Opinion ID: 1246438
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Additional Counts Considered by Disciplinary Board in Finding a Common Plan, Scheme, and Modus Operandi for Cappers of Petitioner to Solicit Clients for Him ( Counts 9, 11, and 14 )

Text: Since the allegations of these counts were not found to be true, they will be summarized only briefly. Count 9 relates to an alleged solicitation of Wilmer McMullen, who, within a day after he was injured on March 6, 1968, in an automobile accident, was allegedly solicited, as he was convalescing in a hospital, by John Harrison, a retired Bakersfield police officer and former client of petitioner's. There was evidence that Harrison had told McMullen, among other things, that he [Harrison] was with [petitioner's firm] and that he would be glad to have them represent [McMullen] if [McMullen] needed them and later telephoned the McMullen home twice to ask what they had decided to do. Petitioner testified that he had not authorized Harrison to solicit McMullen, and Harrison testified that he contacted McMullen because he was attempting to become a private investigator. Count 11 relates to an alleged solicitation of the family of Mr. Bobbie Turner on behalf of petitioner by Mr. Conners. Mr. Turner was accidentally electrocuted on November 15, 1968, and the solicitation allegedly took place the afternoon of the day of the accident. There was evidence that Mr. Conners had unexpectedly appeared at the home of Mr. Turner's parents, informing the father that he had taken photographs of the scene of the accident and that he represented and recommended petitioner's law firm, and that he had given the father petitioner's business card, on the back of which Conners had written his own name and address. In count 14, it is alleged that one of petitioner's cappers had solicited John Wheat and his wife to retain petitioner as an attorney with respect to a claim for injuries received in an industrial accident. There was evidence that on the afternoon of the day of the accident Mr. Harrison unexpectedly appeared at the Wheats' home, 10 miles outside of Bakersfield; that he told Mrs. Wheat he was a private investigator and recommended petitioner as an attorney, giving her petitioner's business card; that Harrison telephoned petitioner and made an appointment for Mrs. Wheat to see petitioner the next day; that Mrs. Wheat saw petitioner and told him that Mr. Harrison had sent [her] to him; that that evening petitioner visited Mr. Wheat while the latter was convalescing in his hospital room and was under heavy sedation following amputation of his leg; that petitioner had Mr. Wheat sign an application for workmen's compensation benefits; but that thereafter Mr. Wheat informed petitioner that he was going to retain another attorney, and petitioner left.