Opinion ID: 1535543
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Kersey's History

Text: Franklin Kersey's problems with alcohol began almost as soon as he took his first drink. In high school, he repeatedly got drunk on weekends, becoming belligerent and combative. In college, Kersey missed classes and was eventually suspended because of excessive drinking. In spite of his problem, Kersey was able to graduate from law school and become a very competent member of the D.C. Bar. In 1973, professors at Howard University told students to watch Kersey litigate and to analyze his trial technique. In the words of one observer, He was good. Very good. Even during this period in the early 1970's, Kersey drank often, and whenever he drank, he drank to excess. By the late 1970's, Kersey's condition had degenerated to the point where he frequently drank more than a fifth of rum in a single day. By 1984, Kersey's law practice was in complete disarray. He frequently missed court appearances or arrived late. He was unshaven, ill-dressed, and disheveled. His eyes were bloodshot and his breath smelled of alcohol or peppermint. When he was late for a court date, others would call Kersey at home to wake him or cover for his absence. When he did appear in court, often he was confused, unprepared, and could not identify his clients. Kersey had no financial record-keeping system, failed to file Criminal Justice Act vouchers, and began to commingle client funds and to use them for his own purposes. Kersey was reprimanded and censured by the D.C. Bar for Code violations. In 1982, he was twice arrested for drunk driving and was involved in another alcohol-related accident. By 1984, alcohol completely dominated Franklin Kersey's life. He had experienced over 100 blackouts. Family, friends and colleagues tried to confront Kersey with his alcoholism, but their efforts were futile. It was during the period 1980-82 that Kersey committed the twenty-four violations of the Code that we deal with today. Kersey committed four separate violations of DR 1-102(A)(4) (conduct involving dishonesty); five violations of DR 1-102(A)(5) (conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice by failure to respond to Bar Counsel's written investigative inquiries); one violation of DR 2-110(A)(2) (improper withdrawal without taking steps to avoid prejudice to the client); two violations of DR 6-101(A)(3) (neglect); one violation of DR 7-101(A)(1) (intentional failure to pursue the lawful objectives of client); one violation of DR 7-101(A)(3) (intentionally prejudicing client); three violations of DR 9-103(A) (commingling, two involving misappropriation of client funds); four violations of DR 9-103(B)(3) (failure to maintain complete records of client funds); and three violations of DR 9-103(B)(4) (failure to pay over client funds promptly). As the Board on Professional Responsibility noted, [i]t is difficult to call to mind very many respondents who, in recent years, have been proven to have engaged [in] such a widespread and persistent pattern of violations of the ethics of our profession. [6] Finally, faced with the Board on Professional Responsibility's recommendation that he be disbarred, and confronted and supported by members of APAL, Kersey reluctantly entered a 28-day detoxification program at Pilot House in August 1984. Since then, Kersey has achieved and remained in a state of recovery. Both Dr. Charles Whitfield, a physician specializing in the treatment of professionals with drug or alcohol problems, and Richard Vincent, Executive Director of the Lawyers Counselling Program in Maryland, agree that Kersey now has the mental capacity to perform at his previous high professional level.