Court Opinion

ID: 854922
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2013-03-12 16:57:04.863842+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:22:31.050837
License: Public Domain

This opinion is subject to revision before final
                  publication in the Pacific Reporter.

                              2013 UT 14

                                 IN THE

      SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF UTAH
                          ———————
     In the Matter of the Discipline of THOMAS V. RASMUSSEN,
                          ———————
                          UTAH STATE BAR
                        Plaintiff and Appellee,
                                   v.
                     THOMAS V. RASMUSSEN
                     Defendant and Appellant.
                          ——————
                          No. 20110696
                      Filed March 12, 2013
                         ———————
                     Third District, Salt Lake
                    The Honorable L.A. Dever
                         No. 090908841
                         ———————
                           Attorneys:
  Todd Wahlquist, Billy L. Walker, Salt Lake City, for appellee
           Sara Pfrommer, Salt Lake City, for appellant
                        ———————
     JUSTICE LEE authored the opinion of the Court, in which
    CHIEF JUSTICE DURRANT, ASSOCIATE CHIEF JUSTICE NEHRING,
          JUSTICE DURHAM, and JUSTICE PARRISH joined.
                        ———————

 JUSTICE LEE, opinion of the Court:
 ¶1 Thomas V. Rasmussen was disbarred after he defied an or-
der suspending him from the practice of law. He challenges the
disbarment on procedural and substantive grounds. We affirm.
The disciplinary proceedings before the district court were proce-
durally proper and the circumstances of Rasmussen‘s misconduct
warrant disbarment under our rules and caselaw.
                                    I
 ¶2 The Office of Professional Conduct (OPC) filed a complaint
against Thomas V. Rasmussen alleging violations of Utah Rules of
Professional Conduct 8.4(a) and (d) in connection with his repre-
                  IN RE DISCIPLINE OF RASMUSSEN
                       Opinion of the Court
sentation of a client in a criminal case. Specifically, Rasmussen
was accused of conduct prejudicial to the administration of jus-
tice—in submitting multiple recusal motions when only one such
motion is allowed by rule and in failing to appear at trial. After
briefing and a hearing on the complaint, the district court entered
an Order of Sanction on July 21, 2010, suspending Rasmussen for
one year but staying all but 181 days of the suspension. The dis-
trict court conditioned the stay on Rasmussen (1) entering and
completing an ethics and professional conduct course; (2) refrain-
ing from practicing law during his suspension and certifying that
fact by affidavit; (3) not violating any Rules of Professional Con-
duct for one year; and (4) changing his office procedures to im-
prove communication with the court, its staff, and opposing coun-
sel.
  ¶3 In December of that year, OPC learned that Rasmussen, de-
spite his suspension, had ―held himself out as an attorney repre-
senting a client‖ to a district court during his suspension. OPC
sent him a letter warning him to abide by his suspension and meet
his obligations under the Rules of Lawyer Discipline and Disabil-
ity (RLDD) or be subject to an order to show cause.
  ¶4 Soon thereafter—and just 158 days after the effective date
of the suspension—Rasmussen filed a Verified Petition for Rein-
statement stating that he had ―compli[ed] with the terms and
conditions of the Court‘s Order of Sanctions.‖ He also filed an af-
fidavit indicating that he had ―not practiced law for a total of 181
days up to the time of [his] anticipated reinstatement in this mat-
ter.‖ After receiving Rasmussen‘s verified petition and affidavit,
OPC, concluding that his reinstatement was governed by RLDD
14-525 (applicable to suspensions greater than six months), pre-
pared a notice of proposed reinstatement to be printed in the Utah
Bar Journal, propounded discovery requests, and began preparing
its opposition to Rasmussen‘s reinstatement. Upon receiving
Rasmussen‘s filings, the district court clerk, according to court
records, contacted OPC and ―was told that [OPC] would not be
responding to‖ the filings—a point now disputed by OPC.
  ¶5 More than ten days after filing the petition and affidavit,
Rasmussen delivered to OPC and submitted to the district court a
proposed Order of Reinstatement, which the district court signed
the same day. OPC mailed a motion and memorandum opposing
Rasmussen‘s reinstatement the following day, not realizing that

