Opinion ID: 1130080
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: possession and concealment of stolen property

Text: During the PRT hearing the OBA argued that Eakin had received some stolen property from Hathaway, including building materials to be used in the construction of an addition to his home. In return for the stolen property, the OBA asserts, Eakin had assured her of favorable treatment in the small claims. According to the OBA, when the plaintiffs came to court represented by respondent's opponent in the previous (judicial) election, Eakin felt compelled to enter judgment for the plaintiffs. He then took steps to ameliorate the effect of his action against Hathaway, the OBA opines, by himself paying the adjudicated amount. These extraordinary measures, the OBA urges, are evidence of an illegal quid pro quo between Hathaway and respondent and hence constitute conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice in the Rule 8.4(d) sense. [15] In support of its argument on this point, the OBA presented testimony of the district attorney, the district judge and Hathaway. The Bar urges that respondent's acts in receiving and concealing stolen property are dishonest conduct within the meaning of Rule 8.4(c). [16] The PRT found Eakin knowingly received and concealed stolen property. While it did not state that Eakin's acts were his quid pro quo for a favorable decision, the PRT found there was sufficient evidence to place respondent in serious jeopardy as to a charge of knowingly receiving and concealing stolen property. Eakin complains that the lion's share of the PRT report, as well as the bulk of the OBA's brief, is devoted to the stolen property issue. He argues that this issue is the foundation for the remaining findings upon which the PRT made its recommendation for discipline. Because he neither had prior notice that the Bar would include the stolen property element in its complaint nor was he informed of that count by its language, Eakin contends he was denied an opportunity to defend against the charge. He urges he was irreparably harmed by the Bar's injection of this probative feature, and claims that the tainted proof colored the other PRT adverse findings, contaminating the entire hearing process. The OBA urges that the issue of stolen property, though not referenced in the complaint as a separate count of misconduct, was offered merely to establish motive for other acts that stood admitted. [17] By failing to object to any testimony about the stolen property at the PRT hearing, the OBA argues, respondent has waived any objection he may have had to the offending proof. Even if the testimony about Eakin's possession or concealment of stolen property should be disregarded, the OBA adds, respondent's other acts in the record prove his dishonesty, fraud, deceit or misrepresentation. The fundamentals of due process are applicable in lawyer disciplinary proceedings. [18] The Bar must allege facts sufficient to put the accused lawyer on notice of the charges and afford the respondent ample opportunity to defend against the allegations. [19] Because the facts stated in the complaint did not give Eakin sufficient notice of the Bar's intention to press, at the PRT hearing, the critical element of his alleged complicity in receiving stolen property for an illegal quid pro quo, it was his burden to object to the Bar's proffer of improper proof and to ask for a continuance to afford him time to meet that issue. [20] Respondent's failure to object operates to waive the error, if any, in admitting evidence that stood in fatal variance with the complaint's allegations. It is the OBA's burden to establish the charges by clear and convincing evidence. [21] On this record, there is no clear and convincing proof that, at the time he received it, Eakin knew the character of the property in question as stolen. The Bar failed to prove the critical element of guilty knowledge. [22] The local district attorney's testimony that Eakin may have some time later suspected the property was stolen falls short of clear and convincing proof to support the scienter. Because the record fails to supply this sine qua non element of proof, we conclude there is no clear and convincing evidence of a quid pro quo passing to respondent for a favor to Hathaway.