Opinion ID: 2302531
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 46

Heading: Gillespie

Text: The ODC contends that Davis met with Herb Gillespie, a client prior to Davis's suspension, on the morning of a hearing in the JP Court on a litigation matter. Davis had filed the litigation prior to his suspension on behalf of an entity in which Gillespie was a principal, PHS, Inc. Nixon testified that he met with Davis the night before the hearing to go over the case. At a meeting the next morning among Davis, Gillespie and Nixon, Nixon testified that Davis provided the entire strategy as to how the litigation would be, the case would be conducted, [what] were the relevant points to bring out. [88] Davis testified he had no recollection of such a meeting. [89] The Panel is troubled that ODC did not call Mr. Gillespie to corroborate the testimony of Nixon. Nonetheless, in carefully assessing the demeanor of the witnesses, including the specificity and clarity of Nixon's recollection [90] and the weakness of Davis's explanation that he recalled no such meeting, [91] the Panel finds that the ODC met its burden by clear and convincing evidence that Respondent met with Gillespie and Nixon on the morning of his hearing and provided legal advice and that this conduct violated the Suspension Order.