Title: In re Dugger
Citation: N/A
Docket Number: S48634
State: Oregon
Issuer: Oregon Supreme Court
Date: September 26, 2002

Filed:  September 26, 2002
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF OREGON
In re: Complaint as to the Conduct of
VIRGIL E. DUGGER,
Accused.
(OSB 98-52, 00-65; SC S48634)
	En Banc
	On review of the decision of a trial panel of the Disciplinary Board. 
	Argued and submitted May 13, 2002.
	Thomas H. Tongue, Dunn Carney Allen Higgins &amp; Tongue LLP, Portland, argued
the cause and filed the brief for the accused.  With him on the brief was Brenda K.
Baumgart.
	Jane E. Angus, Assistant Disciplinary Counsel, Lake Oswego, argued the cause
and filed the brief for the Oregon State Bar.  With her on the brief was John M. Junkin,
Bullivant Houser Bailey PC, Bar Counsel, Portland.
	PER CURIAM
	The accused is suspended from the practice of law for nine months, effective 60
days from the date of the filing of this decision.
		PER CURIAM
		In this lawyer disciplinary proceeding, the Oregon State Bar (Bar) charged
the accused with violating Code of Professional Responsibility Disciplinary Rule (DR)
1-102(A)(3) (engaging in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit, or
misrepresentation); DR 1-102(A)(4) (engaging in conduct prejudicial to administration of
justice); DR 5-101(A)(1) (continuing representation when professional judgment was or
reasonably may have been affected by lawyer's own financial, business, property, or
personal interests); DR 5-101(B) (prohibiting lawyer from preparing instrument giving
lawyer or person related to lawyer significant gift from client); DR 7-102(A)(2) (knowingly
advancing claim unwarranted under existing law); DR 7-110(B)(2) (communicating with
judge about merits of case in writing without promptly delivering copy to opposing
counsel or party); and DR 7-110(B)(3) (engaging in ex parte communication with court
without notice to opposing counsel).  A trial panel of the Disciplinary Board concluded
that the accused had violated some, but not all, of those rules and suspended him from
the practice of law for nine months.
		This court's review is automatic, Bar Rule of Procedure (BR) 10.1, and we
review the decision of the trial panel de novo, ORS 9.536(3); BR 10.6.  The Bar has the
burden of establishing alleged misconduct by "clear and convincing evidence," BR 5.2,
which means evidence establishing that the truth of the facts asserted is highly
probable, In re Johnson, 300 Or 52, 55, 707 P2d 573 (1985).  Although this court's
review is de novo, we generally give weight to the trial panel's credibility findings.  In re
Trukositz, 312 Or 621, 629, 825 P2d 1369 (1992).  For the reasons that follow, we
conclude that the accused violated DR 1-102(A)(3), DR 1-102(A)(4), and DR
7-110(B)(2) and (3), and we conclude that the appropriate sanction is a nine-month
suspension from the practice of law.
I.  FACTS AND DISCUSSION
		The accused, a sole practitioner, was admitted to the Bar in 1962.  His
practice includes criminal defense, personal injury, domestic relations, probate, and
bankruptcy.  The Bar's charges in this case stem from the accused's conduct in
connection with the three matters described below.
A.  Mantow Matter
		Mantow lived near the accused's office and began going to the accused's
office to visit in the mid-1970s, probably because he and the accused had mutual
friends.  Mantow and the accused talked about gardening and books, and reminisced
about other matters of common interest, such as World War II.  Mantow and the
accused sometimes went out for coffee, and Mantow occasionally brought flowers from
his garden for the accused's office.  The accused enjoyed visiting with Mantow,
because Mantow was a "very interesting person" who remained interested in life. 
Because of his friendship with Mantow, the accused "would do just about anything for
the old gentleman."
		The accused did not represent Mantow in any legal matters until
December 1987, when Mantow paid the accused $225 to start a file to investigate
pursuing a claim on Mantow's behalf regarding an investment that Mantow had made in
a company that had gone bankrupt.  Mantow wrote additional checks to the accused
between 1988 and 1992 for the accused's efforts to recover some of Mantow's
investment in the bankrupt company. 
		During the time that the accused knew Mantow, Mantow became
"paranoid" about people stealing from his bank accounts.  Mantow believed that having
a second signature on the accounts would make it more difficult for others to withdraw
money from them.  Mantow asked the accused to cosign on several of the accounts,
and the accused did so.Ex 2, Higgins letter  The accused expressed concern to Mantow
about the ramifications of having the accused's name on the accounts, and he told
Mantow that Mantow should "look into it."  The accused believed that Mantow had a
lawyer, because Mantow had talked to the accused about his lawyer on various
occasions.  The accused also believed that Mantow had talked to bank personnel after
the accused told Mantow that the accused was concerned about the ramifications of
having the accused's signature on Mantow's accounts.  The accused did not believe
that he was entering into a business relationship with Mantow by signing the cards, and
the accused did not believe that Mantow was well-off financially. 
		Mantow died on April 28, 1996.  His will, which another lawyer, Holmes,
had drafted in January 1988, left his entire estate to members of Mantow's family. 
Shortly after Mantow died, Vice, Mantow's nephew and the personal representative of
Mantow's estate, went to the accused's office to talk to the accused.  At that time, the
accused learned that there was approximately $115,000 in Mantow's bank accounts. 
