Title: Louisiana State Bar Ass'n v. Karst
Citation: 428 So. 2d 406
Docket Number: 97
State: Louisiana
Issuer: Louisiana Supreme Court
Date: February 23, 1983

428 So. 2d 406 (1983) LOUISIANA STATE BAR ASSOCIATION v. C. Edward KARST. No. 81-B-1327. Supreme Court of Louisiana. February 23, 1983. Rehearing Denied March 25, 1983. *407 Thomas O. Collins, Jr., Richard A. Deas, New Orleans, Roland J. Achee, Shreveport, Robert J. Boudreau, Lake Charles, Wood Brown, III, New Orleans, Sam J. D'Amico, Baton Rouge, Carrick R. Inabnett, Monroe, Harold J. Lamy, New Orleans, Alfred S. Landry, Jr., Lafayette, Phillippi P. St. Pee, Metairie, Gerard F. Thomas, Jr., Natchitoches, for plaintiff-relator. C. Edward Karst, Alexandria, L. Edwin Greer, Shreveport, for defendant-respondent. BLANCHE, Justice. This disciplinary proceeding was instituted by the Louisiana State Bar Association, through its Committee on Professional Responsibility, against C. Edward Karst for conduct which the Bar charges as being in violation of Disciplinary Rules 1-102[1] and *408 8-102(B)[2] of the Code of Professional Responsibility. The charges of misconduct were contained in the following specifications, notice of which was given respondent Karst: A Commissioner was appointed by this court for the purpose of conducting an evidentiary hearing on these charges. Thereafter, the Commissioner filed a report in which he found that respondent Karst had indeed made and disseminated unfounded accusations of misconduct against Judge Humphries and Attorney Simon. The Commissioner concluded, however, that respondent Karst had not violated DR 8-102(B) because he did not "knowingly" make false accusations against the Judge. Evidently, the Commissioner reasoned that respondent's psychological problems caused him to "genuinely believe" in the truth of his accusations and that such genuine belief would excuse him from violation of the rule. The Commissioner did find that respondent had violated DR 1-102(A)(5) and (6), and concluded that Karst's mental and emotional instability rendered him unqualified to continue to practice law. Accordingly, the Commissioner recommended that respondent be suspended from the practice of law until such time as he could prove by clear and convincing evidence that his mental and emotional disability had been removed. The Committee on Professional Responsibility filed a concurrence and opposition to the report of the Commissioner, and the respondent Karst filed an answer thereto. Basically, the Committee opposes the Commissioner's conclusion that Karst did not violate DR 8-102(B) because he genuinely believed in the truth of the accusations. The Committee also objects to the Commissioner's recommendation of an indefinite period of suspension and instead recommends that Karst be suspended for at least one year with readmission predicated upon proof of rehabilitation. *409 Karst, on the other hand, maintains that at the time of the alleged misconduct, he was suffering from diminished responsibility brought on by extreme stress and personal anxiety. He contends that his emotional disability was limited to this single episode for which he has since sought treatment, and that he is competent to continue in the practice of law. From the foregoing, it appears that this proceeding presents us with two issues for resolution: (1) whether respondent Karst has in fact engaged in conduct in violation of DR 8-102(B) and 1-102; and (2) if so, what punishment is appropriate for such misconduct. DR 8-102(B) provides that an attorney shall not knowingly make false accusations against a judge or other adjudicatory officer. In determining that respondent Karst was not in violation of DR 8-102(B), the Commissioner stated: We disagree with the Commissioner's conclusion and find that the respondent Karst did in fact "knowingly make false accusations against a judge." In our opinion, DR 8-102(B) is violated when an attorney intentionally causes accusations to be published which he knows to be false, or which, with the exercise of ordinary care, he should know to be false. The rationale for DR 8-102(B) appears in Ethical Consideration 8-6, the pertinent part of which provides: This provision clearly illustrates that it is not the genuineness of an attorney's belief in the truth of his allegations, but the reasonableness of that belief and the good faith of the attorney in asserting it that determines whether or not one has "knowingly" made false accusations against a judge within the meaning of DR 8-102(B). Consequently, where it is shown that an attorney knew, or in good faith should have known, of the falsity of