Opinion ID: 1680886
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 9

Heading: The existence of aggravating or mitigating circumstances.

Text: ¶ 30. As an aggravating circumstance, Shah has had disciplinary action taken against him previously: (1) an informal admonition (violations of Rules 1.4 and 8.1(b)); (2) a public reprimand (violations of Rules 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, and 8.4(a, c, and d)); (3) a private reprimand (violations of Rules 1.3, 1.4 and 8.4(a, c, and d)); (4) a second private reprimand (violation of Rule 1.16); (5) a six-month suspension by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for failure to disclose that he had accepted pre-petition filing fees and attorney fees; and (6) a concomitant six-month suspension by the Court for the same misconduct. As a second aggravating circumstance, Shah actively misled Vaughn as to the status of the appeal. Shah failed to be forthcoming before the investigatory committee and the Tribunal, a third aggravating circumstance. A fourth aggravating circumstance is Vaughn's vulnerability because Vaughn was in prison without freedom and was unable to protect his own rights. ¶ 31. No mitigating circumstances are present.