Opinion ID: 2499595
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 15

Heading: Colo RPC 8.4(c)

Text: The People's seventh claim for relief alleges Respondent violated Colo. RPC 8.4(c), which provides that it is professional misconduct for a lawyer to engage in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit, or misrepresentation. The People plead this claim based on the same operative facts pertinent to their Colo. RPC 3.3(a)(1) claim. The People contend that Respondent either knew his statement regarding a Schultheis record was false and failed to correct it, or was reckless in failing to determine whether his statement was true prior to making it. The People also argue that Respondent violated this rule by (1) intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly failing to tell Ragusa that he revealed client confidences to the court; and (2) by telling Ragusa that things were going well and they were winning when asked about the in camera hearings. Respondent again denies making a misrepresentation to the court. He states that he misspoke when using the term Schultheis and made the statement during the heat of the moment. However, Respondent admitted that he never told Ragusa about the in camera proceedings and that he would have refused to tell Ragusa about the content of such proceedings should she have asked. Based on the analysis set forth responding to the People's Colo. RPC 3.3(a)(1) claim, the Hearing Board concludes Respondent did not engage in conduct involving misrepresentation when he told the court that he believed it appropriate to make a brief Schultheis record. No evidence was presented demonstrating that Ragusa asked Respondent about what was said during the two in camera hearings. Ragusa testified that she was not aware of any in camera hearings during the trial and only remembered asking Respondent what was said at bench conferences. Thus, we cannot say that Respondent, by telling Ragusa that things were going well or that they were winning in response to her inquiry, violated Colo. RPC 8.4(c). [44] However, it is uncontroverted that Respondent never told Ragusa about the in camera proceedings and that he would have refused to tell Ragusa about them should she have asked. A misrepresentation by omission is as egregious as an express or verbal misrepresentation. [45] Respondent had a duty to maintain client confidences. [46] And Ragusa as a criminal defendant had a right to be present at all critical stages of the trial. [47] By not disclosing to Ragusa that he had revealed client confidences during the in camera proceedings, Respondent violated his duty to her, denied her the right to make an informed choice about whether she wanted to reveal such confidences, and denied her the right to be present at the hearings. In concealing these proceedings and his statements therein from Ragusa, Respondent was deceitful and engaged in dishonest conduct in violation of Colo. RPC 8.4(c). [48]