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                       Opinion of the Court

the reinstatement order had already been signed. OPC‘s opposi-
tion argued that the reinstatement was premature under RLDD
14-525(f), which allows OPC sixty days in which to object to a pe-
tition for reinstatement after receiving it. In a reply memorandum,
Rasmussen countered that RLDD 14-524 (not 14-525) governed
because his suspension was for less than six months, making
OPC‘s opposition untimely because RLDD 14-524 allows only ten
days following the receipt of a reinstatement affidavit to object. In
response, OPC argued that RLDD 14-525 should apply because
Rasmussen‘s suspension was for one year—with all but 181 days
suspended—making it more than six months. OPC also informed
the court that it would oppose reinstatement because Rasmussen
had continued to practice law during his suspension.
  ¶6 At a hearing on these filings, the district court acknowl-
edged that its original intention was that Rasmussen‘s suspension
be for one year and that his reinstatement be governed by RLDD
14-525. At the same time, however, the court acknowledged that
the suspension order was poorly worded and unclear and that
Rasmussen had relied on his understanding that his suspension
was for less than six months. As a result, and in ―the interest of
fair play and equity,‖ the district court effectively gave both sides
the benefit of any doubt. It tentatively affirmed Rasmussen‘s or-
der of reinstatement (without citing either RLDD 14-524 or -525 as
the basis for reinstatement). Yet it also allowed ―OPC [to] bring
any information to the Court that it might have that Mr. Rasmus-
sen acted in violation of its Order of sanctions.‖
  ¶7 OPC thereafter, and in accordance with the affirmation or-
der, filed a ―Motion for the Court to Consider Evidence of Ras-
mussen‘s Failure to Comply with Its Sanctions Order,‖ in which it
argued that Rasmussen had continued to practice law during the
course of his suspension, making thirty-six court appearances and
submitting seventeen filings in cases. In response, Rasmussen
conceded that he had practiced law during the suspension but
sought to characterize his appearances as attempts to withdraw,
attempts to wind up his involvement in a case, or attempts to con-
tinue matters until after his reinstatement. He also stated that be-
cause he normally gains over one hundred new cases in a six-
month period, this activity was ―substantially‖ compliant with the
sanction order. He further stated that his suspension caused him
to incur large debt and stretched his limits financially and that his

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                  IN RE DISCIPLINE OF RASMUSSEN
                       Opinion of the Court
continuing practice was an attempt to maintain his way of life and
his ―presence in the community.‖
  ¶8 At a hearing on OPC‘s motion, Rasmussen admitted that
he took on new cases during his suspension, that he appeared in
court for those cases, and that he did so because he was facing the
loss of his house and practice. OPC sought disbarment based on
these concessions. The court agreed with OPC and disbarred
Rasmussen, finding that Rasmussen had violated his duty to
comply with the sanctions order because he needed money,
thereby injuring the public and the judicial system. The court also
found no mitigating circumstances to counter the aggravating cir-
cumstances it saw, including the facts that Rasmussen violated his
suspension ―for his own financial benefit‖ and that his ―violation
was not a single episode but nearly two score.‖ Rasmussen now
appeals, and we affirm for the reasons set out below.
                                 II
  ¶9 Rasmussen challenges the disbarment order primarily on
procedural grounds. He contends that the district court lacked ju-
risdiction to consider OPC‘s opposition to his reinstatement once
it signed the reinstatement order. He also asserts that the doc-
trines of res judicata and law of the case barred the district court
from revisiting his reinstatement and imposing disbarment. Al-
ternatively, Rasmussen challenges his disbarment on the substan-
tive grounds that (1) lifting the stay imposed by the order—rather
than disbarment—was the proper form of discipline for violation
of the order, (2) the court erred when it concluded that disbar-
ment was the presumptive level of discipline, and (3) the court
failed to consider mitigating factors that counsel against disbar-
ment. Though a district court‘s decision to grant relief from a
judgment is reviewed under an abuse of discretion standard, Rus-
sell v. Martell, 681 P.2d 1193, 1194 (Utah 1984), we make our own
independent determination about the appropriate sanction in at-
torney discipline cases, In re Discipline of Ennenga, 2001 UT 111,
¶¶ 9–10, 37 P.3d 1150. We consider each of Rasmussen‘s argu-
ments in light of these standards and reject each. Accordingly, we
uphold the district court‘s order of disbarment.
                                 A
  ¶10 Rasmussen first contends that the district court exceeded
its jurisdiction when it entertained objections to his already-

