Opinion ID: 1838473
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: the referee's recommendations

Text: The Bar's cases against Nunes were ultimately consolidated and considered before one referee. Nunes failed to timely answer either of the Bar's complaints summarized above, so the referee accordingly granted the Bar's motions for default judgment, and thereafter denied Nunes's motions to set aside same. In accordance with the Bar's allegations (which were deemed admitted by the default judgments), the referee ultimately found Nunes guilty of all the violations charged as set out above. After a hearing regarding the discipline to be imposed, the referee recommended that Nunes be suspended for one year (and for an indefinite period thereafter until he has shown proof of rehabilitation and has paid costs of the proceedings), followed by two years of probation with a requirement that Nunes pay for and complete twenty-five hours of continuing legal education in ethics. In recommending this discipline, the referee considered in aggravation that Nunes had prior disciplinary offenses ( see supra note 3), a dishonest or selfish motive, a pattern of misconduct, and multiple offenses. In mitigation, the referee considered that Nunes had shown remorse.