Opinion ID: 1520612
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Legal Listings

Text: Bar Counsel also contends that Harrison did not comply with the conditions of his suspension with respect to closing down his legal practice and avoiding any activity which might be construed as the practice of law because Harrison's name appeared in the 1984 Legal Register and the telephone Yellow Pages listing of lawyers during the period of his suspension. Petitioner testified at the proceedings before the Hearing Committee that following his suspension he asked to have his name removed from both the Legal Register for 1984 and the Yellow Pages for that year but his instructions apparently were not followed. The Hearing Committee credited petitioner's testimony in this regard. Supporting his testimony about his efforts was evidence that Harrison had made a similar request to the publishers of the Martindale-Hubbell directory and, as a result, his name did not appear in that directory following his suspension. Bar Counsel presented no evidence contradicting Harrison's representations on this question. [6] Harrison also testified, and presented corroborating documentation, that upon being suspended he had printed new stationery, business cards, checks and deposit slips, stating only his name and eliminating any reference to himself as a lawyer. He also changed the sign on his office door to omit the words law offices. In short, the Hearing Committee found that Harrison had made sincere efforts to comply with the conditions of his suspension and did not in any way hold himself out to the public as a practicing lawyer, or deliberately place himself in a position where he was likely to come into contact with his former clients. Recognizing that it is often difficult to have telephone and other directory listings changed, and giving due deference to the Hearing Committee's assessments of credibility since, they, as finders of fact, were in the best position to view the witnesses and judge their demeanor and truthfulness, we accept the Hearing Committee's findings as to these events. We are further persuaded in our conclusion by the evidence of other actions which Harrison took to close down his practice following his suspension. Compare In re Kraus, 295 Or. 743, 745-47, 670 P.2d 1012, 1013-14 (1983) (attorney denied reinstatement where he continued to be listed in lawyers' section of Yellow Pages, continued to have regular professional contact with former clients, continued to communicate with other attorneys concerning cases pending at the time of his suspension, and failed to change sign on office door); In re Yamagiwa, 97 Wash.2d 773, 775-77, 650 P.2d 203, 205 (1982) (en banc) (attorney's disbarment ordered where following attorney's suspension he continued to be listed in lawyers' section of Yellow Pages, continued to represent clients on a regular basis, and failed to notify his clients of his suspension).