During Vice's visit and thereafter, the accused maintained that he did not claim to be
entitled to the money in the accounts and that he was concerned only about the
ramifications of having his name on the signature cards. 
		Because Mantow's bank accounts had so much money in them, the
accused decided that he needed legal advice from a probate lawyer.  The accused
called Cartwright, whose practice emphasizes probate matters.  The accused followed
up his telephone conversation with a letter to Cartwright on June 11, 1996.  In that
letter, the accused explained his relationship with Mantow and that Mantow had asked
the accused to cosign on some bank accounts, and concluded by stating that the
accused did "not know why [Mantow] set up the accounts as he did, and your thoughts
on this situation will be greatly appreciated."  The accused also told Cartwright that the
accused was not interested in having the money in the accounts but that he did not
know what Mantow had intended.  Cartwright explained to the accused that, under
former ORS 708.616(1) (1995), repealed by Or Laws 1997, ch 631, § 567, the accused
"was now the owner" of any accounts in joint tenancy.
		Two days later, on June 13, 1996, Vice's lawyer, Babka, wrote to the
accused telling him that, if any of the accounts with Mantow had been "mistakenly set
up as a joint account initially, then it is your ethical obligation to see that the funds go
into the estate since you did not correct the error at the time the account was
established."  Babka's intent was to convince the accused to turn the funds over to
Mantow's estate.  Babka's letter also stated that, if the accused claimed any interest in
any bank account that Mantow had owned, the accused should "file a claim against the
estate immediately" so that the matter could be heard before a probate judge.  Finally,
Babka's letter stated that the accused had violated disciplinary rules concerning
solicitation, legal employment, and fees for legal services in his meeting with Vice.  The
accused sent Babka's letter to Cartwright and wrote to Cartwright, in part:
		"I do not believe I have any claim against the estate; I only wish some
clarification as to what my position is as to the accounts which [Mantow] set up, and
included me in some way.
		"* * * * *
		"If an account or accounts were mistakenly set up, that fact is unknown to
me, since [Mantow] set them up without my help or advice.
		"As I have stated before, I want to conduct myself and my office in the
highest ethical way possible, and I do not appreciate Babka dictating my actions until I
have more facts and know what the situation is to a greater extent than I now know."
Cartwright again told the accused that, by operation of law, legal title to the funds in the
joint bank accounts had vested in the accused upon Mantow's death, that the accused
could claim ownership and defend his position, that the accused could turn the funds
over to Vice, or that Cartwright could try to find out what Mantow's intent had been in
having the accused cosign on the accounts.  The accused asked Cartwright to try to
find out what Mantow's intent had been, because the accused was not willing to turn the
funds over to the estate in the face of Babka's threats.  Cartwright talked to Babka and
to Holmes in an effort to obtain information about Mantow's intent when he asked the
accused to cosign on the bank accounts.  
	On August 9, 1996, Vice, on behalf of Mantow's estate, filed a complaint against
the accused in circuit court.  The trial court subsequently determined that the matter
should proceed in probate court.  Three days later, on August 12, 1996, Cartwright,
acting on the accused's behalf, filed a petition in probate court "For Determination of
Rights to Bank Accounts."  The petition alleged that the accused was a "party" as that
term was defined in former ORS 708.600(6) (1995), repealed by Or Laws 1997, ch 631,
§ 567, with present rights to four of Mantow's bank accounts held in joint tenancy with
the accused.  The accused's purpose in filing the petition was to have the court
determine ownership of the funds.  The accused had "no need or interest in [the]
money," but he was concerned about the ethical, financial, and tax implications if he
owned the funds as a matter of law.  
	To make clear that the accused was contending only that he was considered by
law to be the owner of the accounts under former ORS 708.616(1), Cartwright "parroted
the statute" in writing the petition.  The petition asked the court to issue an order
"determining the title to, rights in and ownership of the accounts."  Because the
accused merely wanted the judge to "tell him what to do," and not to treat the petition
as an adversary matter, Cartwright did not file a trial memorandum.
	Before the probate hearing began on the accused's petition, the judge called
Cartwright and Fiorino, the estate's lawyer, into chambers.  The judge asked whether
anyone had reported the accused to the Bar because he had filed the petition, and she
indicated to Cartwright and Fiorino that the accused should relinquish the accounts and
settle the matter.  The accused thereafter did so.  Mantow's estate incurred more than
$14,000 in legal fees before the matter was resolved.
	In its first cause of complaint, the Bar alleged that, by claiming ownership of the
accounts on which he had cosigned with Mantow, the accused violated DR 1-102(A)(3)
and DR 7-102(A)(2).  DR 1-102(A)(3) provides that "[i]t is professional misconduct for a
lawyer to * * * [e]ngage in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit or
misrepresentation[.]"  DR 7-102(A)(2) provides that "in representing the lawyer's own
interests, a lawyer shall not * * * [k]nowingly advance a claim or defense that is
unwarranted under existing law * * *."  The trial panel found that the accused had
violated both rules. 
	The Bar's complaint did not specify whether it relied on dishonesty, fraud, deceit,
or misrepresentation in its charge under DR 1-102(A)(3).  See In re Brandt/Griffin, 331
Or 113, 138, 10 P3d 906 (2000) (better practice is to identify theory or theories on
which Bar proceeds under DR 1-102(A)(3)).  However, in its trial memorandum, the Bar
argued that the accused had engaged in dishonesty and misrepresentation by claiming
ownership of the accounts.  We confine our analysis to those two theories.
