Opinion ID: 2734169
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: The deterrent effect on others.

Text: J. The maintenance of respect for the legal profession. 8 Cite as 2014 Ark. 374 K. The conduct of the lawyer during the course of the Committee action. L. The lawyer’s prior disciplinary record, to include warnings. M. Matters offered by the lawyer in mitigation or extenuation except that a claim of disability or impairment resulting from the use of alcohol or drugs may not be considered unless the lawyer demonstrates that he or she is successfully pursuing in good faith a program of recovery. Id. § 19(A)–(M). Based on our de novo review, we conclude that the Committee’s decision to suspend Tapp’s license to practice law for ninety days was clearly supported by a preponderance of the evidence. The Committee found that Tapp had engaged in conduct involving deceit or misrepresentation when he undertook to represent Schmidt against Bargen in 2012, after he had represented Bargen in the same case against Schmidt in 2006. Pursuant to the Procedures, conduct involving deceit or misrepresentation qualifies as “serious misconduct.” Id. § 17(B)(3). Moreover, Tapp has a disciplinary record with the Committee. From 1984 to 2011, Tapp received numerous sanctions, including (1) a warning for failing to timely lodge a record; (2) a caution for neglecting a legal matter entrusted to him; (3) a caution for failing to act with reasonableness and promptness in representing a client, failing to comply with requests for information, and failing to promptly surrender papers to a client; (4) a caution for failing to take proper steps to be relieved from a case; (5) a caution for failing to inform a client that he had been served with requests for admission by opposing counsel and failing to file timely responses, which resulted in deemed admissions and a judgment against the client, failing to respond to requests for admission and other discovery requests from the 9 Cite as 2014 Ark. 374 client after the client had sued Tapp, and failing to make any attempt to satisfy a default judgment entered against him in favor of the client; (6) a caution for failing to file a notice of appeal from an entry of judgment; (7) a caution for engaging in conduct that resulted in a client’s loss of his right to appeal a circuit court decision affirming the adoption of a child who the client claimed was his son; (8) a reprimand for nonsuiting a lawsuit without informing the client, failing to refile within the one-year time frame, and failing to communicate with the client and to act with diligence; (9) a reprimand for failing to take action to stop a client’s money from being deposited in court, which resulted in the client’s loss of the money by default, and failing to respond to any attempted communication; (10) a reprimand for failing to properly and timely file a claim with the estate of the deceased in a personal-injury case, which resulted in a client’s being prohibited from recovering from the estate anything more than the amount of insurance coverage; (11) a reprimand for failing to properly file a notice of appeal, which resulted in the dismissal of the appeal, and for entering into an agreement in which he attempted to limit malpractice liability; (12) a reprimand for failing to advise a client of a trial date, which resulted in the client’s failure to appear in court for trial, and failing to appear in court for that same trial, which resulted in a judgment being entered against the client, and failing to advise the client of the judgment against him; and (13) a reprimand for continuing to represent a party in litigation after having been disqualified from the representation.4 This disciplinary record reflects a “substantial disregard 4 The Committee noted in its Hearing Findings and Order that it had considered Tapp’s disciplinary record when deciding which sanction to impose. 10 Cite as 2014 Ark. 374 of the lawyer’s professional duties and responsibilities.” Id. § 17(B)(5); see also id. § 19(L). Given that Tapp’s conduct qualified as “serious misconduct” and that his disciplinary record demonstrates a substantial disregard of his professional duties and responsibilities, we do not agree with Tapp’s contention that a suspension is unduly harsh under the facts of this case. Accordingly, we affirm the sanction imposed by the Committee. Affirmed. Jeff Rosenzweig, for appellant. Stark Ligon, Committee on Professional Conduct, for appellee. 11