Opinion ID: 891631
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 11

Heading: deferred period of suspension is the appropriate disciplinary sanction under the circumstances of this case

Text: {42} As noted above, although the hearing committee recommended that Respondent undergo an indefinite suspension until he submitted to a mental health examination, the hearing panel disagreed with that recommendation and instead recommended a one-year suspension during which Respondent would submit to a mental health examination and counseling, if recommended, followed by a six-month probationary period. The disagreement between the hearing committee and the hearing panel notwithstanding, we independently determine the appropriate level of sanction to impose for Respondent's misconduct. See Bristol, 2006-NMSC-041, ¶¶ 18, 30, 140 N.M. 317, 142 P.3d 905. In so doing, the ABA Standards for Imposing Lawyer Sanctions (1992) provide us with guidance. See In re Key, 2005-NMSC-014, ¶ 5, 137 N.M. 517, 113 P.3d 340. {43} Because Respondent engaged in conduct involving intentional misrepresentations and the unauthorized practice of law, Standards 5.1 and 7.0 of the ABA Standards provide the most direct guidance for this case. Standard 5.1 provides guidance for imposing sanctions for failure to maintain personal integrity, and, specific to this case, conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit, or misrepresentation directed at someone other than a client or tribunal. Under Standard 5.13, a reprimand is generally considered appropriate when a lawyer knowingly engages in non-criminal conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit, or misrepresentation that adversely reflects on his or her fitness to practice law. {44} Regarding the unauthorized practice of law, Standard 7.2 provides that a suspension is generally considered appropriate when the lawyer knowingly engages in such conduct and causes injury or potential injury to a client, the public, or the legal system. In contrast, if the attorney negligently engages in the unauthorized practice of law but causes little or no actual or potential injury, then a reprimand or admonition is generally considered appropriate. See Standards 7.3 and 7.4. {45} Based on the foregoing standards, we hold that a reprimand and suspension are the most appropriate response for the totality of Respondent's misconduct. We note, however, that Standard 9.0 contemplates increasing or decreasing a sanction's severity based on any aggravating or mitigating circumstances in the case. As we have previously noted, the hearing committee found that Respondent acted without a selfish motive, which is a potential mitigating factor under Standard 9.32(b). However, the hearing committee also found that Respondent has a total lack of understanding of his conduct and the consequences of his actions, a finding with which we agree and which has ample support in the record. See Standard 9.22(g) (providing that an aggravating circumstance includes a lawyer's refusal to acknowledge the wrongful nature of his conduct). {46} We note that while the hearing committee declined to find a pattern of misconduct as an aggravating circumstance in this case because Respondent's misconduct had a single purpose, disciplinary counsel nevertheless asks that we consider Respondent's repeated misrepresentations as a pattern of conduct constituting an aggravating factor under Standard 9.22(c). Without foreclosing the possibility that a pattern of conduct could be found to exist where an attorney engages in repeated misconduct for a single purpose, we decline to overturn the hearing committee's decision on this point based on the unique circumstances of this case.