	Dishonesty is conduct that indicates a disposition to lie, cheat, or defraud;
untrustworthiness; or a lack of integrity.  See Hockett, 303 Or 150, 158, 734 P2d 877
(1987) (so stating).  A misrepresentation is a "false statement of a material fact or a
nondisclosure of a material fact."  In re Starr, 326 Or 328, 343, 952 P2d 1017 (1998).  A
fact is "material" if it could or would influence significantly the hearer's decision-making
process.  In re Benett, 331 Or 270, 277, 14 P3d 66 (2000) (quoting In re Gustafson, 327
Or 636, 649, 968 P2d 367 (1998)).  To establish a violation of DR 1-102(A)(3), the Bar
must present clear and convincing evidence that the accused lawyer's
misrepresentations, whether direct or by omission, were knowing, false, and material. 
In re Eadie, 333 Or 42, 53, 36 P3d 468 (2001).
	The Bar contends that the accused was dishonest and made a
misrepresentation when he stated in the Petition for Determination of Rights to Bank
Accounts that he was, in the Bar's word, "entitled" to the funds in Mantow's accounts. 
The accused responds that, by operation of law, he was the owner of the accounts and
that his statements in the petition were accurate.
	Under former ORS 708.616(1), which, as noted, was in effect when the accused
filed the petition, sums remaining on deposit at the death of one of the parties to a joint
account "belong to the surviving party * * * as against the estate of the decedent, unless
there is clear and convincing evidence of a different intention at the time the account is
created."  The Bar does not dispute that, under the unambiguous wording of that
statute, the accused became the owner of the funds in the joint accounts upon
Mantow's death, unless clear and convincing evidence showed the contrary.   
	The Bar's argument, which the trial panel apparently found persuasive, is that,
because the accused repeatedly had asserted that he had no claim against Mantow's
estate, he was dishonest and made a misrepresentation by filing and pursuing a claim
alleging that, under the statute, the funds were his.  We disagree.  Contrary to the Bar's
assertion, the accused's petition did not state that he was "entitled" to the funds. 
Rather, it asked the court to "make a determination of the ownership" of the funds. 
From the outset, the accused told Cartwright that he was not claiming the funds and
that he wanted to behave in an ethical manner.  The record does not contain evidence
that, by filing the petition, the accused had a disposition to lie, cheat, or defraud, or that
the accused demonstrated untrustworthiness or lack of integrity.  Neither is the
statement in the petition that "sums remaining on deposit on the death of decedent
belong to petitioner as against the estate of the decedent" a misrepresentation of a
material fact.  The Bar has failed to prove by clear and convincing evidence that the
accused violated DR 1-102(A)(3) in the manner that the Bar asserts.
	The Bar also has failed to prove that, in filing the petition, the accused violated
DR 7-102(A)(2).  As we have explained, by operation of former ORS 708.616(1), upon
Mantow's death, the accused became the owner of any sums that he held in joint
tenancy with Mantow, unless clear and convincing evidence showed to the contrary.  By
asserting in the petition to the probate court that he was the owner of the funds under
the statute, the accused did not advance a claim that was unwarranted under existing
law.
	In its second cause of complaint, the Bar alleged that the accused had violated
DR 5-101(A)(1) and DR 5-101(B) in connection with the Mantow matter.  DR
5-101(A)(1) provides, in part:
		"Except with the consent of the lawyer's client after full disclosure,
		"(1) a lawyer shall not accept or continue employment if the exercise of
the lawyer's professional judgment on behalf of the lawyer's client will be or reasonably
may be affected by the lawyer's own financial, business, property, or personal
interests."
DR 5-101(B) provides that "[a] lawyer shall not prepare an instrument giving the lawyer
or a person related to the lawyer   * * * any substantial gift from a client[.]"  The trial
panel concluded that the accused had not violated either of those rules.
	The Bar argues that it was in the accused's personal or financial interest to
maintain his relationship with Mantow and to continue to represent Mantow, "which
required that [the accused] make full disclosure to Mantow and obtain his consent to
the representation."  Because the accused made no disclosure and provided no advice
when he signed the bank cards, the Bar concludes, the accused violated DR
5-101(A)(1).  Because the accused later claimed an interest in Mantow's accounts, the
Bar argues that "it may therefore be argued that he prepared documents that gave him
a substantial gift and violated DR 5-101(B)."  The accused responds that the Bar failed
to present evidence that the accused had done work that could have been affected by
coownership of bank accounts.  Moreover, the accused argues, his judgment could not
have been affected because, when he performed legal work for Mantow, he did not
believe that Mantow had much money in his savings accounts.  
	The record contains no evidence that the accused's work for Mantow in the
bankruptcy matter was or reasonably would be affected by coowning the bank
accounts.  We agree with the trial panel that the Bar has failed to prove by clear and
convincing evidence that the accused violated DR 5-101(A)(1).
