.
       Michael Kennedy, Disciplinary Counsel

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
          
                              STATE OF VERMONT
                      PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY BOARD

       In Re: Frederick S. Lane III
       PRB File No. 2002.205

                          AFFIDAVIT OF RESIGNATION

       NOW COMES Frederick S. Lane III and, pursuant to Rule 19(A) of
  Administrative Order 9, hereby submits this affidavit of resignation.  In
  so doing, and being duly sworn, I hereby depose and state as follows:

       1.  I am an attorney licensed in the State of Vermont.

       2.  I desire to resign my license to practice law in the State of
  Vermont.

       3.  My resignation is being tendered freely and voluntarily.

       4.  In submitting my resignation, I am not subject to coercion or
  distress.

       5.  I am fully aware of the implications of submitting my resignation.

       6.  I am aware that in PRB File No. 2002.205, the Office of
  Disciplinary Counsel is investigating my self-report that while serving as
  Treasurer of the Chittenden Country Democrats, I temporarily used the funds
  under my control (roughly $1500) for personal purposes.

       7.  The material facts upon which these allegations are based are
  true.

       8.  I submit my resignation because I know that if the Office of
  Disciplinary Counsel pursues charges of misconduct predicated upon the
  conduct under investigation, I could not successfully defend against those
  charges.

       9.    Based on the foregoing, I freely and voluntarily resign my
  license to practice law in the State of Vermont.

       10.   The facts recited herein are based upon my personal knowledge.
   
       Dated at Burlington, Vermont this 6th day of August, 2002.

      /s/
  _____________________________
  Frederick S. Lane III


  STATE OF VERMONT
  COUNTY OF CHITTENDEN, ss.

  Subscribed and sworn to before me this 6th day of August 2002.

  /s/
                                                             
  Notary Public  
  My Commission Expires: 2-10-03

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------   
                              STATE OF VERMONT
                     PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY PROGRAM

       In Re:  PRB File No. 2002.205
       Frederick S. Lane, III, Esq., Respondent

            Disciplinary Counsel's Statement of Additional Facts

       NOW COMES Disciplinary Counsel Michael Kennedy and, pursuant to Rule
  19B of Administrative Order 9, submits to the Board this statement of facts
  supporting a finding of a violation of Rules 8.4(b), 8.4(c), and 8.4(h) of
  the Vermont Rules of Professional Conduct.

       1.  The Respondent is an attorney admitted to practice law in the
  State of Vermont.

       2.  The Respondent was admitted to the Vermont Bar in 1991.  

       3.  In 1997, the Respondent's license to practice law in Vermont
  became inactive after he failed to pay the licensing fee.  It has remained
  inactive ever since.

       4.  In approximately February or March of 2001, the Respondent became
  the Treasurer of the Chittenden County Democratic Party ("the Party").  

       5.  Attorney Ian Carleton is the Party Chair.

       6.  Attorney Carleton assumed the role of County Chair in March or
  April of 2001.

       7.  One of his first acts as Chair was to hold a fund-raiser.   

       8.  The event raised between $1,500 and $2,000 that was deposited into
  the  Party's savings account.  

       9.  The money was to be used for miscellaneous expenses such as
  advertising.

       10.  In his role as the Treasurer, the Respondent was responsible for
  the account.
   
       11.  In July of 2001, the Respondent removed money from the Party's
  account and "loaned it" to himself.  

       12.  The Party did not authorize the Respondent to take the money.

       13.  The Respondent continued to remove money from the Party's account
  without permission for the next several months.  

       14.  The Respondent occasionally paid money back to the Party's
  account, but  would end up taking more out.  

       15.  Eventually the Respondent closed the savings account and
  transferred the  Party's money to a checking account.  

       16.  Without having permission to do so, the Respondent wrote checks
  to cash and used the money for personal reasons.   

       17.  Between July of 2001 and March of 2002, the Respondent removed
  between $1,500 and $2,000 from the Party's account and used it for personal
  expenses. 

       18.  As a result of the fact that the Respondent was using the Party's
  money for personal reasons, the account was often overdrawn. 

       19.  The bank charged a daily fee to the overdrawn account.  

       20.  The fee eventually rose to slightly more than $300.  

       21.  Inn February or March of 2002, Attorney Carleton used some of his
  own  money to pay for the Party's subscriptions to various periodicals.  

       22.  Attorney Carleton asked the Respondent to issue him a check for
  reimbursement.

       23.  The Respondent wrote the check on the Party's account.

       24.   When Attorney Carleton tried to cash the check, it bounced.

       25.  Attorney Carleton called the Respondent and asked that he drop
  off the Party's account records.  

       26.  The Respondent provided the records to Attorney Carleton the next
  day.

       27.   Attorney Carleton quickly realized that money was missing from
  the Party's account.

       28.  Attorney Carleton demanded that the Respondent come to see him
  the next day.

       29.  Attorney Carleton met with the Respondent the next day. 

       30.  The Respondent admitted to Mr. Carleton that he had used the
  Party's money for personal reasons.  

       31.  The Respondent repaid the money, plus the bank charges that
  accrued.  

       32.  The Respondent resigned as Party Treasurer.

       33.  The Respondent has not worked as an attorney for several years.

       34.  The Respondent's primary occupation is writing fiction.  He also
  works as an expert witness who testifies on matters related to internet
  pornography. 

       35.  Rule 8.4(b) of the Vermont Rules of Professional Conduct
  prohibits attorneys from engaging in conduct involving a serious crime. 

       36.  Rule 8.4(c) of the Vermont Rules of Professional Conduct
  prohibits attorneys from engaging in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud,
  deceit and/or misrepresentation.

       37.  Rule 8.4(h) of the Vermont Rules of Professional Conduct
  prohibits attorneys from engaging in conduct that adversely reflects on
  their fitness to practice law.



       DATED at Burlington, Vermont, on November 7, 2002.                       

  /s/
  _________________________________
  Michael Kennedy
  Disciplinary Counsel
  32 Cherry Street, Suite 213
  Burlington, Vermont 05401
  (802) 859-3000