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                       Opinion of the Court

entered reinstatement. Specifically, he asserts that his reinstate-
ment was governed by RLDD 14-5241 and that once the proce-
dures allowed by that rule were complied with—a ten-day objec-
tion period, followed by a hearing and automatic reinstatement—
the court could do no more. We disagree.
  ¶11 Our rules governing lawyer discipline provide that Utah‘s
Rules of Civil Procedure govern attorney discipline proceedings
unless specifically altered by the disciplinary rules themselves.
RLDD 14-517(a). And nothing in our lawyer discipline rules dis-
places the court‘s ability to consider post-judgment motions under
Utah Rules of Civil Procedure 59 and 60(b). See UTAH R. CIV. P. 59
(allowing a motion for a new trial); UTAH R. CIV. P. 60(b) (allowing
the court to ―relieve a party . . . from a final judgment, order, or
proceeding‖).
  ¶12 OPC‘s opposition to Rasmussen‘s reinstatement was effec-
tively a rule 60(b) motion. Rule 60(b)(6) allows a party to ask a
court to reconsider a final judgment based on ―any other reason
justifying relief from the operation of the judgment.‖ Though such
motions are to be heard in only ―unusual and exceptional circum-
stances,‖ Kell v. State, 2012 UT 25, ¶ 18, 285 P.3d 1133 (internal
quotation marks omitted), this case fits that bill. Here, the ambigu-
ity in the suspension order created confusion about which rule—
RLDD 14-524 or -525—controlled Rasmussen‘s reinstatement.
And that confusion meant that each party was operating under a

 1  OPC contends that Rasmussen always understood his suspen-
sion to be for more than six months and thus governed by RLDD
14-525. Some of Rasmussen‘s actions could be construed to sup-
port that contention. For instance, he filed a verified petition seek-
ing reinstatement, which is required by RLDD 14-525 rather than
524. Nevertheless, we think his actions as a whole are indicative
enough of a belief that RLDD 14-524 governed reinstatement to
support the district court‘s decision to give him—and OPC—the
benefit of the doubt. Because we agree with the district court‘s eq-
uitable decision to not hold the proceedings under any one rule,
we need not and do not decide which rule the district court
should have employed for purposes of this appeal. Going for-
ward, however, we clarify that the governing rule should be dic-
tated by the term of the entire possible suspension, not the un-
stayed portion of the suspension.

                                  5
                   IN RE DISCIPLINE OF RASMUSSEN
                        Opinion of the Court
different set of expectations and a different timeframe. The district
court, to its credit, acknowledged as much in ruling on OPC‘s op-
position to the reinstatement—solomonically giving each party
the benefit of the doubt by tentatively leaving the reinstatement
order in place but allowing OPC an opportunity to challenge it
further. We find wisdom—and certainly no error—in that deci-
sion, which was entirely appropriate under rule 60(b)(6) given
these unusual circumstances.
  ¶13 Rasmussen challenges the applicability of rule 60(b) here.
He notes that OPC‘s opposition made no reference to that rule
and asserts that our cases disfavor treating a motion as one under
rule 60(b) where it is not captioned as such. See Workers Comp.
Fund v. Argonaut Ins. Co., 2011 UT 61, ¶¶ 13–15, 266 P.3d 792. We
see no barrier in our rules or our cases, however, for analyzing
OPC‘s opposition under rule 60(b).
  ¶14 Nothing in Argonaut or elsewhere prohibits district courts
from entertaining, under rule 60(b), a filing not captioned as such.
Our cases merely emphasize the need to keep the ―burden of ar-
gument and research . . . on the party seeking relief.‖ Judson v.
Wheeler RV Las Vegas, L.L.C., 2012 UT 6, ¶ 20 n.9, 270 P.3d 456. We
accordingly decline, on appeal, to allow a party to ―shift[] to op-
posing parties or to the court‖ the burden of establishing the basis
or import of the party‘s motion below, and thus would not reverse
a decision that is based on the moving party‘s failure to ―identif[y]
for the court the essential basis for the motion‖ below. Id. This
case presents a very different circumstance. We are faced not with
a district court‘s denial of a motion for failure to identify its essen-
tial basis, but with a decision granting a motion that we now deem
properly presented. Thus, although the district court may not
have been required to construe OPC‘s motion as arising under
rule 60(b), it had the discretion to do so. See Argonaut, 2011 UT 61,
¶ 15 n.5 (emphasizing the district court‘s ―broad discretion in de-
termining whether to construe a motion under rule 59 or rule
60(b)‖). And because we find an ample discretionary basis for
treating OPC‘s opposition as a motion arising under rule 60(b), we
affirm the district court‘s decision to hear the motion as an appro-
priate exercise of discretion.
  ¶15 We likewise affirm the district court‘s decision granting
OPC‘s subsequent motion to present further evidence of Rasmus-
sen‘s violations of the suspension order. Nothing precludes a

