Opinion ID: 1725734
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Complaint TwoASB 94-177

Text: Complaint Two resulted from grievances filed with the State Bar regarding a lawsuit Asam had filed against Circuit Judge Bernard Harwood. According to Asam's complaint, Harwood, the incumbent judge and Asam's opponent in the 1992 race for judge of the Tuscaloosa County Circuit Court, made libelous remarks about Asam during his campaign. During the discovery phase of that lawsuit, Asam's conduct included avoiding notice and service, and not cooperating with regard to deposition scheduling. The circuit court granted Harwood's motion for summary judgment. Asam filed a post-judgment motion to alter, amend, or vacate the judgment, alleging that the trial court's order contained false statements and that the trial judge had failed to read pleadings in the case. Asam's post-judgment motion was denied. This Court affirmed the summary judgment, without opinion. Asam filed an identical action against Harwood in a federal district court. The district court dismissed the complaint on res judicata grounds, and the Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit affirmed the dismissal. Complaint Two, ASB 94-177, contained five charges against Asam: Charge Iviolation of Rule of Professional Conduct 8.4(d) [10] ; Charge IIviolation of Rule of Professional Conduct 1.1 [11] ; Charge IIIviolation of Rule of Professional Conduct 3.1(a) [12] ; Charge IVviolation of Rule of Professional Conduct 3.3(a)(1) [13] ; and Charge Vviolation of Rule of Professional Conduct 8.4(g) [14] . The Board found Asam guilty of Charges I, III, and V, and not guilty of the remaining charges.