his accusations, that attorney's unsubstantiated, subjective belief in the truth of those accusations, however genuine, will not excuse his violation of DR 8-102(B). In the present case, there is no doubt that respondent Karst knew or should have known of the falsity of his allegations. As the Commissioner correctly noted, Karst intentionally caused accusations of serious misconduct on the part of Judge Humphries to be disseminated throughout the community of Alexandria. By respondent's own admissions, those accusations had no factual basis, but were the product of Karst's own highly emotional response to what he subjectively perceived to be a grave injustice committed against him. At a formal investigatory hearing conducted by the Committee on Professional Responsibility on September 24, 1980, Karst testified as follows: Again, at the Commissioner's hearing on October 21, 1981, Karst stated: The above excerpts poignantly illustrate that respondent Karst engaged in exactly the type of spurious and unfounded criticism of the judiciary that DR 8-102(B) is designed to protect against. Although Karst argues that he genuinely believed in the truth of his accusations, his own admissions prove that that belief was not reasonable. At the formal investigatory hearing and again at the Commissioner's hearing, Karst introduced psychological and psychiatric testimony in an attempt to excuse his actions on the grounds of an alleged mental disability. Both a clinical psychologist and a psychiatrist testified that at the time of their examinations of Karst, the respondent appeared to be operating under an emotional state of diminished responsibility. However, it must be noted that the testimony of the psychologist and psychiatrist was predicated upon examinations made several years after the occurrence of the incidents complained of and neither of the experts was in a position to testify as to the state of mind of the respondent when the false accusations against Judge Humphries were originally made. Consequently, their testimony is not persuasive on the issue of Karst's mental state at the time of the alleged misconduct. The testimony of Karst's wife, father-in-law, and secretary, on the other hand, reflects that during the period of time in which Karst's accusations were first levelled against Judge Humphries, the respondent was successfully practicing law, competently conducting his business affairs, and otherwise exhibiting no unusual symptoms. A review of the totality of the evidence therefore leads us to conclude that Karst did violate DR 8-102(B) by knowingly making allegations against a judge which he knew or should have known to be false. His subjective belief in the correctness of his allegations does not excuse his reckless disregard for the truth. Neither does his alleged emotional distress which has not been shown to exist at the time of his inexcusable conduct. Additionally, we conclude that a review of the record supports the Commissioner's finding that respondent Karst acted in violation of DR 1-102(A)(5) and (6). The facts of this case reveal that respondent accused Judge Humphries and Attorney Simon of blackmail, fraud, corruption, and bribery in connection with the litigation captioned "Joe E. Fryar vs. C. Edward Karst," bearing docket number 97,699 in the Ninth Judicial District Court. Respondent caused said accusations to be published in the local press, and has continued to make public accusations against Judge Humphries to the present date. Clearly, such groundless and irresponsible behavior constitutes conduct that is prejudicial to the administration of justice and reflects adversely upon respondent's fitness to practice law. Having concluded that respondent Karst is guilty of misconduct in violation of DR 8-102(B) and 1-102(A)(5) and (6), it remains for us to determine the appropriate penalty to be imposed for such misconduct. *411 In doing so, we must remember that the purpose of lawyer disciplinary proceedings is to maintain appropriate standards of professional conduct in order to protect the public and the administration of justice from lawyers who have demonstrated in their conduct that they are unable or likely to be unable to discharge their professional duties. Louisiana State Bar Assn. v. Levy, 400 So. 2d 1355 (La.1981), Louisiana State Bar Assn. v. Quaid, 368 So. 2d 1043 (La.1979); Louisiana State Bar Assn. v. McSween, 347 So. 2d 1118 (La.1977); Louisiana State Bar Assn. v. Ponder, 340 So. 2d 134 (La.1976), appeal dismissed 431 U.S. 934, 97 S. Ct. 2643, 53 L. Ed. 2d 251; ABA Joint Committee on Professional Discipline, Standards for Lawyer