Opinion ID: 1936513
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 9

Heading: candor to the tribunal

Text: 75. In or around January 1993, Respondent filed a Chapter 7 bankruptcy petition in the Middle District of Florida, Orlando Division, Case No. 93-00211-7-BK C. 76. On or about March 23, 1994, Respondent testified under oath before the bankruptcy court that Groth loaned him, as an individual, $20,000.00 and that he deposited the money into his law firm's operating account. 77. In the bankruptcy proceeding, Respondent testified that he used the $20,000.00 to pay his living expenses and that the funds were not due him for any legal fees. However, he testified during these proceedings that the transaction did not start off as a loan to him but that he always was morally responsible for it rather than legally responsible for it. 78. Respondent admitted that he failed to tell the bankruptcy court during the March 23, 1994, hearing that A.D. Development was obligated to repay the funds to Groth. He later clarified the matter with the court. 79. Respondent testified during the hearing that he owned the Jeep which Groth had purchased from A.D. and Associates, Inc., as he had immediately repurchased it from her for himself, not his corporation. In a letter dated April 28, 1994, Respondent alleged that the Jeep was sold to him by Groth immediately after she had purchased it from A.D. and Associates, Inc., on December 19, 1992. He also alleged in the letter that he paid Groth in full for the Jeep. He still maintains that he did. 80. Respondent did not list the Jeep as an asset on his January 1993, bankruptcy petition schedule of personal property of the bankruptcy proceeding. He testified that he listed the stock of A.D. and Associates, Inc., on his petition, which is contrary to his position that he was the owner of the Jeep, not the corporation. We agree with the Bar that the referee's own findings in Count VIII demonstrate that Maynard was guilty of violating rule 4-3.3(a)(1) for knowingly making a false statement to a tribunal and rule 4-8.4(c) for engaging in conduct involving fraud, dishonesty, deceit, or misrepresentation. [2]