Opinion ID: 2525369
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: patterson's response to the charges against him

Text: ¶ 13 Under RGDP Rule 7.7(a), [13] a lawyer must inform the Bar whenever discipline has been imposed upon him in another jurisdiction. Respondent acknowledges having received contemporaneous notice of his disbarment, but claims he was unaware of his notification obligation. Consequently, he did not advise the Bar that the Tenth Circuit had suspended him in 1994, nor did he apprize it of his disbarment in 1998. Respondent's failure on two occasions to notify the Bar of the Tenth Circuit's actions is itself grounds for discipline. [14] ¶ 14 Upon receiving notice of respondent's disbarment, the Bar sent Patterson a letter informing him of the possibility of reciprocal discipline in Oklahoma. Respondent immediately sought legal assistance from an attorney named Charles Seger. In addition to agreeing to handle the matter with the Bar, Seger also agreed to represent respondent in the Tenth Circuit. Unbeknownst to respondent, Seger was not admitted to practice before that court. Seger sent a letter dated 24 April 1998 to the Bar setting out respondent's explanation for the conduct which had resulted in his disbarment. Seger testified that he also mailed a copy of the letter to the Tenth Circuit, but he was unable to produce any physical proof of mailing. The letter contained misstatements of fact. Both Seger and respondent agree that respondent did not review the letter before it was sent, and only sometime later discovered that the letter contained errors. ¶ 15 Respondent testified that from April 1998 until he learned otherwise from the Bar in April 1999 he believed that Seger had filed a motion in the Tenth Circuit for a reconsideration of his disbarment. Respondent testified that Seger repeatedly told him that they were waiting for a response from the Court to the motion. Seger denies ever saying or implying that he had filed a motion. Seger claims that when he stated to respondent throughout 1998 and early 1999 that he was waiting to hear from the Tenth Circuit, he was only referring to a response from the Tenth Circuit to the copy he had sent of the 24 April 1998 letter to the Bar. ¶ 16 Respondent testified that on or about 12 January 1999 Seger came to his office and told him that they had heard nothing from the Tenth Circuit because they had failed to include a verification with the motion. He presented a verification form to respondent who signed it despite never having seen the motion to which the verification referred. ¶ 17 On 1 March 1999, after being admitted to practice in the Tenth Circuit, Seger filed a motion for reconsideration of respondent's disbarment. It, too, contained inaccuracies and misrepresentations. It was promptly denied.