Opinion ID: 2257566
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 15

Heading: Mr Torain

Text: Respondent's third exception asserts that the hearing court erred when it found that clear and convincing evidence existed to prove that Respondent made a false statement in a motion to vacate the default judgment prepared and filed on behalf of Mr. Torain. In the motion, Respondent alleged that Mr. Torain was present in the courtroom on the day of trial when in fact Mr. Torain did not attend, and he was not aware of the actual trial date. Respondent claims that, although the motion contained inaccurate information, the evidence was not sufficient to prove by clear and convincing evidence that Respondent knowingly and intentionally made a false statement to the court. The court found that Respondent did not accurately state in his Motion to Vacate Judgment that [Mr. Torain] failed to appear . . . at trial. The hearing court determined that Respondent violated 3.3(a)(1) (knowingly making a false statement to the court). In the hearing judge's conclusions of law, beginning with the second paragraph followed by her discussion of Respondent's inaccurate statement, she said, [t]his court does not find that the Petitioner has proven by clear and convincing evidence any false statement of material fact made by Respondent. The hearing judge reasoned that Petitioner had proven several instances of sloppiness and human error in the documentation provided by the Respondent. In addition, the judge found that Respondent failed to effectively communicate with or inform his client. This, coupled with Respondent's incompetent representation, led to the entry of a default judgment against Mr. Torain. It is clear from the hearing judge's analysis that she concluded that no default judgment would have been entered against Mr. Torain if Respondent had properly communicated with his client. Therefore, Respondent's conduct was ineffective and prejudicial to the administration of justice. We sustain Respondent's exception as to his violation of Rule 3.3(a)(1). Respondent failed to provide competent representation by failing to notify his client in advance of the scheduled trial date. According to the hearing court [Respondent] needed to follow up with the District Court to determine if the motion for continuance had been granted and advise his client accordingly. This Respondent failed to do. In addition, the motion to vacate judgment was not filed timely. In his motion to vacate, Respondent misstated the facts. He inaccurately stated that Mr. Torain was in court on the day of trial. It is undisputed that Mr. Torain was not in court because the Respondent failed to notify the client in advance of the trial date. Respondent's misstatements may be attributable to his carelessness rather than any knowing or intentionally deceitful statement. In any event, the hearing judge's conclusion of law that Respondent violated 3.3(a)(1) (to knowingly make a false statement of fact or law to a tribunal) is inconsistent with her conclusion of law that Bar Counsel failed to prove by clear and convincing evidence that Respondent made any false statement of material fact. Moreover, a finding that Respondent violated 3.3(a)(1) requires clear and convincing evidence that he knew the statements made were false. See Attorney Grievance Comm'n v. White, 354 Md. 346, 365, 731 A.2d 447, 458 (1999) (giving false and misleading testimony measured by the clear and convincing evidence standard is a violation of Rule 3.3(a)(1)). The hearing court did not find that Respondent knew that he had misstated the facts. Although he was inattentive and incompetent in his representation of Mr. Torain, his misstatement to the court as reflected in his motion to vacate judgment was not necessarily intentional and knowing on the basis of the record in this case. We are satisfied that Respondent's conduct supports the hearing court's conclusion that he violated Rule 8.4(d) (Conduct Prejudicial to the Administration of Justice) due to Respondent's overall representation of Mr. Torain; however, his conduct did not violate Rule 3.3(a)(1).