Opinion ID: 1925938
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 11

Heading: The frivolous or harassing litigation.

Text: On these issues, the Special Master found no unethical conduct in several of the matters outlined, finding an at least colorable basis in law for advancing certain of the positions taken by respondent. In other matters, however, he found respondent's conduct improper: 1. The Westmont Shores cases: In this matter the respondent painted himself into the corner of impropriety by advising the Township that success on an appeal was highly unlikely, but that that situation would be ameliorated by a two-month delay that would give the Township tax revenues of $30,000, more than [paying] for the legal fees involved. 2. Hecker v. Zaun: This was respondent's suit against Township officials, for the purpose of harassing them into forcing his reappointment. Although the complaint was filed on November 4, 1974, at or about the time of an election campaign, respondent had previously advised the newspapers of his allegations; their stories were printed on November 1, 1974. The complaint had no discernible merit and was dismissed summarily. Subsequent to the filing of the complaint, respondent made an improper phone call to one of the named defendants suggesting that if respondent were reappointed as Township Attorney, he would drop his suit. The Special Master found that respondent had instituted the meritless suit in an effort to force his reinstatement and that he named individual members of the governing body in an effort to bring financial pressure on them to reinstate him as Township Attorney. This conduct, the Master held, violated DR 1-102(A)(1), (5), and (6) (conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice and adversely reflecting on fitness to practice).