Opinion ID: 1388055
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Dismissal of appeal with view to personal gain.

Text: (3a) The events which transpired after petitioner acquired the property at the execution sale show a serious course of misconduct on his part. Petitioner entered into an agreement with Mr. Robles' attorney to dismiss his client's appeal in exchange for a quitclaim deed conveying Mr. Robles' right of redemption to petitioner. The board found that petitioner agreed to the dismissal with a view to his own gain and without the knowledge or consent of his client. Such misconduct constitutes an act of moral turpitude (Bus. & Prof. Code, § 6106; Foote v. State Bar (1951) 37 Cal.2d 127 [230 P.2d 617]) which could have subjected petitioner to criminal prosecution. (Bus. & Prof. Code, § 6128, subd. (b).) [3] Petitioner, however, contends that the evidence does not sufficiently support the board's findings; we disagree. Mrs. Robles testified that petitioner never informed her that he had agreed to dismiss the appeal in exchange for the quitclaim deed; letters which she wrote to petitioner requesting information concerning the status of her appeal corroborate her testimony. Little evidence in the record supports petitioner's claim that Mrs. Robles had consented to a dismissal. (4) Significantly, both the disciplinary board and the local administrative committee disbelieved petitioner; and since the latter saw and heard petitioner and the witnesses against him, this court will give great weight to its findings. ( Lewis v. State Bar (1973) 9 Cal.3d 704, 712-713 [108 Cal. Rptr. 821, 511 P.2d 1173].) (3b) Although the attorney's dismissal of an action without the consent or knowledge of his client does not necessarily establish a violation of section 6128 of the Business and Professions Code, such violation occurs if the attorney agrees to the dismissal with a view to his own gain. In the instant matter the record fully supports the board's finding that petitioner placed his interests paramount to those of his client.