Opinion ID: 2485199
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Hearing Commit tee Report

Text: After considering the testimony and evidence presented at the hearing, the hearing committee made the following factual findings: The Bates matter  Respondent provided State Farm with documentation of Mr. Bates' lost wages on the letterhead of AA Contracting Services. The document was purportedly signed by Candice Bates Anderson; however, she testified that her father signed her name on the document. There is no doubt that the document is false and was fraudulently submitted to support Mr. Bates' lost wages claim. However, the committee concluded that the ODC did not present evidence demonstrating respondent knew or should have known the document was fraudulent or was involved in the preparation of the document. After learning of State Farm's suspicions about the document, respondent withdrew the lost wages claim and did not include same in the lawsuit. The document was never presented to the court. The ODC also did not present evidence that respondent did not properly investigate Mr. Bates' claim prior to filing suit. After Mr. Bates died, respondent was appointed as the administrator of his succession. He subsequently filed an amended petition, substituting himself as the plaintiff in Mr. Bates' lawsuit. Soon thereafter, respondent filed another amended petition, requesting Ms. Anderson be substituted as the plaintiff. The committee concluded respondent's appointment as the administrator of Mr. Bates' succession was proper because he was a creditor of Mr. Bates. Further, when respondent substituted himself as the plaintiff, no conflict of interest existed because respondent's interests were not adverse to the interests of another client or person, nor was the representation limited by respondent's personal interest. Respondent stipulated that, in March 2004, he permitted his nonlawyer assistant to participate in a telephone interview of Mr. Bates by an insurance claims adjuster. The committee found such conduct constitutes the practice of law and may not be performed by a nonlawyer. Based on these findings, the committee determined respondent violated Rules 5.3 and 8.4(a) of the Rules of Professional Conduct. However, the committee did not find violations of Rules 1.1(a), 1.7, 1.16(a)(1), 3.1, 3.3(a), 3.3(b), 8.4(c), or 8.4(d). The DeGruy matter  Respondent represented Mr. DeGruy from 1991 until 2000. Respondent did not attend the 1997 deposition of his client's treating physician, nor did he send another attorney to attend on Mr. DeGruy's behalf, resulting in his neglect of Mr. DeGruy's legal matter. However, the committee found the ODC did not present clear and convincing evidence that respondent failed to keep Mr. DeGruy informed, failed to return Mr. DeGruy's numerous telephone calls, and requested and consented to a number of continuances. Respondent's attorney's fees were contingent on the outcome of Mr. DeGruy's case. Respondent did not obtain a written contingency fee agreement signed by Mr. DeGruy. Nonetheless, respondent was not seeking to collect his fees without a basis. [3] Respondent filed a motion to withdraw from the representation and attached a letter stating that he thought Mr. DeGruy's case was worth $50,000 while Mr. DeGruy thought it was worth $4.5 million. The committee found Mr. Person to be a credible witness, and he indicated Mr. DeGruy was reasonable in his settlement demand. Therefore, the committee found that Mr. DeGruy did not demand $4.5 million, and respondent stated so in the court record in a malicious attempt to hurt Mr. DeGruy's case. This information was related to respondent's representation of Mr. DeGruy, and Mr. DeGruy did not consent to respondent's disclosure of same. Mr. DeGruy's trial on the merits was scheduled to begin in early August 2000. Respondent withdrew from the representation approximately three weeks before the trial date, leaving little time for Mr. DeGruy's new attorney to prepare for trial. The notice respondent provided to Mr. DeGruy, just three weeks before trial, was not reasonable and did not allow Mr. DeGruy sufficient time to retain new counsel. Finally, respondent permitted Mr. Williams, his nonlawyer assistant, to attend and participate in two depositions on February 15, 1996. However, in mitigation, the committee noted that the ODC did not present any evidence that respondent sent nonlawyers to depositions after his 1999 admonition for similar misconduct which had taken place in April 1998. Based on these facts, the committee determined respondent violated Rules 1.3, 1.5(c), 1.6, 1.16, 5.3, and 8.4(a) of the Rules of Professional Conduct. However, the committee did not find violations of Rules 1.4, 1.5(a), 1.5(b), 3.2, or 8.4(c). The committee determined respondent acted negligently in failing to obtain a written contingency fee agreement in the DeGruy matter, but otherwise acted knowingly and/or intentionally. Respondent violated duties owed to his clients, and he caused actual harm to Mr. DeGruy. Upon review of the ABA's Standards for Imposing Lawyer Sanctions, the committee determined suspension is the baseline sanction. In aggravation, the committee found prior disciplinary offenses, a dishonest of selfish motive (only with respect to the violation of Rule 1.6 in the DeGruy matter), a pattern of misconduct, multiple offenses, and substantial experience in the practice of law (admitted 1968). In mitigation, the committee found a delay in the disciplinary proceedings and imposition of other penalties or sanctions for similar misconduct. Under these circumstances, the committee recommended respondent be suspended from the practice of law for nine months. Neither respondent nor the ODC filed an objection to the hearing committee's report and recommendation. However, in his brief to the disciplinary board, respondent alleged various procedural errors and requested that the board either remand the matter, dismiss the charges, or recommend a more lenient sanction.