Opinion ID: 1309631
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Garlow's Prior Disciplinary Record

Text: Garlow received a private reproval in 1976 for wilful failure to perform services for which he had been retained and wilful misrepresentation to his clients regarding the status of the case. He also received a private reproval in 1978 for wilful failure to perform services for which he had been retained, wilful failure to communicate with his clients and wilful failure to return documents belonging to his clients. In 1980 he was publicly reproved for wilful misrepresentations to the court and failure to prosecute an appeal with due diligence. Finally, he received a one-year suspension, stayed, with six months actual suspension in 1982 ( Garlow v. State Bar (1982) 30 Cal.3d 912 [180 Cal. Rptr. 831, 640 P.2d 1106]) for wilful misrepresentation to the court and urging his client to give false corroborating testimony. (21) Garlow admits that his prior record is an aggravating factor, but argues that the weight to be given his record should be lessened because the priors occurred long ago and the discipline imposed was relatively light. Garlow cites McCray v. State Bar (1985) 38 Cal.3d 257, 274 [211 Cal. Rptr. 691, 696 P.2d 83] as support for his contention. The facts of this case, however, are distinguishable from those in McCray. In that case, much of the prior discipline had occurred a decade earlier. Moreover, the discipline consisted of probation with only one month of actual suspension, and the petitioner had already corrected the office procedures which led to his discipline. ( Id. at p. 274.) In contrast, the current complaints against Garlow were brought soon after his most recent prior disciplinary proceeding. That proceeding resulted in six months actual suspension, which was more serious than the disciplinary action taken in McCray. Finally, Garlow has not taken any steps to correct the problem or to indicate his reform. Given these facts, we do not agree that the aggravating factors should be given less weight.