Opinion ID: 2164852
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: walker matter

Text: This matter arose during a personal injury suit in federal court in 1973 and 1974. The suit arose from an incident in which a 400-pound steel beam was dropped from a truck, crushing an eight-year-old boy and permanently paralyzing him from the chest down. The boy's parents retained respondent, on a contingent fee basis, to represent both the child and them. Later, perceiving a possible conflict of interest between the interests of the infant and his parents as to the nature and management of a possible settlement, the district court relieved respondent as the child's attorney and appointed another attorney as guardian ad litem for the child. Respondent was distressed with that action, especially its impact on what he had assumed would be a lucrative contingent fee arrangement based on the child's recovery. Respondent represented the parents at trial. The court-appointed guardian represented the child and served as trial counsel. After a jury had been selected and testimony had begun, defendant's insuror settled the claims of both parents and the child. The child received a gross settlement of $1 million in cash, plus an undertaking by the insuror to pay all future accident-related medical expenses. The parents received a gross settlement of $177,800. Following approval of the settlement, the district court directed respondent and the guardian ad litem to file affidavits of services so that the court might approve allowance of counsel fees to them from the infant's recovery. This written request was dated June 23, 1975. [1] The district court made it clear that the contingent fee arrangement (which would have resulted in about $130,000 in fees for respondent if, as the record suggests, the schedule in R. 1:21-7 were applicable) would have nothing to do with respondent's compensation for his services on behalf of the infant, although it did apply to his services for the parents. On August 13, 1975, respondent filed an affidavit in which he claimed a fee of $162,500. This claim was based on an asserted total of 3,000 hours spent on the case, of which 1,522 hours were itemized. The Disciplinary Review Board found that this affidavit contained misstatements of fact and exaggerations as to the quantum and value of respondent's services. For example, during one five-day period in April 1975, respondent claimed he worked a total of over 117 hours as follows: Friday April 11, 1975 33 3/4 hours Saturday April 12, 1975 17 1/2 hours Sunday April 13, 1975 24 3/4 hours Monday April 14, 1975 20 1/2 hours Tuesday April 15, 1975 20 3/4 hours In addition, respondent asserted that he had spent 160 hours conferring with another attorney in preparing the case, and that this attorney spent 360 hours on related legal research and other matters. However, this other attorney testified to the District Ethics Committee that he had spent 36 hours on the case, and had submitted a statement to that effect to respondent in April 1975. Respondent conceded at the hearing that the other attorney's recollection was accurate. Respondent also submitted a claim for 150 hours of a paraprofessional's time, specified in the affidavit as consultations as to economic-actuarial and statistical data and discussions of prospective jury profile and exercise of challenges. Respondent provided no written memoranda of such conferences nor any explanation to the Committee beyond a statement that he remembered discussing the case with the paraprofessional. The claim of 150 hours was not only completely unsubstantiated, but respondent had no reason to believe the time spent even approached 150 hours. Respondent was directed by a court to prepare an affidavit of services. Relying on the contingent fee agreement, respondent had kept no time records other than the occasional note of an appointment. Respondent had, however, 40 days in which to make an honest effort to reconstruct his time from dates on correspondence and court papers, his office diary and the recollections of those with whom he conferred. The affidavit that he submitted shows that he failed to make such an effort. Even given respondent's contention that his affidavit represented an estimate, it is fair to conclude that the affidavit was so recklessly prepared as to amount to a knowing misrepresentation. The misstatements and exaggerations contained in this affidavit show a wanton disregard for an attorney's obligation both to his clients and to the court. See DR1-102(A)(4), (5); DR7-102(A)(5). Had respondent's fabricated affidavit of services not been subjected to the scrupulous analysis of a conscientious trial judge, respondent might have been paid $100,000 for legal services he did not perform. [2] Respondent's contention that he viewed the requested $162,500 as, in effect, compensation for the emotional pain and depression resulting from his replacement as trial counsel and as attorney for the infant plaintiff, is grasping, self-serving and of no relevance to his offense. In re McManus, 75 N.J. 238 (1978). Respondent already knew that he was not entitled to the hoped-for contingent fee. The court has the right to rely upon the integrity of its officers. The legal profession is a confidential one, with a double duty upon its members, viz., utmost good faith toward both client and court. A lawyer who seeks by trick or by deception to impose upon either his client or the court is unfitted to advise the one or to appear before the other. He desecrates the temple of Justice. [ In re Cahill, 66 N.J.L. 527, 530 (Sup.Ct. 1901)]. Respondent attempted fraudulently to manipulate the court to enrich himself at the expense of a paralyzed eight-year-old plaintiff.