Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-06-11
DIsreputabIe Litigation.
Baltimore SUM

While the Maryland Bar Association
has been addressing itself to the work OF
raising the standard for admission to the
profession. and very properly, the Ear
Association of Philadelphia has been
purging the list Of those already admit
ted. Within a week two lawyers I'm Phil
adelphia have been debarred for unpro-
fessional conduct. The Philadelphia Bar
Association has board OF censors,
whose business It is to ask the courts to
expel those lawyers who are a disgrace
70 the profession from its ranks. In doing
their work thoroughly this board is not
only promoting the reputation Of their
| profession, but doing excellent service
to the public. There Is no more pestilent
and mischevous and injurious person
In community than an unscru-
| pulous lawyer. This is recognized In
the common law, under which common
barratry." or the promotion and instiga-
ton OF litigation. is a serious offense This
Is the crime with which one of the law
yers disbarred in Philadelphia was char
ged and found guilty. rms man was In the
habit OF sending agents or runners to per-
sons who were injured by the street car
companies or who had real or imaginary
grievances against them TO solicit employ
ment to institute damage suits. An agree
ment would be made to divide the amount
recovered equally between lawyer and
Client Afterwards the clients would be
Informed that their cases were settled
and they would receive what they were
told was their half. In point of fact, how
ever, II Is alleged, the lawyer would cneat
his client by paying less than the sum
ne was entitled TO under the agreement
Judge Arnold, who passed the order for
dlsbarment. declared that such an agree
ON hfafI fr.1 at
make out charge of champerty. and
this manner Of securing the right 10
bring suits as common barratry." Cham
perty Is a common law offense and Is
defined as "a bargain which a person not
otherwise interested makes with q
plaintiff or defendant to receive a share of
the amount recovered. the champerter
carrying on or assisting to carry on the |
partys suit at his own expense" Bar
ratry IS yexatious and persistent in |
citing others to law suits and litigation.
Judge Arnold denounced the practice OF |
employing agents to Solicit law cases for
lawyers as such a palpable departure
from the accepted ethics Of the profession
and from the code of conduct OF respect
able and self-respecting lawyers that no
bar could long tolerate the practice with
out subjecting itself to public criticism.
The other attorney was disbarred be
ou'S' uPoii HiS OWN CoillesSloH' hS eiaseu
with acids the record Of mortgage from
a title insurance policy.
In regard to the case of the man who
was disbarred for cheating his clients and
practicing barratry, Judge Arnold used
The following severe language. He said:
mo lawyer with the proper sense OF the
dignity Of the profession. as well as his
own self-respect as a man, will stoop TO
such practices as have been laid bare In
he present proceeding. Not even death
an keep these ghouls OF society at bay
Their emissaries invade the house OF
they enter the hospitals-no
lace is sacred from their intrusion. If |
my more such exist IL is hoped that the
loard Of censors of the Law Association |
will continue their laudable efforts until
he offenders shall be discovered and drlv-
N out of the profession"