	We turn to DR 5-101(B).  The trial panel concluded that, because the accused
did not believe that he was receiving any substantial gift from Mantow when he signed
the bank cards, the accused did not violate the prohibition in that rule.  However, we
need not decide whether DR 5-101(B) addresses a lawyer's subjective belief about the
amount of a gift when the lawyer receives a gift from a client.  That is so because the
rule prohibits a lawyer from "preparing" an instrument that gives the lawyer a substantial
gift from a client.  Assuming without deciding that bank signature cards are legal
instruments for purposes of DR 5-101(B), the record contains no evidence that the
accused prepared the signature cards that gave him a joint interest in the bank
accounts.  Rather, Mantow obtained the cards from the bank and took them to the
accused's office for the accused's signature.  The Bar has failed to prove by clear and
convincing evidence that the accused violated DR 5-101(B).
B.  Parrish Matter
	In 1998, the accused represented Joe and Laurel Parrish in a boundary dispute
with a neighbor, Conner.  The Parrishes asserted ownership by adverse possession of
approximately 10 feet of property to which Conner also claimed ownership.  Snyder
represented Conner.  On December 17, 1998, the accused wrote to Snyder that the
accused was having a survey of the properties prepared, and he offered to settle the
matter without going to trial.  The letter also stated that the accused would send Snyder
the results of the survey.  
	On January 13, 1999, the accused again wrote to Snyder, telling her that Parrish
et al. v. Conner was set for daily call on January 29 and for trial on February 1, and that
the accused was ready to try the case on February 1.  The letter also stated, "If you
intend to file an amended answer or request a reset, please do so, so I can arrange my
schedule."  The accused was anxious to have the matter resolved, because Joe
Parrish, who was dying of cancer, did not want the dispute to be a burden on his wife
after his death.  Snyder did not file an appearance.  According to the accused, he called
Snyder sometime thereafter and left a message asking her if she wanted to have the
trial date reset, but he received no response from Snyder, and they did not agree to
have the trial set for a different date.  According to Snyder, she talked to the accused by
telephone after she received the January 13 letter and told the accused that her
partner, Fowlks, would be trying the case.  Snyder testified that she and the accused
agreed that the trial would have to be postponed, because there had been no discovery
yet and the property survey was not yet complete.  Snyder also testified that she and
the accused agreed that the accused would ask the court to postpone the trial, that she
relied on their agreement and, accordingly, that she did not attend call on January 29. 
Neither the accused nor Snyder made notes of their conversation.
	The accused appeared at call on January 29 and reported ready.  He did not ask
to have the trial set for a different date.  Neither Snyder nor Fowlks appeared.  On
February 1, the accused, but not Fowlks, appeared for trial, and the accused asked the
judge to contact Fowlks's office to determine why Fowlks was not present.  The trial
judge's clerk called Fowlks's office and talked to Snyder, who, in turn, called Fowlks at
his dentist's office.  Thereafter, both Snyder and Fowlks came to court to explain what
had occurred.  At that time, the accused handed Snyder the property survey.  The
judge rescheduled the case for trial and ordered Conner to pay "out of pocket costs"
resulting from the delay of the trial.Exhibit 20, p 6Tr 53 
	In its third cause of complaint, the Bar alleged that the accused violated DR
1-102(A)(3) and DR 1-102(A)(4) in the Parrish matter.  The text of DR 1-102(A)(3)
appears above.  DR 1-102(A)(4) provides that "[i]t is professional misconduct for a
lawyer to * * * [e]ngage in conduct that is prejudicial to the administration of justice[.]" 
The focus of DR 1-102(A)(4) is on the effect of the lawyer's conduct on the
administration of justice, not on what the lawyer intended.  In re Claussen, 322 Or 466,
482, 909 P2d 862 (1996).  A single act that is substantially harmful to the administration
of justice violates DR 1-102(A)(4).  In re Haws, 310 Or 741, 748, 801 P2d 818 (1990). 
Harm to the administration of justice can occur when either the substantive rights of a
party to the proceedings or the procedural functioning of a case or hearing is impaired. 
Id. at 747.  Potential harm to the administration of justice is sufficient to trigger
application of DR 1-102(A)(4); the Bar need not prove actual harm.  In re Smith, 316 Or
55, 59-60, 848 P2d 612 (1993). 
	The trial panel noted that neither the accused nor Snyder had "confirming letters,
notes or any other tangible evidence to resolve this dispute."  Based on its credibility
assessment, it concluded that the accused had not violated either DR 1-102(A)(3) or (4)
in the Parrish matter.
	The Bar contends that the trial panel erred, because "inferences drawn from the
evidence" support Snyder's account rather than the accused's and that Snyder's anger
when she heard that the accused had not requested that the trial be reset is "telling." 
The accused responds that this court should adopt the trial panel's findings regarding
this cause of complaint, because those findings were based on the panel's credibility
determinations. 
	We disagree with the Bar that inferences that can be drawn from the evidence in
the record rise to the level of clear and convincing evidence that the accused violated
the disciplinary rules as charged.  The trial panel's credibility findings regarding this
cause of complaint deserve deference.  See Trukositz, 312 Or at 629 (discussing when
deference to trial panel credibility assessments is appropriate).  The Bar has failed to
prove by clear and convincing evidence that the accused violated DR 1-102(A)(3) and
DR 1-102(A)(4) in the Parrish matter.
