Opinion ID: 2636998
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: When did the Respondent receive his Supreme Court card in the mail?

Text: At the hearing on this matter, during questioning by his attorney, the Respondent testified that he received his Supreme Court card in the mail in July, 2000. However, when specifically questioned by the Deputy Disciplinary Administrator, the Respondent admitted that he did not remember when he received his Supreme Court card in the mail and that he may have received it after he was reinstated. The Respondent's inconsistent testimony is further evidence that the Respondent engaged in deceptive practices during the disciplinary process. Substantial Experience in the Practice of Law. The Respondent was admitted to the practice of law in Maryland in 1992. The Respondent was admitted to the practice of law in Missouri in 1996. Finally, the Respondent was admitted to the practice of law in Kansas in 1997. At the time the Respondent committed the misconduct, the Respondent had been practicing law and attending continuing legal education courses for six years. On the other hand, the Hearing Panel believes this factor to be mitigated by the fact that during much of the Respondent's practice he was in the Judge Advocate General corps and a Missouri Public Defender where most of the administrative details for licensing were handled for him and fees were waived. Mitigating circumstances are any considerations or factors that may justify a reduction in the degree of discipline to be imposed. In reaching its recommendation for discipline, the Hearing Panel, in this case, found the following mitigating circumstances present: Absence of Prior Disciplinary Record. The Respondent has not previously been disciplined. Absence of Dishonest or Selfish Motive. The Respondent's misconduct, that being the unauthorized practice of law, was not motivated by dishonesty and selfishness. The Respondent was licensed to practice in Missouri and that is where the predominate portion of his practice is located. Restitution. The Respondent not only refunded the attorney fees paid by Mr. Oberg, but also repaid Mr. Oberg for the entire amount of the settlement in the limited civil action. Remorse. At the hearing on this matter, the Respondent expressed remorse for engaging in the misconduct. Statement by the Complainant Expressing Satisfaction with Restitution. Mr. Oberg testified that he was satisfied with the restitution paid by the Respondent. In addition to the above-cited factors, the Hearing Panel has thoroughly examined and considered Standard 4.62. That standard provides that `[s]uspension is generally appropriate when a lawyer knowingly deceives a client, and causes injury or potential injury to the client.' Id. In this case, the Respondent knowingly deceived Mr. Oberg by failing to inform him, at the time he was retained, that the Respondent's license to practice law in Kansas was under suspension. The Hearing Panel unanimously recommends that Respondent be suspended from the practice of law in Kansas for a period of ninety days. Costs are assessed against the Respondent in an amount to be certified by the Office of the Disciplinary Administrator. A finding of attorney misconduct requires proof by clear and convincing evidence. Supreme Court Rule 211(f) (2001 Kan. Ct. R. Annot. 259). The panel's findings of fact are supported by clear and convincing evidence and, with the conclusions of law, are adopted as the findings of this court. IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that E. Collins Hunter II is hereby suspended from the practice of law in the State of Kansas for a period of 90 days from May 31, 2002, the date of our opinion. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the respondent shall comply with Supreme Court Rule 218(a) (2001 Kan. Ct. R. Annot. 276), and, at the end of the 90-day suspension, the Respondent will be reinstated upon furnishing proof of compliance thereof to the Clerk of the Appellate Courts, that the costs of the proceeding be assessed to the Respondent, and that this opinion be published in the official Kansas Reports.