Opinion ID: 1667507
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Application of Factors

Text: In applying the factors to determine the sanction, it is helpful to do so in two steps: first, the court should decide upon the starting point or base-line level of sanction warranted by focusing on the nature of the duty violated, the lawyer's mental state, and the actual or potential injury resulting from his misconduct. See Standards, II Theoretical Framework, p. 6, § 9.1; second, using that level of sanction as a starting point, the court should apply the aggravating and mitigating factors to the base-line sanction in order to fine tune or shape the sanction to fit the unique facts and circumstances of the particular case. Id.; LSBA v. Amberg, 553 So.2d 448 (La.1989). Wilkinson's misconduct involved violations of several duties, the majority of which call for a base-line sanction of disbarment. Suspension is appropriate when a lawyer knows or should know that he is dealing improperly with his client's property and causes actual or potential injury to the client. Standards § 4.12. On the other hand, disbarment is called for in a case involving a conflict of interest, when a lawyer, without the informed consent of the client, engages in representation of the client, knowing that the lawyer's interests are adverse to the client's, with the intent to benefit the client or another, and causes potentially serious injury to the client. Standards § 4.3. Furthermore, disbarment is appropriate when a lawyer knowingly deceives a client with the intent to benefit himself or another, and causes actual or potentially serious injury to the client. Standards § 4.61. Finally, disbarment is suitable when a lawyer violates his duty to the public by serious criminal conduct involving false swearing, misrepresentation or fraud; or when a lawyer's intentional conduct involves dishonesty, fraud, deceit or misrepresentation that seriously reflects on his fitness to practice. Standards § 5.11. Applying the aggravating and mitigating factors to the base-line sanction, however, we conclude that a major suspension instead of disbarment should be imposed because the substantial mitigating factors greatly outweigh the aggravating circumstances. Prior to his involvement in the phony equity scheme, Wilkinson not only had a clean record and a good reputation, he was admired as a young lawyer with outstanding qualitiescomplete honesty and integrity; familial devotion; public and civic mindedness; commitment to the ideal of justice and fair dealing as an assistant prosecutor. He has been thoroughly punished for his crimehe was sentenced to one year in prison, of which he actually served six months in prison and three months in a halfway house. Superimposed on this penalty, of course, he has suffered the social, economic and emotional stigmata of being incarcerated, suspended from his profession, and disgraced before his community, his family and his four young children. He is, we believe, genuinely remorseful, contrite and rehabilitated. Although we normally view unsworn character attestations with a certain amount of skepticism, the array that has been filed in Wilkinson's behalf with the joint stipulation and approval of the Committee is unusually impressive in volume, variety, quality and ardor. The Committee was unable to produce any evidence that Wilkinson's misconduct actually harmed anyone. His breaches, of course, caused potential harm, but we are unable to tell from the record whether the potential is great or small. The record does not reflect how many, if any, of the loans are currently regarded as bad, or how bad they might be. The aggravating factors are not nearly so weighty in comparison. Wilkinson's motive in aiding and assisting in deceiving his client was not honest or unselfish, but, on the other hand, he did not intend to reap any great financial gain or to cause his client any actual harm. If Wilkinson's misconduct had not involved disloyalty to his client and had not involved a repetitive pattern of such violations involving substantial sums, his misconduct may have warranted only a short suspension or a reprimand. Considering all of the foregoing factors, as well as a number of somewhat similar cases, see LSBA v. Rosenthal, 515 So.2d 797 (La.1987); LSBA v. Meyer, 478 So.2d 1211 (La.1985); LSBA v. Kramer, 420 So.2d 1110 (La.1982), we conclude that a suspension from the practice of law for thirty months, commencing on, May 10, 1989, the date of Wilkinson's actual removal from the practice of law by incarceration, and running concurrently with the interim suspension previously ordered, is the appropriate sanction. For the reasons assigned, the respondent attorney, Thomas Barry Wilkinson is suspended from the practice of law for thirty months, commencing on May 10, 1989, at respondent's cost. ATTORNEY SUSPENDED FOR THIRTY MONTHS. SHORTESS, J. Pro. Tem., dissents as I feel the mitigating circumstances justify a twenty month suspension.