Opinion ID: 1388055
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: The discipline.

Text: The board recommended that petitioner be suspended for two years, with one year actual suspension, for misappropriating and commingling funds belonging to Mrs. Sinclair (L.A. 30272) and imposed a public reproval for the various acts of professional misconduct committed against Mrs. Robles (L.A. 30164). Petitioner contends that the recommended suspension in the Sinclair matter is excessive and unwarranted. Although this recommendation may be somewhat more severe than some imposed in other cases involving similar misconduct ( Bernstein v. State Bar, supra, 6 Cal.3d 909, 918-919 (30-day suspension); Himmel v. State Bar, supra, 4 Cal.3d 786, 798-799 (3 months actual suspension, 9 months additional probation)), there are many cases upholding a recommendation of 1 year actual suspension for misappropriation of clients' funds. ( Brody v. State Bar, supra, 11 Cal.3d 347, 350-351; Bradpiece v. State Bar (1974) 10 Cal.3d 742, 748-749, fn. 1 [111 Cal. Rptr. 905, 518 P.2d 337].) (9) Although prior cases serve as a guide, the extent of discipline does not derive from a fixed formula, but rather is determined from a balanced consideration of the relevant factors. ( Bernstein v. State Bar, supra, 6 Cal.3d 909, 919.) The record in the Sinclair matter shows that petitioner deposited the draft from the insurance company in his personal account at a time when it was overdrawn. Petitioner's course of conduct demonstrates that he misappropriated the money. Although petitioner may have intended eventually to pay his client, the board took into account many aggravating factors, which it properly considered in making its recommendation. Thus the local committee and the disciplinary board both found that petitioner, in his appearance before the committee, showed no appreciation of any wrongdoing in signing his client's name without her permission to a check held by him under an agreement that it was not to be deposited or negotiated and depositing same into his own account commingling its proceeds with his own property at a time when his account was in an overdraft condition of $1,589.56. [Petitioner] at no time showed any concern over leaving substantial amounts of his own money in his Client Trust Account. The disciplinary board, moreover, made its recommendation in the Sinclair matter without taking into consideration the findings in the Robles matter (L.A. 30164), which likewise shows a serious course of misconduct. (10) Although this court generally attaches great weight to the disciplinary recommendation of the board, we impose more severe discipline when it is warranted. ( Fielding v. State Bar, supra, 9 Cal.3d 446, 452; Glickman v. State Bar (1973) 9 Cal.3d 179, 184 [107 Cal. Rptr. 65, 507 P.2d 953]; Sturr v. State Bar (1959) 52 Cal.2d 125, 127 [338 P.2d 897]; Burns v. State Bar (1955) 45 Cal.2d 296, 303 [288 P.2d 514].) We have previously ordered suspension upon review of a decision of the disciplinary board which only publicly reprimanded the petitioner for professional misconduct ( Noland v. State Bar (1965) 63 Cal.2d 298, 303 [46 Cal. Rptr. 305, 405 P.2d 129]). The misconduct committed against Mrs. Robles warrants suspension. (11) Thus, as discipline to be imposed as a result of the two disciplinary proceedings, we conclude that petitioner should be suspended not only for two years but three years, with one year actual suspension. It is ordered that the petitioner be suspended from the practice of law for a period of three years. Execution of such suspension is stayed for the period of three years, during which period petitioner is placed on probation upon the condition that he be suspended for the first year and until he makes restitution to Mrs. Robles in the amount of $2,923.23 plus legal interest and to Mrs. Sinclair in the amount of $100 plus legal interest, and present satisfactory proof thereof to the State Bar. Additionally, petitioner is to comply with the conditions of probation recommended by the State Bar in L.A. 30272. It is further ordered that within 30 days after the effective date of this order petitioner shall perform the acts specified in rule 955, subdivision (a), California Rules of Court, and that within 40 days after the effective date of this order petitioner shall file with the clerk of this court, with proof of service of a copy on the State Bar at its San Francisco office, an affidavit containing the matters specified in subdivision (c) of the foregoing rule. This order is effective 30 days after the filing of this opinion. Richardson, J., did not participate therein. Burke, J., retired Associate Justice of the Supreme Court sitting under assignment by the Chairman of the Judicial Council participated therein.