Opinion ID: 2590366
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 15

Heading: Prior Disciplinary Offenses 9.22(a)

Text: A review of Respondent's prior discipline demonstrates a lengthy history of prior disciplinary offenses including the following:  In May 1989, Respondent received a letter of admonition for contacting a represented party in violation of Colo. RPC 4.2. This discipline is remote and is of minimal consequence in our analysis of an appropriate sanction. [19]  In May 1997, the Colorado Supreme Court suspended Respondent for six months based upon violations of Colo. RPC 1.7, 3.3(a)(2), 4.1(b), 8.4(c), and 8.4(d) after he failed to disclose to the court his interest in property that was the subject of litigation. Most important to the Hearing Board's determination of the appropriate sanction in the present case was the Colorado Supreme Court's finding that Respondent engaged in conduct involving dishonesty. However, the Hearing Board again considers this prior discipline remote and gives it minimal weight in determining the appropriate sanction.  In October 2001, Respondent was suspended for one year and one day for violating Colo. RPC 1.1, 1.5(a), and 5.3(b) after he conducted an estate-planning seminar for the purpose of avoiding rest homecare costs.  In March 2003, Respondent was suspended for one year and one day for violating Colo. RPC 1.15(b), 5.3(b), 1.3, 1.15(f), 5.5(b), 5.3(b), 1.5(a), and 1.16(d) in three separate client matters after he offered estate planning services and thereafter failed to properly supervise non-lawyer staff members who worked directly with the clients. Most important to the Hearing Board is the finding that Respondent expended client funds before he earned them and failed to return them when the client requested a refund.  In August 2004, Respondent was suspended for an additional five months, resulting from his suspension in 02PDJ041 (the case addressed immediately above) for violating Colo. RPC 3.3(a)(1) after he signed an entry of appearance form in the Colorado Springs Municipal Court in the name of Robert Shoop, a licensed attorney. In a second case, Respondent did the same. In neither case did Mr. Shoop give Respondent permission to use his name nor did he appear at any time on behalf of the clients Respondent represented in his attempted appearance.  In August 2005, the PDJ accepted Respondent's Conditional Admission of Misconduct and signed an order approving the same in consolidated case 05PDJ035 discussed in detail above. Most important to the Hearing Board's determination of sanctions is the similarity between Respondent's conduct in the consolidated case 05PDJ035 and the present case. In both cases, Respondent represented others and when caught explained that he thought his conduct was authorized, that he was not acting as a lawyer, even though he assisted others in defending their legal positions and filed legal documents for them.