Opinion ID: 1857750
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 9

Heading: Count VII The Charles Matter

Text: Respondent was retained to handle the succession of Ronald Charles, Sr., who died survived by his second wife, Geraldine Charles, and by two children of his first marriage. In November 2002, respondent prepared and notarized an affidavit of death and heirship which attested that the decedent had been married only once. Respondent knew this information to be false at the time he notarized the affidavit. In January 2003, respondent filed a petition for possession on behalf of the decedent's two children. Despite the fact that the decedent had remarried prior to his death, respondent omitted any mention of the surviving spouse in the petition for possession and caused his clients to be placed into possession of the decedent's entire estate. The judgment of possession was signed on January 11, 2003. In February 2003, the decedent's surviving spouse filed a petition to annul the judgment of possession. She also sought sanctions and other incidental relief. Following a hearing, the trial judge annulled the judgment of possession, and he ordered respondent and his clients to appear on April 7, 2003 for a contempt hearing. Respondent was subsequently discharged by his clients. During the contempt hearing, the heirs testified that they had provided respondent with the correct information concerning the decedent's marital status. Respondent then admitted that he notarized the affidavit falsely attesting that the decedent was not married at the time of his death. The trial judge found respondent in direct contempt of court for oversight at the least, fraud at the worst, and ordered him to pay attorney's fees and costs. On April 9, 2003, respondent filed a petition for suspensive appeal of the contempt order only. However, he also argued in brief that the trial court erred in annulling the judgment of possession, notwithstanding that he had been discharged by his former clients and had withdrawn as their counsel of record. In December 2003, the Third Circuit Court of Appeal found respondent's appeal dealt with issues not pertaining to the judgment before the court, and which were relevant only to parties he no longer represented. The court further found respondent's appeal to be frivolous, and amended the trial court's judgment to award the appellee additional attorney's fees. In all other respects, the trial court's judgment was affirmed. The ODC alleges that respondent's conduct violated Rules 3.1 (meritorious claims and contentions), 3.3, and 8.4(c) of the Rules of Professional Conduct.