Opinion ID: 2302531
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 79

Heading: Discussion of Case Law

Text: The most apt case law is that addressing attorneys who knowingly violate a suspension order ( In re Tonwe, 929 A.2d 774 (Del.2007)); whose misconduct involves a pattern of dishonesty ( In re Clyne, 581 A.2d 1118 (Del.1990)); and whose violations are numerous such that they reflect indifference to legal obligation. In Tonwe, the Delaware Supreme Court recognized that the `most common case' for disbarment is `one where a lawyer has been suspended but, nevertheless practices law' and that `when the record establishes a lawyer's willingness to violate the terms of his suspension order, disbarment is appropriate as a prophylactic measure to prevent further misconduct.' Id. at 780, quoting ABA Standard 8.0, Commentary (internal citation and quotations omitted). In Clyne the Supreme Court accepted the Board's finding that the respondent's alcoholism did not excuse his conduct because of the involved pattern of the Respondent's misrepresentations, their persistence and the Respondent's resourcefulness in that regard. Id. at 1123. Clyne's misrepresentations included misrepresentation to a court and the submission of false documents to support those false statements which did not occur here. But Respondent here was suspended for false notarizations in real estate transactions for his own financial gain and then while suspended made misrepresentations as to the facts and circumstances of an automobile accident in his Reinstatement Questionnaire to mask a crime of lying to a police officer and the equivalent of the destruction of evidence by drinking with the intent of avoiding a sobriety test. As in Clyne this conduct reflects an abandonment of the fundamental concept of candor that is essential to the continued practice of law. Id. at 1126. See also Matter of Melvin, 807 A.2d 550, 555 (Del.2002) (knowing violation of a court order and deliberate document destruction are flagrant violations of [an attorney's] professional duties to the legal system and reflect a lack of respect for his position as an officer of the Court.) While the Court in Melvin suspended the attorney for 18 months, the attorney there had no disciplinary record, did not violate a prior suspension order, did not have multiple violations and did not present a pattern of deceitful and dishonest conduct. In making its recommendations for the ultimate sanction of disbarment, the Panel has attempted to follow the specific directives of this Court in Tonwe, Clyne and Melvin. Nonetheless, the Panel acknowledges that the specific facts of this case are not squarely addressed by the factual circumstances of those cases. For example, in Clyne, the Court confronted multiple and substantial material misrepresentations in open court to the Supreme Court, and material misrepresentations regarding case actions which could be characterized as nothing less than bold-faced lying to the Court. Additional violations involved neglect of client matters, as well as failure to cooperate with the Office of Disciplinary Counsel. In Tonwe, a Pennsylvania attorney (not licensed in Delaware) opened a practice in Delaware out of her home. When confronted by the ODC, a Cease-and-Desist Order was entered into prohibiting the attorney from practicing in Delaware. Thereafter, in 1991, the attorney was convicted of bribing a Federal Immigration official and served 37 months in prison. As a result, the attorney was disbarred in Pennsylvania, as well as in Ohio and the District of Columbia, where she also was barred. Although the attorney was reinstated in Pennsylvania in 2002, between 2003 and 2006 the attorney represented in excess of 100 Delaware residents in Delaware matters in clear violation of the Cease-and-Desist Order, clearly a gross series of intentional violations, for someone not admitted to practice in Delaware in the first place. The Melvin decision involved an 18-month retroactive suspension involving charges of felonies and misdemeanors and an ultimate plea to two misdemeanors, for contempt of a Protection from Abuse Order, and hindering prosecution by concealing or destroying evidence, in this instance, his wife's journals. In Re Benge, 783 A.2d 1279 (Del.2001), cited by ODC, involves an attorney who was disbarred based on the respondent's having neglected numerous cases, improper conduct, failure to follow Court Rules, acting in conflict of the interest of his clientall on top of a prior private admonition and probation, additional disciplinary proceedings while on probation, resulting in a public reprimand and two years of probation, and also a one year suspension for numerous additional and similar violations. In Re Kingsley, 950 A.2d 659 (Del.2008), involves a Pennsylvania attorney practicing in Delaware, and improperly holding himself out as a Delaware attorney, systemic and continuing legal presence in Delaware, and the violation of a prior Cease-and-Desist Order. The Panel considered the Respondent's arguments that the violations found here are not of the same nature and extent of the conduct described in the disbarment cases referenced above. The Panel believes that Respondent made significant efforts to avoid the practice of law, but made a misstep with respect to the Gillespie meeting, the e-mail with an attorney reference, and the misstatement to a potential client that his new company could provide legal services. The November 8, 2008 settlement showed poor judgment but not a knowing and intentional consumption of alcohol with the knowledge that a settlement was upcoming. The 2008 auto accident, and Lums Pond incident did not affect directly the practice of law, but certainly reflected poor judgment and an alcohol problem that would not normally constitute actions resulting in disbarment. On the other hand, none of the prior case law involved an attorney suspended for misrepresentations for personal gain who then, while suspended, violated the suspension order and also intentionally misstated the facts and circumstances of a criminal violation arising from an auto accident while applying for reinstatement. In essence, it is clear that Respondent needs help and deserves significant sanctions. The Panel understands, however, that the Supreme Court, consistent with the ABA Standards, takes very seriously a lawyer's fundamental duty to foster public confidence in our Bar and to maintain the integrity of the legal profession. A lawyer must abide by the law and maintain the standards of personal integrity and honesty upon which the public relies and which reflect on every member of the legal profession. Howard, 765 A.2d at 46. Respondent before and during suspension violated those standards in what even Respondent concedes was a pattern of misconduct. Accordingly, while the facts underlying prior disbarment decisions involved conduct more directly related to the practice of law, and sometimes more egregious circumstances, the Panel concludes that a sanction of disbarment is supported by the relevant case law. For the reasons stated, the Panel recommends that the Supreme Court disbar Respondent and order that he pay the costs of this proceeding. By: /s/ Lewis H. Lazarus Lewis H. Lazarus Panel Chair By: /s/ Robert K. Beste, Jr. Robert K. Beste, Jr., Esq. By: /s/ John Stafford Mr. John Stafford