Opinion ID: 2506955
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Exceptions taken by the ODC to the Panel's findings

Text: The ODC argues the Panel erred in finding that Rule 1.2(d) was inapplicable to Respondent. We agree. Rule 1.2(d) states that a lawyer may not counsel or otherwise assist a client in conduct the lawyer knows is criminal or fraudulent. The Panel found that the scope of Respondent's representation of Assistant was limited to the domestic matter, and because she was not his client for purposes of qualifying for Medicaid benefits, this Rule did not apply. We do not interpret Rule 1.2(d) as narrowly. The Rule seeks to prevent attorneys from perpetuating fraud or crime by leveraging the influence and knowledge gained through an attorney-client relationship. There is nothing in the Rule limiting its application to criminal or fraudulent activity that spawns from the underlying representation. Given our belief that Respondent aided Assistant in misrepresenting her income to DHHS during the time Assistant was Respondent's client, we find him in violation of Rule 1.2(d), RPC, Rule 407, SCACR.
The ODC takes exception to the Panel's finding that Respondent's romantic feelings toward Assistant did not create a conflict of interest under Rule 1.7(a)(2). In this case, a violation of Rule 1.7(a)(2) necessarily invokes a violation Rule 1.16(a)(1), which provides that a lawyer should discontinue representation of a client if continued representation will result in a violation of the Rules. The Panel found there was no evidence that Respondent's personal feelings toward Assistant negatively affected his representation of her in the domestic case. We believe it is ill-advised to represent, or to continue to represent, a client for whom the lawyer harbors romantic feelings. However, we agree with the Panel's finding that Respondent did not violate these Rules. Respondent's unrevealed romantic interest in Assistant, in the absence of any evidence of its effect on his representation, does not, in our view, represent a conflict that rises to the level of a Rule violation. Therefore, we accept the Panel's finding that Respondent did not violate Rules 1.7(a)(2) and 1.16(a)(1).
The ODC takes exception to the Panel's finding that Respondent's action of reporting Assistant's Medicaid fraud to authorities did not violate Rule 1.8(b), which prohibits a lawyer from using information relating to representation of a client to the disadvantage of the client . . . . Rule 1.8(b), RPC, Rule 407, SCACR (emphasis supplied). We believe this Rule speaks for itself. Although Respondent's report to the authorities may be considered retaliatory, in our opinion, this Rule is not applicable to Respondent's conduct because Assistant's receipt of Medicaid benefits was not related to Respondent's representation of her in the domestic matter. Therefore, we find that Respondent did not violate Rule 1.8(b), RPC, Rule 407, SCACR, as charged.