Opinion ID: 1574452
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: original disciplinary action

Text: WELLIVER, Judge. The facts of this case tell the sad story of a lawyer who had an affair with a divorce client. He successfully dissolved her marriage but failed so miserably at dissolving the affair that the Advisory Committee of the Missouri Bar Administration has charged him with having engaged in conduct warranting disbarment. The Hon. Jack O. Edwards, Associate Circuit Judge, Twenty-Fifth Judicial Circuit was appointed as Special Master. A hearing was held and the master entered findings of fact and conclusions of law and recommended that respondent be disbarred. In a disciplinary proceeding we must review the evidence, the credibility, weight and value of the testimony of the witnesses, and decide all fact issues necessary to a decision. In re Pine, 576 S.W.2d 538, 539 (Mo. banc 1979); In re Schiff, 542 S.W.2d 771 (Mo. banc 1976); In re Williams, 233 Mo.App. 1174, 128 S.W.2d 1098, 1101 (1939). The information contains three counts. In Count I, respondent is charged with anonymously engaging in a pattern of conduct designed and intended to harass his former client, P, conduct which included writing anonymous letters to P, her friends, acquaintances, employer and others; and committing five acts of violence and vandalism against P and her property. Such conduct is alleged to be contrary to Missouri Supreme Court Disciplinary Rules DR 1-102(A)(3)(4) and (6). Count II charges respondent with disclosing confidential information received in a lawyer-client relationship, in contravention to Missouri Supreme Court Disciplinary Rules DR 4-101(B)(1) and (2). In Count III, respondent is charged with vandalism of a public building, pointing and then discharging a handgun at Security Personnel, and being found guilty of the felony of unlawful use of a weapon in violation of § 571.030(4). This conduct is alleged to be contrary to Missouri Supreme Court Disciplinary Rules DR 1-102(A)(3)(5) and (6).