Opinion ID: 2569696
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 9

Heading: Panel Considerations

Text: In making its recommendation for discipline, the hearing panel considered the factors outlined by the American Bar Association in its Standards for Imposing Lawyer Sanctions. Pursuant to Standard 3, the factors to be considered are the duty violated, the lawyer's mental state, the potential or actual injury caused by the lawyer's misconduct, and the existence of aggravating or mitigating factors. In six of the seven complaints against Sachse, the panel found that Sachse's clients or others suffered actual or potential injury: The Praters were injured when they lost their cause of action against Stacer and may have lost their cause of action against Moore. Laster was injured by the delay of 12 months in his direct appeal. Johnson was injured by the delay in his parole application. Johnson's mother, Williams, was injured by Sachse failing to timely refund the retainer she paid on behalf of Johnson. The panel found that without funds to pay a new attorney a retainer, Johnson languished in prison. The panel found that Tillotson suffered financially by having to wait 3 years for Sachse to reimburse him for the medical expenses he incurred in the case he referred to Sachse. The panel found that although Sachse did perform work for B.C., B.C.'s parents nevertheless suffered harm because of Sachse's misconduct. The panel found that because Sachse did not keep appropriate records and could not establish the time and expenses attributed to the representation of B.C., Sachse should be ordered to return the $1,000 retainer paid by B.C.'s parents. In the Ketteler case, the panel found that Reid Ketteler was faced with significant potential harm when, because Sachse repeatedly failed to appear in municipal court, the court issued a warrant for Reid's arrest. The panel determined that Sachse had violated duties owed his clients when he failed to competently represent their interests, diligently attend to their cases, and safeguard their property. Additionally, Sachse violated a duty to the legal system to expedite litigation. After concluding that Sachse's misconduct was the result of negligent behavior, the panel considered the aggravating and mitigating factors.