Opinion ID: 1732764
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: the heck divorce

Text: In January 1979 O'Neil accepted a $400 retainer fee from Bonnie Heck to represent her in a divorce. O'Neil never completed the divorce. At the hearing before the panel, Heck testified that she had been pressured into filing the complaint by her father, and that she suffered no harm because of O'Neil's conduct. The hearing panel concluded that O'Neil's conduct in the Larson Estate, the Vietz Bankruptcy, and the Hurst Bankruptcy matters each constitutes a violation of the Code of Professional Responsibility, Canon 1, DR 1-102(A)(1); [1] Canon 6, DR 6-101(A)(3); [2] Canon 7, DR 7-101(A)(1), (2) and (3), [3] and of § 27-14-02(7), NDCC. [4] The panel concluded that O'Neil's conduct in the matter of the Unpaid Court Reporter and the Heck Divorce did not constitute a violation of the Code of Professional Responsibility, nor of any law of this State. The hearing panel recommended that O'Neil's certificate of admission to the North Dakota Bar be suspended for at least one year and that he pay the costs of the disciplinary proceeding. Staff counsel for the disciplinary board, apparently without specific direction of the disciplinary board, filed exceptions to the conclusions of the panel that O'Neil's conduct in the matter of the Unpaid Court Reporter did not constitute a violation of the Code of Professional Responsibility. Staff counsel asserts that O'Neil's failure to pay for the court reporting services constituted professional misconduct in violation of Canon 1, DR 1-102(A)(1), (4) and (6) [5] of the Code of Professional Responsibility. In his brief, staff counsel also excepted to the panel's conclusion that O'Neil's conduct in the Heck divorce matter did not violate the Code of Professional Conduct. Instead, staff counsel urged this court to find that O'Neil violated Canon 6, DR 6-101(A)(3) [6] and Canon 7, DR 7-101(A)(1), (2) and (3) [7] when he failed to complete this divorce action. Finally, staff counsel excepts to the panel recommendation of suspension and asks that O'Neil be disbarred. O'Neil filed a brief urging this court to affirm the recommendation of the hearing panel and to dismiss staff counsel's exceptions. O'Neil asserted that the North Dakota Rules of Disciplinary Procedure permit only a respondent to file exceptions to recommendations of a hearing body. O'Neil also asserts in his brief that he no longer intends to practice law and would willingly resign. He has not, however, proceeded pursuant to Rule 12, North Dakota Rules of Disciplinary Procedure, to consent to suspension or disbarment. Rule 10(l) and (m) of the North Dakota Rules of Disciplinary Procedure provide that: ( l ) Unless the hearing body dismisses or the matter is concluded by private reprimand, the hearing body, within 60 days after the conclusion of its hearing, shall submit to the Supreme Court a report containing its findings and recommendations, together with the entire record of its proceedings. After the filing of the report, a copy thereof shall be served on the respondent. The respondent may file exceptions to the report within 20 days after the date of service of a copy thereof or within an additional period not exceeding 20 days granted by the Supreme Court for good cause shown. Within 60 days after the filing of the report and the filing of exceptions, if any, the respondent shall file an opening brief pursuant to the rules governing civil appeals and other briefs may be filed and oral argument may be had as therein provided. (m) If neither the respondent nor disciplinary counsel object to the findings and recommendations of the hearing body, oral argument and submission of the briefs may be waived by stipulation, subject to the approval of the Supreme Court. [Emphasis added.] At oral argument staff counsel argued that because review of the record is de novo by this court, Matter of Maragos, 285 N.W.2d 541, 546 (N.D.1979), all relevant information should be presented for our consideration. Therefore counsel asserts that it was proper for him to file exceptions to the hearing panel's conclusions which, by inference at least, is authorized by Rule 10(m), NDRDP. We note that there is no helpful recorded history behind the adoption of Rule 10 which assists in its interpretation. This court does not act as a mere rubber stamp, approving, after perfunctory review, the