Opinion ID: 2076416
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 8

Heading: Did Respondent Hulse fail zealously to pursue the interests of his clients, Smiley and Michael?

Text: The obligation of a lawyer to represent his client zealously is, in one sense, merely a corollary to the Code requirement that the lawyer not represent multiple and conflicting interests. Obviously if the lawyers' independent, objective, professional judgment is adversely affected by conflicting emotions arising from representing multiple and adverse interest, he cannot zealously represent his client. If the conflict is resolved, the lawyer may zealously represent multiple clients. From the evidence here presented, I find that Mr. Hulse performed the lawyer duties of investigation, preparation of the case, legal research, pleading and related duties zealously and with professional competence. This conclusion is supported by the testimony of Mr. Howard Young, an attorney of skill and unquestioned integrity, whose testimony included an outline of the preparatory steps he would have taken in this case. The undisputed testimony of Respondents, especially Mr. Hulse, show that they did much the same sort of preparatory work as Mr. Young recommended. In the sense that Respondents' disclosure of the conflict of interest was inadequate and therefore a violation of DR 5-105(B) it might be argued that Respondents were not zealous. I prefer to rest these findings and recommendations upon DR 5-105(B). Therefore, I find that Respondent Hulse has not violated DR 7-101(A) or DR 1-102(A)(1) as charged in Count II of the Verified Complaint for Disciplinary Action in Cause 974 S 196.