C.  Vu Matter
	The Parrishes prevailed at trial in their boundary dispute with Conner in Parrish
et al. v. Conner.  Thereafter, Conner retained Fowlks and Snyder to represent him in his
plan to move a fence between Conner's property and property owned by his other
neighbors, Vu and Nguyen.  Like the Parrishes, Vu and Nguyen believed that they
owned the disputed property by adverse possession.  Conner went onto the disputed
property on November 3, 1999, and began to cut down a tree that was in the way of
where Conner planned to move the fence.  According to Vu, when Boxberger, the
tenant living on the Vu-Nguyen property, asked Conner to stop cutting the tree, Conner
struck her and told her that he had a gun that he would use if Boxberger or anyone else
tried to stop him.  On November 4, 1999, Fowlks wrote a letter to Nguyen telling him
that Conner intended to move the fence and that his attempt to do so had been met
with hostility by Boxberger.  On November 8, 1999, Fowlks wrote another letter to
Nguyen, stating that Boxberger had threatened Conner with a firearm and that "any
further threats will be met with police intervention."  On November 11, 1999, Vu and
Nguyen retained the accused to represent them, having learned from Laurel Parrish
that the accused had represented the Parrishes in their dispute with Conner.  Vu told
the accused that Conner had called her several times about the disputed property.  
	On November 15, 1999, the accused filed a complaint on behalf of Vu and
Nguyen to quiet title to the disputed property.  The next day  - 13 days after the alleged
altercation between Conner and Boxberger  - and without notice to Conner or Conner's
lawyer, the accused filed a motion for a preliminary injunction and restraining order
against Conner.  He did not consult the Oregon Rules of Civil Procedure before filing
the motion.  Rather, he relied on his practice in seeking restraining orders in domestic
relations matters.  The accused appeared ex parte at the hearing on the motion
(November hearing), at which he submitted an affidavit from Vu that stated, in part, that
the altercation between Conner and Boxberger had occurred on Wednesday,
November 3, 1999, and that, since that time, Conner had been making "threatening
phone calls" to Vu and Nguyen.  The accused told the judge: 
		"There was some action over the weekend where the Defendant [Conner]
came over with a gun, pushed the tenant and caused injury and has continued to cut
trees and bushes and tear down fences that have been in existence for forty years * * *. 
He is an elderly man and the police have been alerted and the Plaintiffs are in fear that
he might follow through against their tenant or themselves." 
(Emphasis added.)  The following colloquy ensued:
		"[Accused]:	And I would ask that the amount of bail to be set just in case
there is --
		"[Judge]:		The bond.  All right.  Have you contacted the
Defendants to let them know, or their attorney?
		"[Accused]:  	There is no defense yet, Your Honor.
		"[Judge]:		No, but --
		"[Accused]:	Yeah.
		"[Judge]:		Have you told them you were going to make
application for the order?
		"[Accused]:	I haven't discussed it with -- with the old gentleman yet at all. 
It just came up and it is very serious."
(Emphasis added.)  The judge signed the injunction and temporary restraining order
preventing Conner from entering the disputed property and from contacting, harassing,
harming, or otherwise interfering with Vu, Nguyen, or Boxberger.  The order also
provided:  "It is further ordered that a security amount for a violation of any portion of
this order be set in the amount of $1,000."  The judge asked the accused if the accused
was going to set a hearing, to which the accused responded:  "I'll set a hearing now that
the order is signed; I needed something immediately, Your Honor." 
	When Conner was served with the order, he informed Fowlks, who wrote to the
accused on November 17, 1999.  Fowlks told the accused that the accused's failure to
provide notice to Conner or Fowlks before appearing ex parte the day before was
"extraordinarily offensive" as well as "unethical and inappropriate," and that Fowlks
immediately would file a motion to set aside the order.  Fowlks did so and, on January
14, 2000, another judge held a hearing on the motion to set aside.  
	At that hearing, Fowlks called the accused as a witness, which took the accused
by surprise.  The accused had been in an automobile accident approximately a month
before the hearing and felt somewhat confused.  While the accused was under oath,
Fowlks asked him a series of questions about what the accused had said at the
November hearing.  One of those questions was whether the judge who had presided
at the November hearing had asked the accused if the accused had contacted Connor
or Conner's lawyer before appearing ex parte at the hearing.  The accused responded,
"No."  After the accused had testified about what he had said at the November hearing,
the judge permitted Fowlks to play an audio tape of the November hearing.  That tape
made clear that the judge had asked the accused whether he had contacted Conner or
Conner's lawyer.  The judge at the January hearing then asked the accused whether
there was anything he wanted to say while he still was under oath.  The accused did not
explain the disparity between his previous testimony and the audio tape of the
November hearing.  At the conclusion of the hearing, the judge set aside the restraining
order and temporary injunction against Conner. 
	In its fourth cause of complaint, the Bar alleged that the accused violated DR
1-102(A)(3) and DR 1-102(A)(4) by making misrepresentations to the court at both the
November and January hearings, and that the accused violated DR 7-110(B)(2) and (3)
by appearing ex parte at the November hearing without providing notice to Conner or to
opposing counsel.  The trial panel found that the accused's statement at the November
hearing that "[t]here is no defense yet" was a misrepresentation and that his denial at
the January hearing that he had made that statement in November also was a
misrepresentation.  The trial panel concluded that the misrepresentations violated DR
1-102(A)(3) and that they were prejudicial to the administration of justice, in violation of
DR 1-102(A)(4).  The trial panel also concluded that the accused's ex parte appearance
at the November hearing without giving prior notice to the other side violated DR
7-110(B)(2) and (3).   