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                        Opinion of the Court

court from hearing one post-judgment motion, deciding that it
needs more information, and allowing further development of an
issue. In such a case, further motion practice would be necessary
to resolve the case completely. Though Rasmussen describes the
court‘s affirmance of his reinstatement after the first post-
judgment motion as conclusively resolving this issue, it did not.
The district court‘s affirmance of the reinstatement was clearly
conditional, subject to whatever information OPC submitted
about possible violations of the sanctions order.2 And the condi-
tional nature of the order gave an ample basis for the court to con-
sider that further information.
                                  B
  ¶16 Rasmussen next challenges the district court‘s decision to
reopen the reinstatement order on preclusion grounds—under the
doctrines of res judicata and the law of the case. He views the re-
instatement order as final and preclusive of any further proceed-
ings. We disagree.
  ¶17 Res judicata and its companion, collateral estoppel, do not
operate within a single case. See IHC Health Servs., Inc. v. D & K
Mgmt., Inc., 2008 UT 73, ¶ 26 n.20, 196 P.3d 588. They are ―used to
describe the binding effect of a decision in a prior case on a second
case.‖ See id. (emphases added). The reinstatement order accord-
ingly had no preclusive effect under these doctrines. It was not
final, and thus had no res judicata effect on the court‘s decision to
reopen the matter.
  ¶18 The law of the case doctrine is different. It can operate to
preclude relitigation of certain claims or issues within the same
case. Id. ¶ 26; see id. ¶ 26 n.20 (―Because the elements and effects of

 2
    Rasmussen also argues that OPC was required to prove a vio-
lation of a suspension order either (a) in a contempt proceeding or
(b) through objection to reinstatement proceedings initiated under
RLDD 14-524 or -525—and he asserts that the proceedings in this
case were neither. But because the court‘s decision to hear OPC‘s
post-judgment motion kept the proceeding open, OPC‘s objec-
tions to reinstatement and its arguments that Rasmussen violated
the sanctions order certainly occurred in proceedings initiated ei-
ther under RLDD 14-524 or -525. We reject this argument on that
basis, without addressing the broader question.

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                  IN RE DISCIPLINE OF RASMUSSEN
                       Opinion of the Court
res judicata and law of the case doctrines may differ, they should
be viewed as distinct doctrines.‖). It ―encompasses several differ-
ent principles related to the binding effect of a decision on subse-
quent proceedings in the same case.‖ Id. ¶ 26. Under this doctrine,
―a decision made on an issue during one stage of a case is binding
in successive stages of the same litigation.‖ Id. (internal quotation
marks omitted).
  ¶19 Yet even this doctrine was not preclusive here. The discre-
tionary or mandatory effect of the law of the case doctrine
―[d]epend[s] on the procedural posture of a case at the time the
law of the case doctrine is invoked.‖ Id. ¶ 27. ―As long as the case
has not been appealed and remanded, reconsideration of an issue
before a final judgment is within the sound discretion of the dis-
trict court.‖ Id.3 Thus, because the reinstatement order had not
been considered on appeal,4 the district court was well within its
discretion when it allowed OPC to pursue its opposition to the
reinstatement and to argue that Rasmussen violated the Sanction
Order by practicing law while suspended.
                                 C
  ¶20 Rasmussen‘s final challenges to his disbarment essentially
argue that disbarment was too severe a punishment.5 We disagree

