Opinion ID: 2524356
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: record before the court

Text: ¶ 3 In bar disciplinary proceedings, the OBA, as the complainant, has the burden of establishing facts by clear and convincing evidence that the respondent lawyer has violated the rules governing lawyers' conduct. State ex rel. Okla. Bar Ass'n v. Tweedy, 2000 OK 37, ¶ 7, 52 P.3d 1003, 1006. Clear and convincing evidence is sufficient evidence, both in quality and quantity, so as to produce a firm conviction of the truth of the allegations. See State ex rel. Okla. Bar Ass'n v. Besly, 2006 OK 18, ¶¶ 20-25, n. 9, 136 P.3d 590, 598. ¶ 4 In this case, the OBA relies almost exclusively on the stipulations to meet its burden of proof. The parties' stipulations are not binding on this Court; we review the entire record for clear and convincing evidence in support of the stipulations. Id. ¶ 2, 136 P.3d at 594; Taylor, 2003 OK 56 at ¶ 2, 71 P.3d at 21. Because stipulations are not binding on this Court, the stipulations must be supported by testimonial or documentary evidence to allow a meaningful review. See Besly, 2006 OK 18 at ¶¶ 20-25, n. 9, 136 P.3d at 598; Taylor, 2003 OK 56 at ¶ 2, 71 P.3d at 21. In order to meet its burden of proof, the OBA generally solicits testimony at the hearing before the PRT or includes documentary evidence in the record which supports the stipulations. See State ex rel. Okla. Bar Ass'n v. Wilson, 2008 OK 42, ¶ 2, 187 P.3d 708, 710; Besly, 2006 OK 18 at ¶ 3, 136 P.3d at 596. When the documentary and testimonial evidence shows conclusively and unequivocally that the stipulations are factually incorrect, this Court will reject the stipulations. See Besly, 2006 OK 18, ¶ 9, 136 P.3d at 596. ¶ 5 The stipulations here do not contain a statement of stipulated facts, but instead incorporate the allegations, and they are nothing more than Respondent's agreement to the stated allegations in the amended complaint. Many of these allegations are inconsistent with the evidence. They contain significant factual errors as well as erroneous legal conclusions. [2] The numerous unequivocal factual and legal errors in the stipulations here degrade the credibility, and in turn the value, of the remaining stipulations. For this reason, we reject the parties tendered stipulations as establishing the facts. ¶ 6 In addition to the stipulations, the record here contains Respondent's testimony and a box of exhibits. As to Respondent's testimony, the OBA failed to present evidence to substantiate the allegations by soliciting supporting testimony from the Respondent, but instead it abdicated its role as complainant by shifting the burden of supporting the stipulations onto Respondent's counsel. Were it not for questioning by the PRT many of the facts which direct our decision here would not have been revealed. As to the exhibits, they are unorganized, incomplete, and labeled in such a manner that, for the most part, they are not helpful in deciphering the facts. By submitting the factually and legally incorrect allegations, failing to support the stipulations with documentary and testimonial evidence, and submitting substandard exhibits, the OBA has unnecessarily complicated our review of this case. Besly, 2006 OK 18, ¶ 4, 136 P.3d 590. [3] Further complicating our review is the OBA's failure to make legal arguments in its brief to this Court which support the alleged violations. [4] Even through there are deficiencies in the record, it contains sufficient testimonial and documentary evidence for our de novo review.