Opinion ID: 2196073
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Original Charges Referred to First Panel

Text: The specific professional misconduct allegations, three in number, charged by the petitioner and considered by the first panel, composed of Judges Albert L. Sklar, David Ross and Harry A. Cole, were that the respondent was guilty of: (i) recommending and/or permitting his client to participate in misrepresentation to ... [Gach's insurance company concerning] the amount of property damage suffered ... [, in] violation of DR 1-102(A) and DR 7-102(A)(5) and (7); (ii) offering and/or paying a kick-back to the insurance adjuster ... [, in] violation of DR 1-102(A)(3), (4) and (6); and (iii) advancing monies to his client beyond the expenses of litigation ... [, in] violation of DR 5-103(B). If no monies were in fact advanced, then the presentation of a settlement sheet to his client reciting such advances is a violation of DR 1-102(A)(4) and (6) and of DR 7-101(A)(2) and (3) and 7-102(A)(5). The judges on this panel unanimously agreed that the respondent did not misrepresent the amount of the property damage suffered (charge i) and was not involved with a kick-back to the insurance adjuster (charge ii). The Bar Association did not take exception to these findings and, in fact, fully concurred with the panel's conclusions. In light of our careful reading of the entire record, we agree that these charges are not supported by clear and convincing evidence, Bar Ass'n v. Marshall, 269 Md. 510, 516, 307 A.2d 677 (1973), and, therefore, we dismiss them. As to the allegation contained in charge iii concerning the advancement of money by the accused attorney to his client in violation of DR 5-103(B), [1] the judicial panel found that the evidence clearly and convincingly sustained this charge. We adopt this finding by the hearing court as not only did Cockrell himself testify that he advanced $300 on January 19, 1971, $150 on January 23, and another $150 on January 27, for a total of $600, but there was also introduced into evidence the May 18 settlement sheet presented by Cockrell to Mason, which itemized a $600 Reimbursement for Monies advanced.