 3 See Gillmor v. Wright, 850 P.2d 431, 439 (Utah 1993) (Orme, J.,
concurring) (―The [law of the case] doctrine is not an inexorable
command that rigidly binds a court to its former decisions but ra-
ther is an expression of good sense and wise judicial practice.‖ (in-
ternal quotation marks omitted)).
 4  The mandate rule—a distinct branch of the law of the case doc-
trine—controls the preclusive effect of issues already the subject
of appellate review. IHC Health Servs., Inc. v. D & K Mgmt., Inc.,
2008 UT 73, ¶ 28, 196 P.3d 588. This rule ―binds . . . the district
court . . . to honor the mandate of the appellate court.‖ Id. Thus,
under this rule, ―a prior decision of a district court becomes man-
datory after an appeal and remand.‖ Id. This rule is inapplicable
here.
 5  At oral argument on this appeal, Rasmussen also appeared to
question the propriety of his original suspension, characterizing it
as too harsh. That issue is not before us on appeal, however, and
we accordingly decline to reach it.

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                       Opinion of the Court

and hold that disbarment was proper under our rules and
caselaw.
                                  1
  ¶21 Because refraining from practicing law was a condition of
the stay of the one-year suspension, Rasmussen first asserts that
violation of that condition should have resulted in the district
court lifting the stay and imposing the full one-year suspension
rather than disbarment. We are not persuaded.
  ¶22 Though the parties and the district court seem to accept
that Rasmussen‘s suspension was for only six months (or six
months and a day), that is not the case. Rasmussen was suspend-
ed for one year. Part of that year may have been subject to stay,
but a stay does not alter the fact that the suspension on its face
was for a full year. That is significant under the circumstances. As
we have indicated, ―[t]o serve as an effective deterrent for further
misconduct, the penalty for violating an order of suspension must
be more severe than the original suspension.‖ Utah State Bar v.
Doncouse (In re Discipline of Doncouse), 2004 UT 77, ¶ 19, 99 P.3d
837. Thus, Rasmussen‘s punishment for violating his one-year
suspension must do more than impose that suspension.
  ¶23 And while Rasmussen may have violated the terms of his
stay by practicing law, supra ¶ 2, he also violated the suspension
order itself. After all, inherent in the idea of a suspension order is
suspension—abstinence from the practice of law.6 Thus, the dis-
trict court‘s range of disciplinary options was not limited to lifting
the stay and imposing the one-year suspension contemplated in
the sanction order. Because the entire order was violated—not just
the stay—an additional sanction was warranted.
                                  2
  ¶24 Because the conduct that prompted his disbarment (lying
to the court and practicing law while under suspension) is not
similar to the conduct that resulted in his original sanction (failure
to appear at trial and filing multiple recusal motions), Rasmussen

 6 With this in mind, it seems inadvisable for district courts to
condition a stay of suspension on the attorney not practicing law.
That is what the suspension itself requires. A stay of a suspension
should be conditioned on other grounds.

                                  9
                  IN RE DISCIPLINE OF RASMUSSEN
                       Opinion of the Court
next contends that it was improper for the court to use progres-
sive discipline and to assume that disbarment was the appropriate
sanction. Again, we disagree.
  ¶25 Rasmussen is right on a threshold matter: RLDD 14-606(b)
does not control the outcome of this case. That rule provides that a
lawyer sanctioned for conduct similar to previously sanctioned
conduct should presumptively receive a sanction ―one level more
severe than the sanction the lawyer previously received.‖ As
Rasmussen notes, however, the conduct prompting his original
sanction is not similar to the conduct that caused his disbarment,
so 14-606(b) had no application to this case.
  ¶26 We find no error in the district court‘s decision, however,
as it relied not on RLDD 14-606(b) but on RLDD 14-606(a). That
provision states that in cases involving prior discipline, a ―district
court . . . may impose further sanctions upon a lawyer who vio-
lates the terms of a prior disciplinary order.‖7 This rule clearly ap-
plies to Rasmussen. He violated the terms of a previous discipli-
nary order and so was subject to further sanctions.8 True, this rule
does not prescribe the level of the ―further‖ sanction, like RLDD
14-606(b) does.9 But disbarment is an appropriate sanction for vio-

