Opinion ID: 2550875
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Was Respondent Prosecuted in Bad Faith?

Text: Respondent also alleges that the Disciplinary Administrator and the disciplinary committee instituted these proceedings in bad faith. He argues that no action should be taken against him because there is substantial evidence of prosecutorial misconduct requiring the conclusion that these charges were brought in bad faith. In support of this allegation, Respondent appears to rely on his answer to the first ethics complaint, in which he argued that he had civil probable cause under Bergstrom v. Noah, 266 Kan 829, 974 P.2d 520 (1999); and that the court had been deceived through fraud, which has the effect of voiding an adoption. To prove this, I needed the records or to determine they did not exist. In Bergstrom, this court held that attorneys had probable cause to bring an action under Kansas antitrust statutes and could not be held liable for malicious prosecution. That case cited Nelson v. Miller, 227 Kan. 271, 276, 607 P.2d 438 (1980), for the proposition that, `[t]o maintain an action for malicious prosecution of a civil action the plaintiff must prove the following elements: (a) That the defendant initiated, continued, or procured civil procedures against the plaintiff. (b) That the defendant in so doing acted without probable cause. (c) That the defendant acted with malice, that is he acted primarily for a purpose other than that of securing the proper adjudication of the claim upon which the proceedings are based. (d) That the proceeding terminated in favor of the plaintiff. (e) That the plaintiff sustained damages.' Bergstrom v. Noah, 266 Kan. 829, 836-37, 974 P.2d 520 (1999). Respondent fails to allege or prove a single one of the elements necessary to establish a malicious prosecution claim, and, but for his cite to Bergstrom, his argument also is completely unsupported by legal citation. Thus this argument also is rejected. We adopt the findings of fact and conclusions of law made by the hearing panel. We hold that Respondent has violated the following rules: KRPC 1.1 relating to competence; KRPC 3.1 relating to meritorious claims; KRPC 3.3(a)(1), relating to candor toward the tribunal; KRPC 3.4(c) relating to fairness to opposing party and counsel; KRPC 4.4, relating to respect for rights of third persons; and KRPC 8.4(c), (d), and (g), misconduct. We also have considered the hearing panel's analysis of the factors outlined by the American Bar Association in its Standards for Imposing Lawyer Sanctions (Standards): (1) the duty violated; (2) the lawyer's mental state; (3) the potential or actual injury caused by the misconduct; (4) and the existence of aggravating or mitigating factors. Respondent violated his duty to his clients to provide competent representation. He violated his duty to refrain from interfering with the administration of justice. He violated his duty to the legal profession to maintain personal integrity. He violated these duties intentionally. As a result of his misconduct, Respondent caused actual injury to the adoptive parents of Baby C; to Vincent, their counsel; and to the legal system and the legal profession. Respondent's behavior cost Baby C's adoptive parents more than $20,000. Vincent forgave the parents an additional $10,000 in attorney fees. In addition, the personal anxiety and stress experienced by the adoptive parents in their experience with the legal system was dramatically increased due to Respondent's conduct. Furthermore, the legal system itself suffered injury as a result of Respondent's misconduct. The Kansas Court of Appeals and the United States District Court for the District of Kansas wasted valuable resources because of Respondent's absolute incompetence and interference with the administration of justice. Finally, the legal profession has been damaged by Respondent's false accusations against members of the judiciary; attorneys; court personnel; and other state, county, and municipal employees. We also adopt the hearing panel's findings regarding the following aggravating factors: pattern of misconduct; multiple violations; lack of acknowledgment of wrongdoing or remorse. Even at oral argument, Respondent refused to acknowledge the wrongfulness of his conduct. This court also adopts the panel's findings regarding certain mitigating factors in this case: Respondent has no previous disciplinary record. Further, although Respondent repeatedly engaged in reprehensible conduct, it does not appear that he was motivated by dishonesty or selfishness. The panel acknowledged that at the time Respondent first engaged in misconduct, he had only been practicing law for 4 months. He was certainly inexperienced. However, Respondent persisted in his misbehavior up to the date of his oral argument before this court. Whether this is due to ignorance or stubbornness, the public must be protected from his further practice. As noted above, the panel recommended disbarment. Respondent seeks dismissal of this action. Disbarment is generally appropriate when a lawyer's course of conduct demonstrates that he or she does not understand the most fundamental legal doctrines or procedures, and the lawyer's conduct causes injury or potential injury to a client. ABA Standard 4.51. Furthermore, disbarment is generally appropriate when a lawyer engages in any other intentional conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit, or misrepresentation that seriously adversely reflects on his or her fitness to practice. ABA Standard 5.11. We have performed the exhaustive review of the record urged by Respondent at oral argument. It provides a wealth of evidence supporting the panel's recommendation and none supporting Respondent's plea for dismissal. We therefore unanimously adopt the hearing panel's recommendation of disbarment. IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that Respondent Bret D. Landrith be and he is hereby disbarred from the practice of law in the state of Kansas, that his privilege to practice law in the state of Kansas is revoked, and that the Clerk of the Appellate Courts of Kansas strike the name of Bret D. Landrith from the roll of attorneys licensed to practice in the state of Kansas. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that this opinion shall be published in the official Kansas Reports, that the costs herein be assessed to the respondent, and that respondent forthwith comply with Supreme Court Rule 218 (2004 Kan. Ct. P. Annot. 301). McFARLAND, C.J., and LUCKERT, J., not participating. LOCKETT, J., Retired, LARSON, S.J., and BUSER, J., assigned. [1]