Court Opinion

ID: 9466102
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-05 01:05:49.651619+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:39:33.007261
License: Public Domain

McKAY, Circuit Judge,
concurring in the result:
Although I believe that the dissenting opinion may correctly characterize the result which should have been'reached in the prior appeal brought in this case, I believe the instant appeal is in substance only a much-belated petition for rehearing. Rightly or wrongly, the issues that divide the other panel members were decided in the earlier appeal, and the time for asking this court’s reconsideration of its determination has long since expired. All purported defects in the earlier disposition would have been known to appellant during the period in which filing for rehearing would have been timely. I therefore agree with the decision to affirm. .
Nonetheless, I believe a troubling subsidiary matter should be addressed. There appears to be a substantial likelihood that disciplinary proceedings are in order. If counsel for appellant is correct, counsel for appellee deliberately misstated material facts to this court in the brief he filed in the prior appeal. If counsel for appellee is correct, counsel for appellant has leveled false charges of serious professional impropriety against a member of the bar. Both charges are extremely grave. If either is true, disciplinary sanctions are in order.
We have not investigated the charges and countercharges raised in this case, nor is such an undertaking the proper responsibility of this court in the first instance. I am, however, mailing a copy of this opinion to the Commissioners of the Utah State Bar, of which both attorneys are members, for their appropriate disposition. I will also direct the clerk of this court to supply the Commissioners with copies of the relevant materials.
In a growing number of cases, adversarial rivalry has degenerated into accusations of unethical conduct. This court will not tolerate false charges of this variety. Neither will it abide the filing of dishonest statements by practitioners. We expect the highest standard of care by attorneys in correctly citing facts and cases. If necessary, when deliberate or grossly negligent miscitations occur, we will strike the briefs and leave the clients who are damaged thereby to malpractice remedies. We intend to apply an equal standard to false accusations of unethical conduct.
When misstatements of the type discussed here do occur, opposing counsel should note the errors in a responsive brief. Misconduct should not be so characterized in the briefs on appeal, lest the argument shift to focusing on the integrity of practitioners rather than the substantive issues raised in the appeal. Where the misstatements suggest the likelihood of misconduct, opposing counsel should file a charge with the appropriate bar authorities. We will ourselves be alert to whether the challenged *277statements suggest the propriety of disciplinary proceedings and will, as in the instant case, initiate appropriate action when the opposing attorney has not already done so.
Having outlined our views in this matter generally, we repeat that we express no view at this time concerning which attorney is correct in the instant dispute. We assume that the matter will be resolved in a more appropriate forum so that the rights of the litigants will not be further affected by this controversy.
I am authorized to state that SETH, C. J., concurs in the views expressed in this opinion on the matter of professional misconduct on the part of attorneys who practice before us.