 7
    Though not cited by the district court, RLDD 14-526(e) pro-
vides additional support for the district court‘s decision to ratchet
up the level of discipline to disbarment. That rule states that
―[w]illful failure to comply with paragraph[] (a) [which states that
‗the respondent shall not accept any new retainer or employment
as a lawyer in any new case or legal matter,‘] . . . shall constitute
contempt of court and may be punished as such or by further dis-
ciplinary action.‖
 8  We accordingly reject Rasmussen‘s argument that the district
court erred in applying RLDD 14-606 instead of relying only on
RLDD 14-605 to determine the appropriate sanction. In fact, we
find 14-605 inapplicable for an additional reason: By its own
terms, that rule applies in the absence of ―aggravating or mitigat-
ing circumstances.‖ Here, the district court specifically listed ag-
gravating circumstances, making RLDD 14-605‘s recommenda-
tions irrelevant.
 9 It also does not mandate that the ―further sanction[]‖ be
brought in a separate, new action. See RLDD 14-606(a). We recog-

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                       Opinion of the Court

lations involving deceit and the improper practice of law, particu-
larly when our law requires that violation of a suspension order
be met with harsher punishment than that imposed in the suspen-
sion order.
  ¶27 Contrary to Rasmussen‘s assertions, nothing in the RLDD
suggests that the terms of 14-606(b) provide a limit on 14-606(a).
In other words, the circumstances of the case need not satisfy 14-
606(b) in order for a district court to impose escalated sanctions
under 14-606(a). The two subsections, though related, are not in-
terdependent. Thus, a district court can, in its discretion, impose a
higher-level sanction under RLDD 14-606(a) even if the violation
that prompted the first sanction is different from subsequent vio-
lations.
  ¶28 The district court understood this point. It applied 14-
606(a) without reference to 14-606(b). It did not feel constrained,
for instance, to impose disbarment as a presumptively correct
sanction—as it would have if it was employing 14-606(b). Rather,
the district court, after considering the circumstances of the viola-
tions and rule-imposed ―Factors to be considered in imposing

nize that, normally, OPC would bring a separate action to impose
sanctions on an attorney for a violation not yet the subject of dis-
ciplinary action—in this case, for instance, engaging in conduct
involving dishonesty or misrepresentation under rule 8.4(c) of the
Utah Rules of Professional Conduct or knowingly making a false
statement of fact to a tribunal under rule 3.3(a)(1). But because the
original suspension order required Rasmussen to refrain from vio-
lating any Rules of Professional Conduct during his suspension,
that was not necessary here. In essence, violation of another rule
was a violation of the suspension order. Moreover, consolidating
into one action the discipline for all of Rasmussen‘s rule violations
did not prejudice Rasmussen. He had an opportunity to defend
himself to the same extent that he would have had if a separate
action had been brought. Thus, nothing in this process violated
Rasmussen‘s due process rights, as he claims. Attorneys that lie to
the court and knowingly and purposefully violate a court order
should be aware that they risk disbarment. In any event, Rasmus-
sen was disbarred after an opportunity to submit motions and af-
ter a hearing on his violations. This is more than sufficient.

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                  IN RE DISCIPLINE OF RASMUSSEN
                       Opinion of the Court
sanctions,‖ see RLDD 14-604,10 determined that ―the appropriate
sanction for violation of the suspension order is the next higher
sanction‖ of disbarment. This was entirely appropriate under the
rules.
                                 3
 ¶29 Finally, Rasmussen challenges the district court‘s determi-
nation that no mitigating factors counseled against disbarment.
The disbarment order specifically found that ―there are no miti-
gating circumstances and the aggravating circumstances are clear.
Rasmussen blatantly disregarded the Order of the Court for his
own financial benefit. The violation was not a single episode but
nearly two score.‖
  ¶30 Rasmussen disagrees with this assessment and suggests
that the following should have been seen as mitigating under
RLDD 14-607:11 (1) he lacked a selfish motive because he was only
trying to help his clients and because he was worried about letting
his family and employees down and wanted to lessen the impact
of his bad judgment on them; (2) he had a clean disciplinary rec-
ord; (3) he took full responsibility for and freely disclosed his
conduct to the court, was cooperative, and expressed remorse;
and (4) OPC‘s delay in challenging his petition and affidavit was
unreasonable.

