Opinion ID: 2423620
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: whether respondent assisted a criminal or fraudulent act.

Text: The Petitioner contends that the falsely notarized deed recorded in the Prince George's County land record office violated Md.Code Ann., Crim. Law § 8-606. See Attorney Grievance Commission v. Goodman, 381 Md. 480, 491, 850 A.2d 1157, 1164 (2004) (a violation of Section 8-606(b) of the Criminal Law Article is a criminal act that reflects adversely on the lawyer's honesty, trustworthiness or fitness as a lawyer in other respects and thereby violates Rule 8.4(b)). Petitioner argues that this also constituted a violation of Rule 1.2(d) of the Maryland Rules of Professional Conduct. Respondent argues that, even if Respondent had an attorney-client relationship, he did not assist in a criminal or fraudulent act. Respondent focuses his post-trial memorandum on the filing of the 2008 Will with the Prince George's County Register of Wills as the alleged criminal or fraudulent act that violated Rule 1.2(d). The Court agrees with the Respondent that no evidence suggested that Mr. Coppola filed the 2008 Will with the Register of Wills or that he counseled Ms. Swink to do so. The undisputed evidence established that Ms. Swink filed the 2008 Will and opened the probate proceedings without Mr. Coppola's knowledge or advice. Mr. Coppola did not enter an appearance in the probate proceedings. The Court will not address whether it was a violation because of the mandate that Wills be filed with the Register of Wills and whether Mr. Coppola knew or should have known that the falsely executed Will had to be filed. The Court does not reach the question of whether the Register of Wills is a tribunal. The Petitioner does not argue that this conduct violated Rule 1.2(d), contending instead that the filing of the deed violated Rule 1.2(d). It is noted, however, that the Petitioner does contend that Ms. Swink's filing of the Will with the Register of Wills does violate Rule 8.4(b), discussed below. Under Md.Code Ann., Crim. Law § 8-606, making false entries in public records is a misdemeanor. A public record is defined so that it would include public land records. Md.Code Ann., Crim. Law § 8-606(a)(2). The prohibition applicable in the instant case specifically states that the conduct is to willfully make a false entry in a public record. Md.Code Ann., Crim. Law § 8-606(b). The relevant inquiry is whether Mr. Coppola's actions met this requirement. The meaning of willful in the context of a criminal act has been addressed in a number of cases. In a case concerning aiding and abetting a crime, the trial court added the following definition: Willful participation means voluntary and intentional participation in the criminal act. McMillan v. State, 181 Md. App. 298, 335, 956 A.2d 716, 737 (2008). In a murder case, the trial court defined willful as: Willful participation means voluntary and intentional participation in the criminal act. Some conduct by the Defendant in furtherance of the crime is necessary. Ayala v. State, 174 Md. App. 647, 677, 923 A.2d 952, 970 (2007). See also Wagner v. State, 160 Md.App. 531, 562, 864 A.2d 1037, 1055 (2005); Perry v. State, 150 Md.App. 403, 423, 822 A.2d 434, 446 (2002) (same defining words used). These definitions can be applied to the present facts. Mr. Coppola falsely certified that the deed was signed by Ms. West and notarized her signature that he knew to be false. His notary certification states: Acknowledged before me this 26th day of August, 2008, by Elizabeth L. West, an individual known to me and described in the foregoing instrument. Then, he filed the deed in the Land Records of Prince George's County. These actions were voluntary and intentional participation in the filing of the false deed. Mr. Coppola took an act in furtherance of the statutory violation by sending his clerk and straightening out the administrative problem that arose in filing the deed. The Court concludes that there is clear and convincing evidence that Mr. Coppola willfully made a false entry in the public record by filing the deed in violation of Md.Code Ann., Crim. Law § 8-606. The hearing judge thereafter rejected Coppola's assertion that he did not intend to commit a criminal or fraudulent act: