Opinion ID: 1171519
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: The Cantrell Matter

Text: Lorin Cantrell hired the respondent to represent him in a dissolution of marriage proceeding. A contempt citation had been issued against Cantrell and a hearing was scheduled for 11:00 a.m. on August 29, 1987 or 1988. [3] A settlement conference was held in lieu of the contempt hearing. Present at the conference were Cantrell, the respondent, Mrs. Cantrell and her attorney, and a witness subpoenaed by the respondent. The conference was held in a conference room at the courthouse. Cantrell, the attorney for Mrs. Cantrell, and the subpoenaed witness all testified that the respondent was intoxicated at the time of the conference. The respondent and his secretary testified that he was not intoxicated on the morning of the conference. A copy of the respondent's schedule for that day was introduced into evidence apparently for the purpose of establishing that the respondent had other court appearances and appointments that day, but that no other complaints of intoxication were received. [4] The hearing board found by clear and convincing evidence that the respondent was intoxicated at the time of the settlement conference. This conclusion is supported by substantial evidence in the record and we decline to overturn it. See People v. Garnett, 725 P.2d 1149, 1152 (Colo.1986). The hearing board, when acting as a fact finder, has the duty to assess the credibility of evidence before it, controverted and uncontroverted. People v. Distel, 759 P.2d 654, 662 (Colo.1988). In determining whether the board's findings are supported by substantial evidence, it is not within the province of this court to measure the weight of the evidence or to resolve the credibility of witnesses. Id. We also conclude that any discrepancy in the date of the conference is immaterial. It is apparent that the real issue was whether the respondent was intoxicated at the settlement conference, not the day on which the conference took place. The respondent did not object when the assistant disciplinary counsel introduced testimony at the hearing which tended to show that the conference took place on August 29, 1987, and not August 29, 1988, as alleged in the complaint. The respondent's defense consisted of testimony (and documentary evidence in the form of his calendar) that he was not intoxicated at the settlement conference and that the conference took place on August 29, 1988. There is no contention that more than one settlement conference took place with the same persons present at the same time of day at the same location. The respondent does not assert that the alleged variance in the date of the conference prejudiced his defense in any way. We therefore conclude that any variance in the date was immaterial and that no further proceedings or findings are necessary. We determine, as did the board, that the respondent's conduct violated DR 1-102(A)(5) (a lawyer shall not engage in conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice), and DR 1-102(A)(6) (a lawyer shall not engage in conduct that adversely reflects on his fitness to practice law).