	We begin with the alleged violations of DR 1-102(A)(3) and (4), the texts of which
appear earlier in this opinion.  The Bar contends that the accused misled the judge at
the November hearing about whether Conner was represented by counsel and when
the altercation between Conner and Boxberger had occurred.  The Bar also contends
that the accused made misrepresentations under oath during the January hearing
regarding his exchanges with the judge at the November hearing.  The accused
responds, first, that the Bar should not be permitted to "bootstrap" the alleged offenses
in the Vu matter by charging him twice for essentially the same conduct.  With respect
to the accused's conduct at the November hearing, he contends that the evidence does
not demonstrate that he committed any ethical violations.
	We reject the accused's contention that the Bar's charges in the Vu matter
involve "bootstrapping."  The complaint alleges that the accused made
misrepresentations to two different judges in two different proceedings.  The factual
predicates for the Bar's charges in the two proceedings are different, as we discuss in
more detail below. 
	1.  November Hearing.  
	The Bar alleges that the accused made three misrepresentations to the court at
the November hearing.  First, the Bar contends that the accused represented to the
court that the alleged incident between Conner and Boxberger  had occurred the
weekend before the hearing, even though the accused knew from Vu's affidavit that the
incident had occurred almost two weeks before the hearing.  
	By making the statements, quoted above, that there "was some action over the
weekend" and that the situation had "just [come] up," the accused created the
impression that the incident with the gun had occurred the weekend immediately before
the November hearing.  In fact, the evidence demonstrates that the only altercation
between Conner and Boxberger involving a gun had occurred almost two weeks before
that hearing.  We are convinced that the accused knew that his statement was a
misrepresentation, because the accused had prepared Vu's affidavit the same day as
the ex parte hearing, and the affidavit stated that the incident had occurred on
November 3.  Moreover, the accused knew that his misstatement was material,
because the accused knew that, to obtain a restraining order, he needed to convince
the judge that there was an emergency.  In the context of a hearing for a temporary
restraining order, such a misstatement "could or would influence significantly [a judge's]
decision-making process."  Benett, 331 Or at 277.
	Second, the Bar contends that the accused made a misrepresentation when he
stated that "[t]here is no defense yet"  in response to the judge's question whether the
accused had told Conner or his lawyer that the accused was going to apply for an
order.  The accused admits that that statement displayed "a lack of candor."  Also, at
the time that he made the statement, he believed that Conner was represented by a
lawyer.  Moreover, the accused knew that his misrepresentation was material, because
it is apparent that, in the context of a hearing for a temporary restraining order, a
statement that the opposing party is not represented could influence the judge's
decision whether to issue the order.Tr 232
	In sum, we conclude that the Bar proved by clear and convincing evidence that
the accused made two material misrepresentations of fact during the November
hearing, in violation of DR 1-102(A)(3).  The judge relied on the accused's
misrepresentations, thus making them prejudicial to the administration of justice, in
violation of DR 1-102(A)(4).
	2.  January Hearing.
	The Bar contends that the accused made the following material false statements
under oath at the January hearing by testifying that: (1) the judge who presided over the
November hearing had not asked him if he had contacted Conner or Conner's lawyer;
(2) he had not told the judge at the November hearing that the confrontation between
Conner and Boxberger had occurred the weekend before the November hearing; (3)
the judge at the November hearing had not told the accused that the accused needed
to schedule a hearing immediately; and (4) the judge at the November hearing had not
ordered Vu and Nguyen to post a bond in the amount of $1,000.  The accused
responds that his confusion at the January hearing, and his failure to recall accurately
his exchange with the judge at the November hearing falls short of a
"misrepresentation" under DR 1-102(A)(3).  As noted, the trial panel found that the
accused made a misrepresentation at the January hearing when he testified that the
judge at the November hearing had not asked him if he had contacted Conner or
Conner's lawyer.  
	As we have explained, the accused was under oath when he testified at the
January hearing.  Fowlks asked him, "Did [the judge] ask you if you contacted the
defendant or his attorney prior to appearing ex parte?"  The accused responded, "No." 
The accused did not testify, as he now claims, that he could not remember what the
judge had asked him at the November hearing or that he needed to have his
recollection refreshed.  Rather, he testified that the judge had not asked him if he had
notified the other side.  Thereafter, Fowlks played a tape recording of the November
hearing.  When confronted with what the judge had asked him about having contacted
Conner or Conner's lawyer, the accused offered no explanation for his previous answer
to Fowlks's question, such as claiming that he had been confused in answering
Fowlks's question or otherwise should be excused for the misstatement.  The accused
knew that his false statement was material, because he knew that whether the accused
had told the truth at the November hearing was relevant in determining whether the
restraining order should be set aside.  We conclude that the accused knowingly made a
false statement under oath at the January hearing and that, in doing so, the accused
violated DR 1-102(A)(3) and (4). 
