Opinion ID: 1950812
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: the clem matter

Text: Turning now to the Clem matter, the situation is entirely different. In this matter the evidence presented by the petitioner as regards the happening of the episode and the part played by the Clems and the respondent was undisputed by the respondent. He presented no testimony in opposition to the petitioner's evidence which was offered through Mr. and Mrs. Clem, a police officer and a corroborating witness named Weakley. This testimony disclosed that at the time of the episodes in question the complainant, Charles E. Clem, and his wife, Patricia M. Clem, had been separated for a period of several weeks. Mrs. Clem was represented by the respondent and Mr. Clem was represented by John S. McInerney, Esq., a member of the bar practicing in Montgomery County. On the evening of February 20, 1975, Mr. Clem decided he would like to persuade his wife to switch cars. When they had separated she had taken a 1973 Mercury Capri and left him with a 1967 Chevrolet stationwagon. He called his wife to arrange this switch but she refused. Both cars were owned jointly by the parties. Clem, accompanied by Weakley, then went to his wife's house and attempted to leave the stationwagon and take the Capri. He found the Capri, got into it, started it up and was leaving when a man came running out of the house, subsequently identified as the respondent. The testimony was that the respondent then kicked the driver's side door of the Capri and when the car did not stop, the respondent got in his own car, a Datsun, and followed. A high speed chase then ensued out Georgia Avenue, across Randolph Road, Layhill Road, Bel Pre Road, and along several more Montgomery County streets and roads, finally ending at the home of Clem's parents on Crawford Drive in Rockville, Maryland, after a chase of a good many miles. Speeds reached 60 to 65 miles per hour and the respondent made use of a powerful spotlight, flashing it in the rear view mirror of the Capri. All of this chase took place in the late evening hours of February 20 and according to Clem, at a time when there was appreciable traffic on the streets traversed. On arriving at Clem's parents home, the respondent followed Clem, uninvited, into the house and threatened Clem with a criminal warrant if he did not return the Capri to his wife. The respondent called the police and an officer came to the house. A discussion then ensued in the living room of Clem's parents home between the respondent, Clem and the police officer, Corporal Burdette. During this discussion, respondent directly confronted Clem, even though the respondent knew that Clem was represented by Mr. McInerney. Ultimately the matter was resolved by Clem returning the Capri and at the time of the hearing, Clem and his wife were reconciled and living together. Corporal Burdette testified to the events that occurred in the living room of Clem's parents home and Roger Lee Weakley corroborated Clem's story with respect to Clem's attempt to secure possession of the Capri. Weakley testified further that he attempted to follow the Capri and the Datsun but lost them at Randolph Road after running at high speeds up Georgia Avenue. None of these facts were disputed by the respondent and the panel concludes that the respondent's conduct throughout this episode was highly improper and specifically in violation of Canons 1 and 7 of the Code of Professional Responsibility and Disciplinary Rules 1-102 (A), 7-102 (A) (8) and 7-104 (A) (1). The high speed chase through heavily traveled thoroughfares and residential streets constituted illegal conduct on the part of the respondent not justified by the circumstances. His arrogant intrusion, uninvited, into the home of Mr. Clem's parents, followed by threats of criminal action against Mr. Clem, fully support the specifications of the petitioner's charges. In addition, respondent's direct confrontation and discussion with Clem at a time when respondent knew Clem to be represented by a lawyer in the domestic relations matter, was also unprofessional conduct and a violation of the Code and Disciplinary Rules. Based on the foregoing, the panel finds that the petitioner's allegations with respect to the Clem episode have been proven by clear and convincing evidence. The panel recommends that disciplinary action be taken against the respondent, specifically suspension from the practice of law for one year commencing on the date of the approval of this recommendation by the Court of Appeals. /s/ David L. Cahoon David L. Cahoon, Judge of the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, Maryland /s/ Philip M. Fairbanks Philip M. Fairbanks, Judge of the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, Maryland during the trial bring me to the conclusion that the Bar Association charges have been sustained. Mr. Haupt destroyed all his records concerning his ward and client, the Juvenile. Her detailed and explicit recount of the events involving his conduct are such as to belie any perjury by her. Her testimony had not varied from the time of the first complaint and hearing by the Bar Association Grievance Committee. She has now been emancipated and is living in Florida and has no motive to continue any untruthful account of affairs and her testimony was corroborated, in part, by her father ... and other witnesses, and the respondent's witness, .... As recently reemphasized in Bar Association of Baltimore City v. Siegel (filed July 14, 1975), this Court has the duty, since attorneys are its officers, to insist upon the maintenance of the integrity of the bar and to prevent the transgressions of an individual lawyer from bringing its image into disrepute. Disciplinary proceedings have been established for this purpose, not for punishment, but rather as a catharsis for the profession and a prophylactic for the public. /s/ Ralph G. Shure Ralph G. Shure, Judge of the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, Maryland ORDERED, this 24th day of November, 1975, that a copy of these opinions and recommendation be mailed by the Clerk of this Court to the Maryland Court of Appeals with copies to petitioner and the respondent, in compliance with Rule BV11 of the Maryland Rules of Procedure. /s/ Ralph G. Shure Ralph G. Shure, Judge /s/ David L. Cahoon David L. Cahoon, Judge /s/ Philip M. Fairbanks Philip M. Fairbanks, Judge