Opinion ID: 1276117
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: count i the carmin matter

Text: ¶ 31 The Trial Panel found that there is a lack of clear and convincing evidence that Respondent violated any duty in his representation in the Carmin matter. Rule 6.12(c), RGCP, provides, To warrant a finding against the respondent in a contested case, the charge or charges must be established by clear and convincing evidence .... The record indicates that Carmin hired Respondent to perform a variety of legal services, Respondent rendered service to his client and invested a reasonable amount of time in his client's legal matters, then the client fired Respondent only days after the Respondent reviewed a contract and rendered an opinion unfavorable to the client. After a careful review of the record, this Court finds that the proof in regard to professional misconduct failed to meet the clear and convincing evidence standard with respect to Count I. ¶ 32 The Trial Panel found that Respondent's failure to respond to the Carmin grievance violated the Rules Governing Disciplinary Procedure. We agree. In State ex rel. Okla. Bar Ass'n v. Perry, 1997 OK 29 ¶ 33, 936 P.2d 897, we held that a lawyer's obligation to respond to an OBA grievance is mandatory: Rule 5.2 [RGDP] clearly states (1) that the failure of an attorney to answer a grievance within twenty days after service `shall' be grounds for discipline and (2) that the response `shall' be in writing. The word `shall' is mandatory. The language of Rule 5.2 leaves no room for interpretation regarding the proper form or time for filing a response. Respondent's proffered excuses for failing to respond to the OBA's grievance  in writing or otherwise  are meritless. ¶ 33 We are sympathetic to Respondent's difficulties in coming to grips with his difficult experiences in the Vietnam War. Nevertheless, our obligation to uphold the grievance system, which exists to protect the public, must come before our sympathy to Respondent. Our holding here with respect to Respondent's violation of Rule 5.2 by failing to respond to the OBA's grievance applies with equal force to the Trial Panel's conclusions of law on Counts II, III, and IV to the effect that Respondent's failure to respond violated the Rules Governing Disciplinary Procedure.