Title: In Re Ryan

State: delaware

Issuer: Delaware Supreme Court

Document:

498 A.2d 515 (1985)
In re Mary Jo Lewis RYAN, a member of the Bar of the Supreme Court of the State of Delaware.

Supreme Court of Delaware.
Submitted: June 4, 1985.
Decided: August 30, 1985.
John Noble of Parkowski, Noble & Guerke, Dover, and Edgar Harris of Harris, Tropp and Smith, Media, Pa., for respondent.
L. Susan Faw, Disciplinary Counsel for the Bd. on Professional Responsibility, Wilmington.
Before McNEILLY, HORSEY and CHRISTIE, JJ.
PER CURIAM:
The Board on Professional Responsibility has publicly reprimanded Mary Jo Lewis Ryan pursuant to Rules 1(c)(5) and 8(a)(5) of the Board on Professional Responsibility. In addition, pursuant to Rules 1(c)(6) and 8(a)(4) the Board has recommended probation for a period of two years under certain conditions, subject to the approval of the Court. The sanctions and recommendations followed a hearing before a panel of the Board[1] convened on Wednesday, December 19, 1984, pursuant to an Order on a Rule To Show Cause why disciplinary action should not be taken against respondent upon the charge of a violation of DR1-102(A)(4) of the Code of Professional Responsibility.[2]
The following findings of fact were made by the panel:
In Mitigation of Panel found:
The panel concluded and recommended as follows:
No exceptions to the report of the panel were filed by respondent, nor were any briefs or memoranda filed on her behalf. At the hearing before the Court counsel for respondent pled for leniency and requested that the Court accept and approve the findings and recommendation of the panel. Emphasizing respondent's remorse and asserting that she has not at any time engaged in the practice of law for the three year period following the discovery of her fraud to date, it is further noted that respondent is presently enrolled in the University of Delaware in an accounting course and expects to graduate during or shortly after the summer of 1985. Counsel for the Board on Professional Responsibility agrees that the findings and recommendations of the panel should be affirmed.
We are satisfied that the record before us clearly supports the findings of fact and conclusions of law made by the panel of the Board on Professional Responsibility and affirm them. As previously stated, the respondent cannot and does not dispute those findings and conclusions. The only issue now before us then is whether to accept the recommendations of the panel or to impose other discipline. We have fully considered the mitigating factors brought to our attention by the panel and by counsel for respondent. We also have given due consideration to counsel's plea for leniency made to the Court at the hearing held in Dover on June 4, 1985. Additionally, we have duly considered the recommendation made by counsel for the Board on Professional Responsibility that we accept and affirm the recommendations of the panel. Having weighed all factors in aggravation and mitigation of the conduct of respondent which unquestionably involves moral turpitude within the meaning of DR1-102(A)(3) of the Code of Professional Responsibility, we conclude that the course of conduct involved requires nothing less than a period of suspension in addition to that voluntarily imposed upon herself by respondent.
Accordingly, IT IS ADJUDGED and ORDERED that respondent be disciplined as follows:
[1]  The panel consisted of five members of the Board, constituting a quorum under Rule 1(e) of the Rules of the Board on Professional Responsibility.
[2]  DR1-102(a)(4) provides:

A lawyer shall not engage in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit or misrepresentation.