Case Name: In the Matter of Timothy P. O'CONNOR
Court: Supreme Court of Indiana
Jurisdiction: Indiana
Decision Date: 1990-03-14
Citations: 550 N.E.2d 1307
Docket Number: No. 49S00-8905-DI-402
Parties: In the Matter of Timothy P. O'CONNOR.
Judges: GIVAN and DICKSON, JJ., concur.
Reporter: North Eastern Reporter 2d
Volume: 550
Pages: 1307–1308

Head Matter:
In the Matter of Timothy P. O'CONNOR.
No. 49S00-8905-DI-402.
Supreme Court of Indiana.
March 14, 1990.

Opinion:
ORDER OF DISBARMENT
Comes now the Hearing Officer appointed in this cause pursuant to Admission and Discipline Rule 23 and tenders to this Court his Findings of Facts and Conclusions of Law.
And this Court, being duly advised, now finds that the Respondent was charged in an eight-count Verified Complaint for Disciplinary Action with violating the Rules of Professional Conduct. The Hearing Officer, after conducting a hearing thereon, found that the Respondent engaged in misconduct under six of the eight counts.
Having reviewed all matters submitted in this cause, this Court now concludes, as did the Hearing Officer, that the Respondent violated Rules 1.2(a) and (c), 1.3, 1.4(a) and (b), 1.15(a) and (b), 1.16, 2.1, 8.4(b), (c) and (d) of the Rules of Professional Conduct. Respondent's misconduct involves a pattern of negligence, misappropriation of clients' funds, and appalling lack of professional responsibility. By virtue of the numerous acts of misconduct and their serious nature, this Court concludes that the strictest sanction available, disbarment, should be imposed. An opinion setting out particular findings of fact and conclusions of law will follow. In the meantime, this Court is obligated to exercise its constitutional duty and protect the public from unfit lawyers, whatever the cause of unfitness may be. In re Campbell (1989), Ind., 546 N.E.2d 821, In re Powell (1989), Ind., 526 N.E.2d 971. Accordingly, we conclude that the Respondent should be disbarred immediately.
IT IS, THEREFORE, ORDERED, ADJUDGED AND DECREED that the Respondent, Timothy P. O'Connor, is hereby disbarred.
The Clerk of this Court is directed to forward a copy of this Order to the parties and their attorneys of record.
GIVAN and DICKSON, JJ., concur.
DeBRULER and PIVARNIK, JJ., not participating.