Opinion ID: 1775574
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: did the complaint tribunal meet its burden of proof under the clear and convincing evidence standard?

Text: We are charged by law to inquire whether the evidence is clear and convincing that Goeldner fraudulently padded legal time. Lawyer disciplinary proceedings are within this Court's exclusive and inherent jurisdiction. In an attorney disciplinary proceeding, the Supreme Court is the supreme trier of fact, and as a matter of law, is not bound by any findings of fact made by the Complaint Tribunal. Myers v. Mississippi State Bar, 480 So.2d 1080, 1093 (Miss. 1985). However, the Supreme Court is not prohibited from giving to findings of fact made by such Complaint Tribunal such merit as in its judgment they may deserve. Mississippi Code Annotated § 73-3-329(5) (Supp. 1982) provides: On appeal, the court may review all of the evidence and the law and the findings and conclusions of the complaint tribunal and it may make such findings and conclusions and render such order as it may find to be appropriate based upon the whole of the record. See also: Levi v. Mississippi State Bar, 436 So.2d 781, 782 (Miss. 1983); Mississippi State Bar v. Phillips, 385 So.2d 943, 944 (Miss. 1980); Matter of Mississippi State Bar, 361 So.2d 503, 505 (Miss. 1978); Bramlett v. Burgin, 382 So.2d 284, 285 (Miss. 1979); Walls v. Mississippi State Bar, 437 So.2d 30, 32 (Miss. 1983). The evidence in the record clearly shows that (1) Goeldner only sent monthly billings for one of the two alleged case files; (2) that Miller received only one cost estimate which pertained only to the 500 84001; (3) Miller only signed one contract for employment which referred only to the 500 84001 account; (4) the account number 500 84001 totaled $7,882.62 in July but the account number 900 84001 totaled $7,256.80 as late as November 29, 1984; (5) the work description, the date the work was performed, billable time, and the resulting fee to be collected were substantially the same yet they were all included on both accounts, that is, Goeldner charged Miller two times for work; (6) the New Matter Report allegedly fabricated by Goeldner was a different form not adopted by Goeldner's firm until after February 1984 whereas he supposedly had maintained the account from the beginning of the attorney-client relationship which was January 16, 1984. Having reviewed all of the record, the authorities of law and findings and conclusions of the Complaint Tribunal, this Court finds that the Mississippi State Bar has proved by clear and convincing evidence each and every act of misconduct defined in the disciplinary rules and named in the complaint necessary to support the Complaint Tribunal's findings.