findings and recommendations of the disciplinary board. Matter of Application, Discip. Action Against Lee, 283 N.W.2d 179, 181 n. 5 (N.D.1979). We have often ordered the parties to file briefs to provide additional insight that may not be found in the findings, conclusions, and recommendations of the Disciplinary Board. Matter of Application Discip. Action Against Lee, supra, 283 N.W.2d at 181. It is clear that Rule 10(l) and (m), NDRDP, would benefit, by amendment, to eliminate any possible conflict and to clarify the role of staff counsel. It would be absurd to construe Rule 10(m) as authority for staff counsel to file objections in this court initially. Interpretations which lead to absurd results are as undesirable when applied to rules adopted by this court as when applied to statutes. We have often applied this principle to statutory construction. See e.g., Skoog v. City of Grand Forks, 301 N.W.2d 404 (N.D.1981), and § 1-02-38(3), NDCC. Because staff counsel's function is that of advisor and counsel for the disciplinary board and its hearing panels, in the interest of good order we require that staff counsel continue in that representative capacity when disciplinary proceedings are brought into this court. If the disciplinary board believes otherwise, it should submit an appropriate proposed rule amendment. If the disciplinary board makes findings or recommendations that conflict with those of the hearing panel, that fact should be made known to this court for its consideration. We do agree with the hearing panel that O'Neil's conduct reflects a pattern of delay and neglect which must not be condoned. O'Neil's conduct in the cases of the Larson Estate, the Vietz bankruptcy, and the Hurst bankruptcy each show delay and neglect. Although O'Neil's conduct can partly be attributed to health and other personal problems, personal problems do not justify failure to attend to matters entrusted to an attorney. Doyle v. State Bar, 15 Cal.3d 973, 126 Cal.Rptr. 801, 803, 544 P.2d 937, 939 (1976); In Re Fraser, 83 Wash.2d 884, 890-91, 523 P.2d 921, 925 (1974); Grove v. State Bar of California, 66 Cal.2d 680, 58 Cal.Rptr. 564, 567, 427 P.2d 164, 167 (1967). See also Matter of Maragos, supra, 285 N.W.2d at 547. O'Neil's behavior constitutes serious misconduct. Habitual failure to attend to matters entrusted to an attorney and failure to communicate with the client constitute grounds for discipline. See Matter of Jaynes, 278 N.W.2d 429, 434 (N.D.1979); Matter of Jaynes, 267 N.W.2d 782, 784 (N.D.1978); Matter of Garcia, 243 N.W.2d 383, 385 (N.D.1976). In determining what discipline is warranted, however, each case must be decided on its own particular facts. Matter of Maragos, supra, 285 N.W.2d at 546. There are no fixed standards as to what constitutes an appropriate penalty. The purpose of a disciplinary proceeding is not to punish the attorney but rather to determine, in the public interest, if the attorney should be permitted to practice law. Matter of Maragos, supra, at 545. Consideration of the findings and recommendations of the hearing panel and of all relevant factors, including O'Neil's expression that he no longer intends to practice law, leads us to conclude that the one-year suspension recommended by the hearing panel, rather than disbarment recommended by staff counsel, is appropriate here. O'Neil's certificate of admission to the bar of this State is hereby suspended for one year. In Application of Christianson, 253 N.W.2d 410, 413 (N.D.1977), we said that we are satisfied that we have the authority to require a reexamination by the State Bar Board as a condition of reinstatement of a suspended or disbarred attorney. Under the circumstances here, we do hereby require Patrick S. O'Neil to take and pass such examination as the State Bar Board may direct before he will be reinstated to the practice of law in the State of North Dakota. It is further ordered that O'Neil pay for the costs of the disciplinary proceedings, which amount will be determined by the disciplinary board or its designated officer or agent, and that he submit to the Clerk of the Supreme Court evidence of payment or evidence that satisfactory arrangements for payment have been made with the disciplinary board. One year suspension ordered. Costs to be paid. Reinstatement conditioned upon successful reexamination. ERICKSTAD, C.J., and PAULSON, SAND and VANDE WALLE, JJ., concur.