Opinion ID: 1539570
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 22

Heading: the allegations in the petition

Text: The ODC alleged fourteen counts of professional misconduct. Count One alleged that by directing another person to change the State and County Realty Transfer Tax Returns and Affidavits of Gain and Value for the 1516 Binder Lane transaction, Respondent violated Rule 8.4(a). That Rule provides that it is professional misconduct for a lawyer to violate or attempt to violate the Rules of Professional Conduct, knowingly assist or induce another to do so or do so through the acts of another. Count Two alleges the same misconduct in connection with the 1302 Clifford Road transaction. Count Three alleges that by failing to pay $48,000 due and owing for a transaction involving 3 Red Oak Road, Respondent violated Rule 1.15(d) which provides that a lawyer shall promptly deliver to the client or third person any funds or other property that the client or third person is entitled to receive and, upon request by the client or third person, shall promptly render a full accounting regarding such property. Count Four alleges that by failing to pay the $48,000 in transfer taxes due and owing for the Red Oak Road transaction on a timely basis, Respondent violated Rule 8.4(d) which provides that it is professional misconduct to engage in conduct that is prejudicial to the administration of justice. Count Five alleges that by collecting funds for transfer taxes at the May 27, 2005 settlement for the Red Oak transaction and not disbursing them for that purpose, Respondent violated Rule 1.15(a). Count Six alleges that by directing another person to have an Affidavit of Exemption for 3 Red Oak notarized by an attorney when the Respondent had not signed the affidavit in the attorney's presence, Respondent violated Rule 8.4(a) which provides that it is professional misconduct for a lawyer to violate or attempt to violate the rules of Professional conduct, knowingly assist or induce another to do so or do so through the acts of another. Counts Seven and Eight allege that, by filing with the City of Wilmington the 3 Red Oak Road Realty Transfer Tax Return and Affidavit of Gain and Value and the 3 Red Oak Affidavit of Exemption, each of which misrepresented that the Red Oak transaction was exempt from taxation because of a parent-child relationship between buyer and seller, the Respondent violated Rule 8.4(c), which provides that it is professional misconduct for a lawyer to engage in conduct involving... misrepresentation, and Rule 8.4(d), which provides that it is professional misconduct for a lawyer to engage in conduct that is prejudicial to the administration of justice. Counts Nine through Fourteen allege that in five transactions in which he acted as settlement agent  1600 North Broom Street (Count Nine); 1311 North Clayton Street (Count Ten); 1603 North Rodney Street (Count Eleven); 1311 Gilpin Avenue (Count Twelve); 3 Red Oak Road (Counts Thirteen and Fourteen)  Respondent violated Rule 8.4(a) by directing another person to have documents notarized by an attorney even though the Respondent did not sign the documents in the attorney's presence.