Court Opinion

ID: 2682243
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-07-08 15:02:29.141974+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:12:41.316115
License: Public Domain

RESPONDENT PRO SE                                      ATTORNEYS FOR THE INDIANA SUPREME COURT
Steve L. Brejensky                                     DISCIPLINARY COMMISSION
                                                       G. Michael Witte, Executive Secretary
                                                       David E. Griffith, Staff Attorney
                                                       Indianapolis, Indiana

______________________________________________________________________________

                                              In the
                              Indiana Supreme Court
                             _________________________________               Jul 02, 2014 9:35 am

                                      No. 29S00-1205-DI-277

IN THE MATTER OF:

STEVE L. BREJENSKY,
                                                       Respondent.
                             _________________________________

                                   Attorney Discipline Action
                                 Hearing Officer Gary L. Miller
                             _________________________________

                                            July 2, 2014

Per Curiam.

       We find that Respondent, Steve L. Brejensky, engaged in attorney misconduct by
committing a crime reflecting adversely on Respondent’s honesty and failing to report his
conviction to the Commission. For this misconduct, we conclude that Respondent should be
suspended from the practice of law in this state for at least one year without automatic
reinstatement.

       This matter is before the Court on the report of the hearing officer appointed by this
Court to hear evidence on the Indiana Supreme Court Disciplinary Commission's "Verified
Complaint for Disciplinary Action." Respondent's 1988 admission to this state's bar subjects him
to this Court's disciplinary jurisdiction. See IND. CONST. art. 7, § 4.
                                           Background

       Procedural background. The Commission filed a "Verified Complaint for Disciplinary
Action" against Respondent on May 22, 2012. Respondent filed an answer that was late and not
in proper form. Respondent failed to respond to the Commission's requests for admission. The
hearing officer therefore granted an application by the Commission for judgment on its
complaint. See Admis. Disc. R. 23(14)(c).

       The hearing officer filed his report on April 11, 2014. Neither party filed a petition for
review of the hearing officer's report (although the Commission filed a brief on sanctions).
When neither party challenges the findings of the hearing officer, "we accept and adopt those
findings but reserve final judgment as to misconduct and sanction." Matter of Levy, 726 N.E.2d
1257, 1258 (Ind. 2000).

       The hearing officer's findings of fact. Following a bench trial on October 21, 2011,
Respondent was convicted of Conversion, a class A misdemeanor.            Respondent has never
appealed or otherwise challenged his conviction. He did not send a copy of the finding of guilt
to the Commission.

       The hearing officer found no facts in mitigation. The hearing officer found the following
facts in aggravation: (1) Respondent has failed to keep current his address on the Indiana Roll of
Attorneys, evidenced by the Postal Service's return of multiple mailings sent to him during this
proceeding; (2) Respondent filed an answer to the Commission's complaint only after the hearing
officer ordered him to do so, and it did not comply with the requirements of Admis. Disc. R.
23(14)(b); (3) Respondent failed to comply with filing deadlines, even when granted extensions
of time; and (4) the contents of Respondent's answer show a lack of remorse for and lack of
insight into the nature of his wrongful conduct.

       The Court notes, as an additional fact in aggravation, that Respondent has the following
disciplinary history:

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            Continuing legal education noncompliance suspension, April 17, 2001; reinstated,
             September 28, 2001.
            Cause No. 29S00-1201-DI-25: Show cause petition for noncooperation with the
             Commission filed January 18, 2012; dismissed with costs, February 27, 2012.
            Cause No. 94S00-1308-MS-505: Suspended for failure to pay costs in above
             case, effective October 6, 2013. This suspension is still in effect.

                                             Discussion

        In Respondent's late, nonconforming answer, Respondent argues that he is not guilty of
conversion, arguing that he was wrongly accused of taking a bag of mulch from a gas station
without paying for it. He also recounts alleged irregularities in this trial, but, as noted, he has not
appealed or otherwise challenged his conviction. Moreover, he has not filed a petition for review
of the hearing officer's report. The Court therefore approves the hearing officer's findings of
fact.

        The Court concludes that Respondent violated these rules prohibiting the following
misconduct:
        Ind. Professional Conduct Rules:
           8.4(b): Committing a criminal act that reflects adversely on the lawyer's honesty,
           trustworthiness, or fitness as a lawyer.
           8.4(c): Engaging in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit, or misrepresentation.
        Ind. Admission and Discipline Rule 23(11.1)(a)(2): Failure to notify the Commission of
        a guilty finding.

        Given the seriousness of Respondent's misconduct and the substantial facts in
aggravation, the Court concludes that Respondent should be suspended for at least one year, after
which he may be reinstated only after proving his remorse, rehabilitation, and fitness to practice
law.

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                                            Conclusion

       The Court concludes that Respondent violated his professional duties as an attorney by
committing a crime reflecting adversely on Respondent’s honesty and failing to report his
conviction to the Commission.

       For Respondent's professional misconduct, the Court suspends Respondent from the
practice of law in this state for a period of not less than one year, without automatic
reinstatement, effective immediately. Respondent is already under suspension for failure to pay
costs in a noncooperation proceeding. Respondent shall fulfill all the continuing duties of a
suspended attorney under Admission and Discipline Rule 23(26). At the conclusion of the
minimum period of suspension, Respondent may petition this Court for reinstatement to the
practice of law in this state, provided Respondent pays the costs of this proceeding, fulfills the
duties of a suspended attorney, cures the causes of all suspensions then in effect, and satisfies the
requirements for reinstatement of Admission and Discipline Rule 23(4) and (18). Reinstatement
is discretionary and requires clear and convincing evidence of the attorney's remorse,
rehabilitation, and fitness to practice law. See Admis. Disc. R. 23(4)(b).

       The costs of this proceeding are assessed against Respondent.           The hearing officer
appointed in this case is discharged.

       The Clerk of this Court is directed to give notice of this opinion to the hearing officer, to
the parties or their respective attorneys, and to all other entities entitled to notice under
Admission and Discipline Rule 23(3)(d). The Clerk is further directed to post this opinion to the
Court's website, and Thomson Reuters is directed to publish a copy of this opinion in the bound
volumes of this Court's decisions.

All Justices concur.

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