Discipline and Disability Proceedings, § 11, p. 1 (Approved Draft February, 1979). Accordingly, the discipline to be imposed in a particular case will depend upon the seriousness and circumstances of the offense, fashioned in light of the purpose of lawyer discipline, taking into account aggravating and mitigating circumstances. Louisiana State Bar Assn. v. Bensabat, 378 So. 2d 380 (La.1979); see ABA Joint Committee on Professional Discipline, Standards for Lawyer Discipline and Disability Proceedings, § 7.1, p. 44 (Approved Draft February, 1979). Applying these precepts, we conclude that the one year suspension recommended by the Committee on Professional Responsibility is warranted. Karst's violation of DR 8-102(B) and 1-102(A)(5) and (6) constitutes a serious breach of professional conduct, justifying a substantial punishment to avoid deprecation of the offense and to provide a meaningful deterrant to other potential offenders. A definitive period of suspension is particularly warranted here as the respondent has exhibited no remorse or retraction of his spurious and unfounded allegations against Judge Humphries and has in fact reiterated those allegations in a brief submitted to this court. Furthermore, the recklessness and utter disregard for the truth demonstrated by respondent Karst has adversely reflected upon the integrity of the legal profession and individual members thereof. Karst's violations arise out of and are directly related to the practice of law. In mitigation, we have considered several circumstances. Respondent Karst is a practicing attorney in Alexandria, Louisiana. This has been his full-time occupation since 1965, except for the period from 1969 through 1973 in which he served as mayor of that city. He maintains a general law practice as a sole practitioner, and, two of his former clients have written letters to the court on his behalf. The instant misconduct arose out of litigation in which respondent Karst was personally involved. As the result of that litigation Karst was faced with financial ruin, the potential loss of his home, and a loss of reputation in the political community. All of these circumstances have been noted by this court in considering a proper punishment. Nevertheless, we conclude that the serious nature of respondent's unwarranted and baseless conduct and its prejudicial effect on the legal profession, far outweighs the mitigating circumstances referred to above and warrants respondent's suspension from the practice of law. In imposing the present suspension we must also consider the Committee's recommendation that respondent's readmission be predicated upon proof of rehabilitation. Expert psychological and psychiatric testimony reveals that respondent Karst is presently functioning under a state of mental and emotional instability. Donald Gucker, the clinical psychologist who testified as an expert in this case, explained respondent's condition as follows: This diagnosis was confirmed by Dr. Schober, the psychiatrist who testified at the commissioner's hearing. Dr. Schober described respondent's condition in the following manner: Dr. Schober further testified: Even though respondent seems a good candidate for rehabilitation and even though his misconduct was precipitated by a single episode (the Karst v. Fryar litigation), the above psychological testimony clearly supports the Committee on Professional Responsibility recommendation that Karst's readmission to the practice of law be conditioned on his demonstrated rehabilitation. Considering that disciplinary action serves to protect the public and the bar from the actions of attorneys who have demonstrated professional irresponsibility, it is appropriate that respondent be required to obtain medical treatment and to prove that he can overcome his present emotional disability before he can return to the practice of law. Respondent Karst is suspended from the practice of law for one year, his readmission to be predicated upon proof of rehabilitation. [1] DR 1-102. Misconduct. A lawyer shall not: (1) Violate a Disciplinary Rule. (2) Circumvent a Disciplinary Rule through actions of another. (3) Engage in illegal conduct involving moral turpitude. (4) Engage in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit, or misrepresentation. (5) Engage in conduct that is prejudicial to the administration of justice. (6) Engage in any other conduct that adversely reflects on his fitness to practice law. [2] DR 8-102. Statements Concerning Judges and Other Adjudicatory Officers (B) A lawyer shall not knowingly make false accusations against a judge or other adjudicatory officer.