 10 These factors include ―(a) the duty violated; (b) the lawyer‘s
mental state; (c) the potential or actual injury caused by the law-
yer‘s misconduct; and (d) the existence of aggravating or mitigat-
ing factors.‖ RLDD 14-604.
 11  RLDD 14-607 details ―aggravating and mitigating circum-
stances [that] may be considered and weighed in deciding what
sanction to impose.‖ Sample aggravating factors include a prior
record of discipline, a dishonest or selfish motive, a pattern of
misconduct, multiple offenses, submission of false statements, and
substantial experience in the practice of law. RLDD 14-607(a).
Sample mitigating factors include the absence of a prior record of
discipline, absence of a selfish motive, personal or emotional
problems, disclosure of the misconduct prior to the discovery of it,
cooperative attitude toward proceedings, interim reform, and re-
morse. RLDD 14-607(b).

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                        Opinion of the Court

  ¶31 None of these circumstances are mitigating. Some are ag-
gravating. First, we think it a misstatement for Rasmussen to sug-
gest that he had no selfish motive in continuing to practice law
during his suspension. He undoubtedly had some concern for his
family and employees, but it is also apparent that his driving con-
cern was the need for money to maintain his lifestyle and his
business. This need for money can hardly be considered a mitigat-
ing ―personal or emotional problem[]‖ under RLDD 14-607(b)(3),
as Rasmussen suggests. If self-serving assertions about whole-
some motivations were enough to counter aggravating circum-
stances supported in the record, our disciplinary rules would be
toothless and unenforceable. We accordingly decline to accept
Rasmussen‘s assurances about his selfless motivation as a mitigat-
ing circumstance.
  ¶32 Second, Rasmussen did not have a clean record when argu-
ing before the district court against his disbarment. He had been
suspended for one year of practice.
  ¶33 Third—and perhaps most importantly—we have consist-
ently held that taking responsibility, disclosing wrongdoing to the
court, and reforming bad behavior have no mitigating effect when
they appear after the misconduct has been discovered and accusa-
tions have been made. See, e.g., In re Discipline of Ince, 957 P.2d
1233, 1238 (Utah 1998); see also RLDD 14-607(b)(5) (listing ―full
and free disclosure to . . . the disciplinary authority prior to the dis-
covery of any misconduct‖ as a mitigating circumstance (emphasis
added)). When a lawyer does these things after he has been
caught, he appears more sorry for being caught than for the un-
derlying conduct. See In re Discipline of Ince, 957 P.2d at 1238.
  ¶34 Rasmussen‘s final proposed mitigating circumstance is
similarly unpersuasive. OPC created no unreasonable delay by
failing to oppose Rasmussen‘s reinstatement within RLDD 14-
524‘s ten-day objection period. As discussed above, OPC‘s failure
to do so was a result of confusion, the same confusion that Ras-
mussen benefitted from when the district court initially upheld
his reinstatement. There is accordingly nothing mitigating in the
timing of OPC‘s filings.12

 12
    Even if 14-606(a) were insufficient to support the disbarment
sanction, there are sufficient facts in this case to support disbar-

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                  IN RE DISCIPLINE OF RASMUSSEN
                       Opinion of the Court
                                 III
  ¶35 We are not without some sympathy for the plight of Thom-
as Rasmussen. It could be argued that the initial suspension was
too stiff a penalty for the conduct that prompted it. But that ques-
tion is not before us, and whatever the propriety of the sanction,
the appropriate response was not to defy it, much less to cover-up
the defiance with subsequent misrepresentations and misleading
justifications.
   ¶36 As is often the case, here the aftermath and cover-up were
worse than the initial offense. A suspension order is a serious
sanction to be taken seriously. Here it was roundly ignored, and
flouted further by a subsequent cover-up. We do not condone
such behavior from litigants, and we certainly cannot countenance
it from officers of the court. The disbarment stands.
                           ———————

ment under RLDD 14-605, which outlines the standards for im-
posing disbarment ―[a]bsent aggravating or mitigating circum-
stances.‖ Rasmussen engaged in professional misconduct that
benefited himself and deceived the court, causing injury, at the
very least, to the legal system. See RLDD 14-605(a)(1) (describing
conduct meriting disbarment). He also engaged in misconduct
that involved dishonesty and deceit that seriously adversely re-
flects on the lawyer‘s fitness to practice law. See RLDD 14-
605(a)(3) (same). Rasmussen‘s central argument to the contrary—
that he substantially complied with the sanctions order, and so
did not lie in his affidavit and petition to the district court—is not
logical. Practicing law more than three dozen times cannot possi-
bly substantially satisfy an order not to practice law at all.

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