Opinion ID: 1573167
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Additional Facts and Circumstances.

Text: At the commission's hearing on the complaint, the board called M. Hanson to testify as to the facts and circumstances regarding the adoption of the child. Hill cross-examined Hanson and then testified on his own behalf. The following additional facts and circumstances were proven and are considered in determination of what is an appropriate sanction for the admitted violations. After V. Anderson contacted Hill on January 1, 1995 regarding the private adoption of a child, Hill spoke to a Missouri lawyer about adoption in Missouri and secured from him adoption forms. On January 3, Hill prepared the forms and instructed the Andersons to complete them to reflect the child's name, sex, and date of birth and to then obtain the notarized signature of the child's parents. The forms were completed and A.C. delivered her child to the Andersons at the time of her discharge from the hospital on January 4. Two days later, V. Anderson told Hill they could not go through with the adoption. Hill knew the Hansons were childless and wanted a child. They lived in Osceola, Iowa and had previously employed him regarding the possible purchase of a pizza parlor. Hill called M. Hanson on January 7 and told her there was a child available for adoption because the couple that was going to adopt the child had changed their mind. M. Hanson said they were interested. Hill then called the Andersons who agreed to deliver the child to the Hansons. Hill assured M. Hanson the paperwork was ready. He said the paperwork was in the Andersons' name but they were giving the Hansons permission to have the baby. Hill agreed to handle the Hanson adoption for $1500 plus expenses. He said he would get the adoption papers changed over to their name. On January 8, the Hansons drove to Kirksville, Missouri, picked up the child from the Andersons, and returned to their home in Iowa. Apparently, to provide medical coverage for the child under the terms of their employee insurance coverage, Hill prepared and filed in Clarke County, Iowa a petition for appointment of the Hansons as guardians of the child and the appointment of an attorney as guardian ad litem for the child. On January 13, the court signed an order prepared by Hill after revising the order to show it was issued for a temporary guardianship on an emergency basis. Two weeks later, Hill told M. Hanson there was a problem and that she and her husband must either return the child to the Andersons or take the child back to Missouri to get permission to bring the child to Iowa. Hill had secured the relinquishment of parental rights and consent to adoption by the Hansons from A.C. and N.G. However, he had learned of potential problems with the adoption because of the Interstate Compact from his discussion with a juvenile court officer in Adair County, Missouri. At that time M. Hanson contacted the guardian ad litem. He told her the child must be returned to Missouri and recommended she and the child go to Missouri. M. Hanson then took the child to Eagleville, Missouri, where they lived in a motel. On February 3, the child was removed from the custody of the Hansons by the Missouri court and temporary custody of the child was placed with the Missouri division of family services. The Hansons employed Missouri lawyers on February 4 to assist them in their efforts to adopt a child. After initially being denied temporary custody of the child, at a subsequent hearing held on April 3, the Missouri court granted temporary custody to the Hansons. The adoption by the Hansons was completed on January 4, 1996. Hill testified he called the Hansons because he had previously provided legal services to them and that a mutual friend said the Hansons might be interested in adopting the child. He had provided legal services for the Hansons shortly before he contacted them about the possible adoption. Hill believed there was no time to research the Interstate Compact provisions. He had heard of the Interstate Compact but was unfamiliar with its provisions. He admits it was a mistake not to comply with the Interstate Compact. Hill did not think he was practicing law in Missouri when he prepared the initial documents for relinquishment of parental rights and consent to adopt. He urges he did not appear as counsel before a court in Missouri. He suggests he was under the supervision of a Missouri attorney because he had obtained the exemplars from him and talked to him about it.