Opinion ID: 1608779
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Background Facts and Report of Commission.

Text: Michael T. Pracht was admitted to practice law in Iowa in 1976. He practiced in Davenport with a law firm comprised of three, and later four, attorneys until May 2001, when his license to practice was suspended for two years for improperly removing the filing system records from the office of the clerk of the district court. See Iowa Supreme Ct. Bd. of Prof'l Ethics & Conduct v. Pracht, 627 N.W.2d 567 (Iowa 2001). Pracht primarily practiced in the area of real estate law. One of the other lawyers in the law firm was experienced in probate law. In addition to the suspension in 2001, Pracht was disciplined in 1993 for incompetently handling probate matters, neglect of client matters, and failing to cooperate with the Board, then known as the Committee on Professional Ethics and Conduct of the Iowa State Bar Association. We publicly reprimanded Pracht for this unethical conduct, and directed him to file a statement with the supreme court clerk certifying, among other things, that he would not handle probate matters unless he (1) associates with a lawyer experienced in that field, or (2) secures our permission upon a showing of acquired proficiency in probate law. Comm. on Prof'l Ethics & Conduct v. Pracht, 505 N.W.2d 196, 199-200 (Iowa 1993). Pracht subsequently filed a statement indicating he would not handle probate matters unless he satisfied the required conditions. He never requested our permission to engage in probate work since his public reprimand. In January 1997, a petition was filed in district court to probate the estate of Louis E. Iossi, Jr. In February 1998, a petition was filed in probate in the estate of Joseph J. Steiniger. In both cases, Pracht was the designated attorney. He engaged in a variety of legal services on behalf of the executors, but neglected his work on more than one occasion. In the Iossi estate, Pracht failed to timely comply with an order issued by the district court to file a final report and close the estate. He also failed to close the estate within the statutory time period. See Iowa Code § 633.473 (1997). Pracht failed to move for an extension of time at both junctures, resulting in the issuance of delinquency notices. Similarly, Pracht failed to timely close the Steiniger estate, resulting in the delinquency notice. After Pracht received notice from the Board of a complaint, he failed to respond. He also failed to respond to subsequent inquiries by the Board. The Board filed a multiple-count complaint against Pracht. The first count claimed Pracht violated our prohibition against handling estate matters without associating himself with an experienced probate lawyer or securing our consent. The second count alleged neglect of client matters in the Iossi estate case. The final count concerned the failure to respond to the Board. Pracht testified at the Commission hearing that he felt justified in handling probate matters following the 1993 order because he practiced in a law firm that included an experienced probate lawyer, and this lawyer was available to assist him if necessary. However, Pracht acknowledged that he never asked this lawyer to work with him in the Iossi and Steiniger estates and he never consulted with him about the cases, or even informed him he intended to represent the executors. He also acknowledged this lawyer was never designated as co-counsel in the estate cases. Furthermore, Pracht never requested clarification of the order before engaging in probate work after 1993 to determine if his conduct satisfied the restriction previously placed on him. The Commission concluded Pracht committed misconduct as alleged by the Board. It found Pracht violated DR 7-106(A) (disregarding a ruling of a court) and DR 1-102(A)(5) (conduct prejudicial to administration of justice) by handling probate matters after the 1993 order. It found he neglected his responsibilities in the Iossi estate in violation of DR 6-101(A)(3) (neglect of client's legal matters). Finally, it found Pracht failed to respond to the Board inquiries in violation of DR 1-102(A)(5) and DR 1-102(A)(6) (conduct that adversely reflects on fitness to practice law). The Commission recommended Pracht be suspended for one year.