Opinion ID: 2615014
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Count 3: Appeal in Abril v. Harris

Text: Count 3 of the bar complaint alleges that respondent's role in instituting and maintaining the appeal in the Abril v. Harris litigation violated E.R. 3.1 and 4.4. In that appeal, respondent argued that the trial court was legally incorrect in concluding that Abril had not been damaged by Harris' participation in Piatt's renewal of the Johnson judgments, because Globe was under no obligation to pay Johnson in the absence of an assignment in the bad faith suit. Prior to that appeal, respondent had filed a motion for new trial, motion to vacate judgment, motion to grant relief from the judgment, and motion to strike applications for award of attorney's fees in the trial court, all of which had been denied. In affirming the trial court, the court of appeals noted: We agree with the comments of the trial judge concerning the lack of merit to this case. A reading of the motions filed by appellants indicate the harassing nature of much, if not all, of them. We note that this appeal was filed January 22, 1987. The mandate of Division One of this court in Abril's case against Globe [reversing punitive damages but affirming compensatory damages of $300,000] issued on January 9, 1987. At the time this appeal was filed, Abril and his attorney knew that the judgments in favor of the injured pedestrian would be paid by Globe and that he would suffer no damage. We find this appeal frivolous. Abril v. Harris , 157 Ariz. at 81, 754 P.2d at 1356. The court of appeals awarded appellees attorney's fees and costs of $9,418.25 to be assessed against respondent personally. The committee found by clear and convincing evidence that respondent's conduct violated E.R. 3.1 and 4.4. The commission adopted the committee's findings, and added: The Commission believes the rationale which supports the Committee Findings regarding Count One supports the Committee Findings regarding this count. The Commission recognizes the arguments offered by Respondent regarding the absence of any obligation by Globe, the insurer, to satisfy the underlying judgment. The Commission gave import to Mr. Abril's insistence, at all times, that Mr. Johnson receive his money.... The conflict between Respondent's legal position, and Mr. Abril's directions regarding payment, strongly suggests the frivolous nature of Respondent's position. We agree with the findings of both the committee and the commission on this count. Regardless of whether the Globe award was owed to Johnson or to Abril, Abril consistently insisted that Johnson be paid the full amount of the judgment; whether that payment came from Globe or from Abril did not affect Abril's damages as respondent argues. Further, respondent was well aware, prior to filing the appeal, that Abril had not sustained any damages from the Harris-Piatt fee agreement, because Harris was crediting any amounts received from Johnson toward Abril's fees. On this record, we find clear and convincing evidence that respondent violated E.R. 3.1 and 4.4 by the conduct alleged in count 3.