Opinion ID: 2626474
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: disciplinary procedural history

Text: ¶ 10 On September 13, 2004, the Bar filed a formal complaint against Greenlee. The Bar alleged he violated former RPC 1.8(h) by having former client Sanchez-Suwaneh sign the release to settle any malpractice claims she might have against him without first advising her in writing that it was appropriate to consult independent legal counsel. ¶ 11 A disciplinary hearing took place in December 2004. Sanchez-Suwaneh testified that if she had been notified in writing to consult independent counsel, she would have done so. She further testified that at the time she signed the release she was under stress and rushed and did not know exactly what she was signing. Sanchez-Suwaneh apparently believed at that time that she had claims against Greenlee for the way he represented her. ¶ 12 The hearing officer issued findings of fact, conclusions of law, and a recommendation on January 18, 2005. Amended findings of fact, conclusions of law, and recommendation were filed by the hearing officer on February 7, 2005. Ultimately, the hearing officer found that Greenlee engaged in a knowing conflict of interest in violation of former RPC 1.8(h). ¶ 13 As stated by the hearing officer: The thrust of RPC 1.8(h) is to prevent the lawyer from obtaining any release of claims from an unrepresented client without written notice to seek the advice of counsel because, by seeking a release of his own liability, the lawyer places himself in direct conflict with the unrepresented client. The rule is not intended to burden the client with the duty to ascertain and evaluate the legal technicalities of whether a claim exists. CP at 29 (para.26). The hearing officer relied primarily on In re Carson, 268 Kan. 134, 991 P.2d 896 (1999) for the proposition that a malpractice claim need not be pending for a violation of former RPC 1.8(h). ¶ 14 Specifically, the hearing officer found, [i]t is obvious Greenlee's sole motivation was to obtain her release of any and all liability claims she might, even potentially, have against him. CP at 26. The hearing officer also found it was unthinkable that Mr. Greenlee would not immediately comply with this simple request [for written assurance that she owed him nothing further] by a former client he well knew had limited understanding, instead of hiding his true intent to advantage himself in a complicated six (6) page release Sanchez-Suwaneh had little hope of actually understanding. CP at 27. ¶ 15 The hearing officer recommended a one-year suspension. Following briefing, the matter was argued to the Board in May 2005. On July 1, 2005, the Board, by a vote of 8-3, adopted the hearing officer's decision, except for a reduction in the sanction recommendation to six months. On September 7, 2005, the Board filed a clarification of its decision in which the three dissenting members explained they voted against the majority because they would have approved [the] hearing officer's decision, i.e., they believed a one-year suspension to be the appropriate sanction. Supplemental Clerk's Papers (SCP) at 11-12. Greenlee has been disciplined six times previously. [1]