Opinion ID: 2458428
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 37

Heading: Deceit, dishonesty, fraud and misrepresentation

Text: 64. The Supreme Court may consider the following reported opinions relating to lawyer dishonesty, fraud, misrepresentation, and misappropriation of client funds or property: In re Friedman, 23 P.3d 620 (Alaska 2001) (three year suspension for intentionally impairing trust account through premature fee advances, criminal misapplication of funds, and dishonesty in disciplinary proceedings); In re Triem, 929 P.2d 634, 648-49 (Alaska 1996) (public censure for false statement in letter to opposing counsel); In re Morrill, 904 P.2d 395, 396 (Alaska 1995) (suspension for five years less one day for misconduct including deceptive conduct toward court) (Rabinowitz, J., dissenting); In re Wiederholt, 877 P.2d 765 (Alaska 1994) (disbarment for misconduct including forgery of client name on settlement check, submission of false pleadings to court); In re Mann, 853 P.2d 1115 (Alaska 1993) (three year suspension for misappropriating $2,000 of client funds; mitigating factors included self-reporting misconduct); In re West, 805 P.2d 351 (Alaska 1991) (90 day suspension for counseling client to forge signature then falsely notarizing document); In re Schuler, 818 P.2d 138 (Alaska 1991)(two year suspension following conviction for misdemeanor theft); In re Buckalew, 731 P.2d 48 (Alaska 1986) (disbarment for fabricating court documents and embezzling $67,000 from client trust accounts); In re Minor, 681 P.2d 1347 (Alaska 1983) (90 day suspension for dishonesty in mishandling funds as fiduciary); In re Walton, 676 P.2d 1078 (Alaska 1983) (18 month suspension for submitting false documents likely to be relied on by court); In re Stump, 621 P.2d 263 (Alaska 1980) (five year suspension for creating false document and testifying to its authenticity). 65. The Supreme Court may also consider the following unreported actions by the court in cases involving dishonesty and misappropriation: In re Paine, Supreme Court No. S-09452 (order of November 26, 2001) (disbarment for multiple acts of misconduct including failure to account for and refund unearned fees, criminal misappropriation, dishonesty in disciplinary proceedings, pattern neglect and failure to communicate); In re Bump, Supreme Court No. S-9711 (Order of June 21, 2000) (disbarment after criminal conviction for felony theft in connection with scheme to hide money from wife in divorce); In re Purdy, Supreme Court No. S-8966 (order of March 26, 1999) (suspension for five years following conviction for misdemeanor forgery involving preparation of false car transfer documents, and for false statements to hearing officer in connection with the transfer); In re LaParle, Supreme Court No. S-8933 (order of March 9, 1999) (disbarment after conviction for felony theft and perjury in connection with scheme to hide client money from opposing party in divorce); In re Breeze, Supreme Court No. S-8484 (order of April 6, 1998) (disbarment after felony conviction for misapplication of client funds by conversion of $25,000 from trust account); In re Frank, Supreme Court No. S-8359 (order of November 24, 1997) (disbarment for dishonesty toward former employer, deception of client, alteration of court documents to cover up deception, and false statements to Bar Counsel); In re Price, Supreme Court No. S-7655 (order of July 5, 1996) (disbarment for misappropriation of client funds); In re McGee, Supreme Court No. S-7364 (order of November 20, 1995) (disbarment for abandoning practice and misappropriating $60,000 in client trust funds); In re Pace, Supreme Court No. S-7301 (order of October 13, 1995) (disbarment for misappropriating $15,000 check proceeds after forging client's signature); In Re Bennett, Supreme Court No. S-7302 (order of October 30, 1995) (public censure for altering law firm bills to reflect work by partner instead of associate); In re Cusack, Supreme Court No. S-6235 (order of June 3, 1994) (six month suspension, four months stayed with conditions, for neglect and deception of one client); and In re Crone, Supreme Court No. S-6197 (order of March 31, 1994) (disbarment for neglect and misappropriation of client funds).