	Finally, we turn to the Bar's contention that the accused violated DR 7-110(B)(2)
and (3),which provide:
		"In an adversary proceeding, a lawyer shall not communicate, or cause
another to communicate, as to the merits of the cause with a judge or an official before
whom the proceeding is pending except:
			"* * * * *
			"(2) In writing if the lawyer promptly delivers a copy of the writing to
opposing counsel or to the adverse party if the adverse party is not represented by a
lawyer;
			"(3) Orally upon adequate notice to opposing counsel or to the
adverse party if the adverse party is not represented by a lawyer."
This court has explained that the purpose of DR 7-110(B) is to prevent the appearance
or the effect of granting undue advantage to one party.  In re Smith, 295 Or 755, 759,
670 P2d 1018 (1983).
	The Bar argues that the accused was not entitled to deprive Conner or his lawyer
of notice that he intended to appear ex parte, and that the accused communicated with
the court on the merits of a cause when he presented the affidavit and proposed order
to the court without providing copies of the documents to Conner or Fowlks.  The
accused concedes that he made a mistake when he relied on his domestic relations
experience and failed to consult the applicable rules of civil procedure regarding notice
and service before applying for the injunction and restraining order.  In the accused's
view, his mistaken assumption that he was not required to provide notice or to deliver a
copy of his motion to the other side means that he did not act with a culpable mental
state and, therefore, did not violate DR 7-110(B).
	We disagree with the accused that, because of his mistaken reliance on his
understanding of domestic relations restraining orders in a matter involving a boundary
dispute and his failure to consult the correct rules of procedure regarding notice before
requesting the order, he did not violate DR 7-110(B).  First, the accused, like everyone
else, is presumed to know the law.  See In re Devers, 328 Or 230, 241, 974 P2d 191
(1999) (so stating).  Moreover, as we have explained, the purpose of DR 7-110(B) is to
prevent the appearance or the effect of granting an undue advantage to one party. 
Smith, 295 Or at 759.  The appearance or effect of undue advantage occurs regardless
of the mental state of a lawyer who fails to comply with the requirements of the rule. 
Although, as we explain later in this opinion, an accused's mental state is relevant in
assessing the appropriate sanction for a violation of that rule, a mistaken belief that the
lawyer was not required to provide notice or service is not a defense to a charge under
DR 7-110(B).  See Eadie, 333 Or at 59 (holding misplaced reliance on statute to excuse
service not defense to violation of DR 7-110(B)).  
	In this proceeding, the accused's only defense to the Bar's charge under DR
7-110(B) is that he did not intend to violate the rule.  He concedes that he should have
notified Conner or Fowlks before he requested the restraining order.  We agree with the
trial panel that the accused violated DR 7-110(B)(2) and (3) in the Vu matter.  
	In sum, we conclude that the Bar failed to prove by clear and convincing
evidence its charges against the accused in the Mantow and Parrish matters.  With
respect to the Vu matter, we conclude that the Bar proved by clear and convincing
evidence that the accused violated DR 1-102(A)(3), DR 1-102(A)(4), and DR
7-110(B)(2) and (3).  We turn to the question of the appropriate sanction.  
	As noted, the trial panel concluded that the accused should be suspended from
the practice of law for nine months.  The Bar argues for at least a nine-month
suspension, while the accused believes that a public reprimand is the appropriate
sanction.
II.  SANCTION
	This court follows a well-established methodology to determine the appropriate
sanction for disciplinary rule violations.  See In re Wittemyer, 328 Or 448, 459-61, 980
P2d 148 (1999) (describing process for determining sanction after reviewing duty
violated, mental state, injury, aggravating and mitigating circumstances, and court's
case law).  Consistent with that methodology, the court refers to the American Bar
Association's Standards for Imposing Lawyer Sanctions (1991) (amended 1992) (ABA
Standards) and Oregon case law. 
A.  Duty Violated
	In violating DR 1-102(A)(3), DR 1-102(A)(4), and DR 7-110(B)(2)and (3), the
accused violated his duties to the legal system and the legal profession.  ABA
Standards 6.0 and 7.0.
B.  Mental State
	The Bar contends, and the trial panel found, that the accused acted negligently
and knowingly.  The accused contends that the evidence does not support a finding
that the accused acted knowingly.  "Negligence" is the failure of a lawyer to heed a
substantial risk that circumstances exist or that a result will follow, which failure is a
deviation from the standard of care that a reasonable lawyer would exercise in the
situation.  ABA Standards at 7.  "Knowledge" is the conscious awareness of the nature
or attendant circumstances of the conduct but without the conscious objective to
achieve a particular result.  Id.
	With respect to the accused's failure to provide notice and service before
appearing ex parte at the November hearing in the Vu matter, we conclude that the
accused acted negligently.  However, as we have explained above, the accused's
misrepresentations in the Vu matter were knowing.  See In re Kluge, 332 Or 251, 255,
27 P3d 102 (2001) (to violate DR 1-102(A)(3) by misrepresentation, lawyer must know
statement was false and material).
C.  Injury Sustained
	"Actual injury" is harm to a client, the public, the legal system, or the profession
that results from a lawyer's conduct.  ABA Standards at 7.  Potential as well as actual
injury supports the imposition of a sanction.  In re Williams, 314 Or 530, 547, 840 P2d
1280 (1992).  
	The accused's misconduct in the Vu matter caused actual injury.  The parties
stipulated that the judge who presided over the November hearing relied on the
accused's statement of facts in deciding whether to issue a temporary injunction and
restraining order.  The accused's misconduct caused harm to Conner in that Conner
was required to retain a lawyer to have the order set aside.  The judge who presided
over the January hearing was required to devote additional court time to setting aside
an order that arguably would not have been issued had it not been for the accused's
misconduct. 
