Opinion ID: 1595333
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Improper Withdrawal

Text: The referee found that Fuller's withdrawal from representing Imprint on June 3, 1996 violated Rule 9010-3 of the Local Rules of Bankruptcy Court for the District of Minnesota. Rule 9010-3(e) requires that an attorney in Fuller's position make a motion to withdraw or file the proper substitution papers. See Minn. R.Bankr.P. 9010-3(e). Until an attorney complies with this requirement, he will remain the attorney of record. See id. The referee found that Fuller's withdrawal from representing Imprint also violated Minn. R. Prof. Conduct 1.16(c) & (d). Rule 1.16(c) requires that an attorney follow any local rules for withdrawal employed by a tribunal and Minn. R. Prof. Conduct 1.16(d) requires that an attorney continue to operate in the interests of the client while withdrawing. Fuller does not dispute that he failed to comply with the bankruptcy court rules for withdrawal as the attorney of record. However, he asserts that he could not continue to represent Hanson and Imprint because doing so would expose him to liability for Hanson's fraudulent activity. Additionally, Fuller testified that after he notified Hanson of his withdrawal, Hanson stated that he had found alternate counsel and ordered Fuller not to do anything else. Fuller is correct that he was required to withdraw from representing Imprint once he discovered Hanson's fraud. See Minn. R. Prof. Conduct 1.16(a)(1). However, despite this duty to withdraw and the pressures applied by Hanson, Fuller is still required to conform to the tribunal's procedural requirements and the Rules of Professional Conduct. Without furthering any fraud by Hanson or Imprint, Fuller could have appeared in court and made a motion to withdraw without a substitution or he could have withdrawn upon the filing of a substitution of attorney signed by the appropriate parties. See Minn. R. Bankr.P. 9010-3(e). Therefore, we conclude that the referee did not clearly err when he concluded that Fuller's conduct in withdrawing from the representation of Imprint was improper.