Opinion ID: 901048
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: disciplinary board/referee

Text: [¶ 39.] The Disciplinary Board as well as the Referee concluded: A. Respondent has violated SDCL 16-18-14 concerning respect for parties and witnesses. B. Respondent has violated SDCL 16-18-16 concerning the commencement or continuance of an action or proceeding from any motive of passion or interest. C. Respondent has violated SDCL 16-18-19 concerning an attorney's duty to use such means only as are consistent with truth, and never to seek to mislead the judges by any artifice or false statement of facts or law. D. Respondent has violated SDCL 16-18-20.1 by failure to maintain complete records of the handling, maintenance and disposition of client's funds, securities and other properties. E. Respondent has violated SDCL 16-18-20.2 by failure to maintain minimum trust accounting records and minimum trust accounting procedures. F. Respondent has violated the following rules of Professional Conduct (Rule): (1) Rule 1.1 concerning competence; (2) Rule 1.2 concerning scope of representation; (3) Rule 1.5 concerning fees; (4) Rule 1.7 concerning conflicts of interest; (5) Rule 1.8 concerning conflicts of interest, and prohibited transactions; (6) Rule 1.14 concerning a client under disability; (7) Rule 1.15 concerning the safekeeping of property; (8) Rule 1.16 concerning terminating representation; (9) Rule 3.3 concerning candor toward the tribunal; (10) Rule 3.4 concerning fairness to opposing parties and counsel; (11) Rule 4.1 concerning truthfulness in statements to others; (12) Rule 4.4 concerning respect for rights of third persons; and (13) Rule 8.4(a)(c)(d) concerning professional misconduct. [¶ 40.] The Disciplinary Board and the Referee conducted exhaustive hearings in this matter. Each made detailed findings of fact and conclusions of law before recommending Laprath's disbarment. Each recommended that Laprath be disbarred.