Opinion ID: 2614170
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 8

Heading: attorney corey's conduct

Text: A substantial portion of the substance of this case involved an activity that could be considered fraudulent. Defendants herein misrepresented to a prospective mortgagee the true nature of the contract between developer and contractor upon which the mortgagee relied in determining the amount of the loan. It was suggested by defendants' counsel in oral argument that this type of activity, double contracting by developer between the contractor and the prospective mortgagee, is a commonplace procedure for the trade in this type of situation. No evidence of such practices having been accepted in the business community of Hawaii or any other jurisdiction was presented to this court. We feel it pertinent to specifically admonish the perpetrators of such conduct. In many instances a fraudulent act will overshadow contemporaneous acts that would, taken alone, have been considered legitimate activity. In particular, this court questions the status of defendant Corey in this case. Young testified that he relied upon Corey as his attorney during the negotiation for the mortgage. We do not presume to characterize the relationship between Corey and Young in this transaction as attorney-client. And yet an attorney, as an officer of the court, owes a special duty to the public, his client and the bar to keep his conduct beyond reproach, whether it be in or outside the scope of his status as an attorney. A lawyer should avoid even the appearance of professional impropriety. Code of Professional Responsibility, Canon 9. The conduct of attorney Corey in this case raises serious questions of impropriety.