D.  Preliminary Sanction
	If the only issue in this proceeding were the accused's negligent failure to provide
notice to Conner or Fowlks in the Vu matter, then the ABA Standards suggest that a
public reprimand would be the appropriate sanction.  See ABA Standard 7.3 (reprimand
generally appropriate when lawyer negligently engages in conduct that violates duty
owed to profession and causes injury or potential injury to client, public, or legal
system). However, because the accused's misconduct also involves misrepresentations
and a false statement under oath, the ABA Standards suggest that disbarment or a
suspension is the appropriate sanction.  See ABA Standard 6.11 (disbarment generally
appropriate when lawyer, with intent to deceive court, makes false statement and
causes serious or potentially serious injury or potentially significant adverse effect on
legal proceeding); ABA Standard 6.12 (suspension generally appropriate when lawyer
knows false statements being submitted to court, takes no remedial action, and causes
injury or potentially adverse effect on legal proceeding).  To determine the appropriate
sanction here, we turn to aggravating and mitigating factors, then to this court's case
law.
E.  Aggravating Factors
	The Bar argues that the accused's prior record of discipline is an aggravating
factor.  ABA Standard 9.22(a).  It notes that, in In re Dugger, 299 Or 21, 697 P2d 973
(1985), this court held that the accused had violated former DR 1-102(A)(4) (1986),
renumbered as DR 1-103(A)(3), for misrepresenting the initiation of court proceedings
to his client and imposed a 63-day suspension.  The accused responds that, under ABA
Standard 9.32(m), the remoteness of the accused's prior misconduct "arguably is a
mitigating factor."
	In evaluating an accused's prior record of discipline as an aggravating factor, this
court considers the following factors:  (1) the relative seriousness of the prior offense
and resulting sanction; (2) the similarity of the prior offense to the offense at issue; (3)
the number of prior offenses; (4) the relative recency of the prior offense; and (5) the
timing of the current offense in relation to the prior offense and resulting sanction,
specifically, whether the accused lawyer had been sanctioned for the prior offense
before engaging in the offense in the proceeding at bar.  In re Jones, 326 Or 195, 200,
951 P2d 149 (1997).  Remoteness in time diminishes the significance of a prior offense
as an aggravating factor, but does not function as a mitigating factor.  Id. at n 4.  
	Having considered the relevant factors under Jones, we conclude that the
accused's prior offense is entitled to some, but not considerable, weight.  Other
aggravating factors are that the accused has substantial experience in the practice of
law, ABA Standard 9.22(i); there are multiple offenses, ABA Standard 9.22(d); and the
accused does not appreciate the wrongfulness of his misconduct, ABA Standard
9.22(g).
F.  Mitigating Factors
	The sole mitigating factor is that the accused cooperated with disciplinary
counsel and the local professional responsibility committee.  ABA Standard 9.32(e).
G.  Case Law
	We turn to a consideration of this court's case law.  Recently, this court restated
its long-held position that knowingly or intentionally making false statements under oath
is among the most serious acts of misconduct that a lawyer can commit.  See In re
Davenport, 334 Or 298, 321-22, 49 P3d 91 (2002) (so stating and citing previous cases
supporting that proposition).  This court has imposed lengthy suspensions on lawyers
who made false statements under oath.  See, e.g., In re Staar, 324 Or 283, 924 P2d
308 (1996) (two-year suspension for knowingly making false statements of fact under
oath plus other misconduct; In re Sundstrom, 250 Or 404, 409, 442 P2d 604 (1968)
(five-year suspension for false testimony in Bar proceeding in addition to other
misconduct).
	This court also has imposed lengthy suspensions on lawyers for making
misrepresentations to the court when the lawyer was not under oath, as the accused
did at the November hearing.  See Gustafson, 327 Or 636 (six-month suspension for
knowingly making misrepresentation to court, in addition to other misconduct);
Claussen, 322 Or 466 (12-month suspension for misrepresentation by omission to
bankruptcy court, in addition to other misconduct); In re McKee, 316 Or 114, 849 P2d
509 (1993) (18-month suspension for misrepresenting to court that matter had been
settled, in addition to other misconduct); In re Hiller, 298 Or 526, 694 P2d 540 (1985)
(four-month suspension for single act of nondisclosure of material fact). 
	Having reviewed this court's case law, we conclude that  a nine-month
suspension from the practice of law is the appropriate sanction in this proceeding.  As
this court repeatedly has stated, testifying falsely under oath, as the accused did at the
January hearing, is serious misconduct for which a lengthy suspension is required. 
Moreover, as we have found, the accused also made material misrepresentations of
fact at the November hearing.  The suspension we impose on the accused for the
misconduct at issue in this proceeding is not as lengthy as we imposed in Staar or
Sundstrom, but we conclude that the accused's misconduct was not as egregious as
the misconduct in those cases.  Under the circumstances of this case, we conclude that
a nine-month suspension will protect the public and the administration of justice.  See
ABA Standard 1.1 (purpose of lawyer discipline to protect public and administration of
justice).
	The accused is suspended from the practice of law for nine months, effective 60
days from the date of the filing of this decision.