Opinion ID: 1095024
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Suborning Perjury

Text: It is alleged that the respondent knowingly advised his client, David Welborn, to give perjured testimony during a deposition in a worker's compensation case by concealing or falsely denying his work activities on two of the four jobs upon which he had worked during his alleged disability. At a pre-trial deposition in his worker's compensation case Welborn revealed two of his jobs but did not disclose the others. However, at trial Welborn fully disclosed his employment on all four jobs. After Welborn's credibility was impeached with his prior inconsistent deposition, the trial judge indicated he might refer the matter to the district attorney for investigation. Welborn later informed a friend, who was another judge's secretary, that White had advised him to testify falsely as he had done on his deposition. The present disciplinary charge resulted. At the bar investigatory hearing, Welborn testified that prior to the deposition he had been advised by his attorney, White, to lie during his deposition by concealing his substantial work experience on two of the jobs while revealing his brief attempts to work in pain on the other two jobs. Moreover, Welborn said that White advised him to repeat his false testimony at trial. After White learned of Welborn's conversation with the judge's secretary, according to Welborn, White unsuccessfully tried to persuade him to sign a statement that White had not advised him to lie during his deposition or trial. White denied telling Welborn to give false testimony on his deposition. He said he told Welborn to tell the truth. White admitted that he was aware that Welborn had testified falsely by concealing two of his jobs during his deposition. Further, White conceded that he did not call upon his client to correct his deposition testimony or take any step to inform the court or opposing counsel of the perjury. White testified, however, that he told Welborn before trial that he might as well tell them everythingthe truthbecause they are going to check. Under DR 7-102(A)(4) and (7), which White is charged with violating, a lawyer is prohibited from knowingly using perjured testimony or false evidence and from counseling or assisting his client in conduct that the lawyer knows to be illegal or fradulent. We find that the evidence is clear and convincing that White violated these rules. It is unlikely that Welborn would have lied during his deposition if White had in fact instructed him to tell the truth. It is even more unlikely that he would have perjured himself so selectively without his attorney's assistance. White's failure to disclose the perjury to the court or to the opposing counsel indicates his complicity. Moreover, by allowing the perjury to remain concealed so as to possibly influence settlement or the development of the trial, White knowingly made use of the false evidence.