Opinion ID: 835498
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Trial Panel Disposition

Text: The trial panel held the accused's hearing on November 29 and 30, 2004, and January 5 and 6, 2005, and filed an opinion on August 1, 2005. As discussed below, the trial panel found that the Bar had established by clear and convincing evidence that the accused violated the following disciplinary rules: DR 9-101(A); DR 9-101(C)(3); DR 1-102(A)(3); DR 9-101(D)(1); DR 1-102(A)(4); and DR 1-103(C). The trial panel also found, however, that the Bar had not established by clear and convincing evidence that the accused had charged Anderson an illegal or clearly excessive fee in violation of DR 2-106(A) or that he had failed specifically to identify his lawyer trust account by use of the phrase Lawyer Trust Account, in violation of DR 9-101(A). As noted above, the trial panel suspended the accused from the practice of law for three years and imposed a two-year probationary term upon his reinstatement, with conditions related to obtaining professional office management assistance and establishing appropriate procedures regarding time records and bank accounts. The accused seeks review of the trial panel's decision, raising eight assignments of error. In the discussion that follows, we first consider the assignments of error related to the trial panel's findings of fact and conclusions of law, in the context of the four causes of complaint that the Bar alleged. Next, we consider the accused's due process arguments, and, finally, we consider his challenges to the trial panel's sanction and to the trial panel's refusal to sanction the Bar for alleged discovery violations. For its part, the Bar asserts on review that the trial panel erred in concluding that it had not proved by clear and convincing evidence that the accused violated DR 2-106(A) and one of the two alleged violations of DR 9-101(A).