Opinion ID: 2637953
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: GC98C115 The Mann Matter

Text: On October 27, 1997 the Colorado Supreme Court issued its opinion in People v. Johnson, 946 P.2d 469 (Colo.1997) which placed Johnson on suspension from the practice of law thirty days following the issuance of the opinion. Pursuant to C.R.C.P. 241.21(c), upon the entry of an order of suspension, a lawyer involved in litigation on behalf of a client must notify opposing counsel in writing by certified mail of the order entered against him and of his consequent inability to act as a lawyer after the effective date of the order. Johnson did not do so. His failure to properly notify opposing counsel of his suspension violates C.R.C.P. 241.21(c) and Colo. RPC 3.4(c)(knowingly disobeying an obligation under the rules of a tribunal). At the time Johnson was suspended, he was counsel of record in the pending dissolution matter. Additional documentation had to be prepared in the case at the time of the suspension. Johnson failed to withdraw from that representation. Because additional legal services were required by Johnson as counsel of record after the issuance of the Supreme Court's order, his failure to withdraw constituted a violation of Colo. RPC 1.16(a)(1)(a lawyer shall withdraw if the representation will result in violation of the rules of professional conduct or other law). Johnson's misconduct in this matter also violated Colo. RPC 8.4(a)(violation of a rule of professional conduct).