Court Opinion

ID: 9781558
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-30 16:51:48.077508+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:34:28.027141
License: Public Domain

CONCURRING OPINION
(COVELL).
I reluctantly concur with the Opinion and Order imposing the sanction of disbarment in this case. I agree that Respondent’s knowing and intentional conversion of client trust funds is egregious, and that Colorado Supreme Court precedent supports disbarment as the appropriate sanction absent extraordinary circumstances, which are not found here. Short of disbarment, the greatest sanction available is a three-year suspension. ABA Standard 4.42 finds suspension appropriate where a lawyer knowingly fails to perform services for a client or engages in a pattern of neglect, and causes injury or potential injury to a client. When such neglect rises to the level of abandonment of a lawyer’s practice, or results in serious injury to a client, disbarment is generally appropriate. ABA Standard 4.41.
There is no intermediate sanction that recognizes both the seriousness of conversion of client funds and the public interest that is served when a lawyer takes responsibility for misconduct, makes restitution, and cooperates fully with the disciplinary process. Disbarring Mr. Rhodes notwithstanding his restitution, remorse and cooperation may well discourage other lawyers from acknowledging responsibility for their wrongdoing, making voluntary restitution and cooperating with the disciplinary process, to the overall detriment of wronged clients, the profession, and the public in general. Although Mr. Rhodes’ wrongful conduct cannot be condoned, his actions thereafter demonstrate more integrity and potential for rehabilitation than is shown by some respondents in other cases of disbarment, such as the recently-decided case of People v. Blasé, 106 P.3d 1057 (Colo.O.P.D.J.2005), in which the respondent abandoned numerous clients, refused to return thousands of dollars of unearned client retainers, and failed to appear or participate in disciplinary proceedings. To impose the same sanction — disbarment— on both Mr. Rhodes and Ms. Blasé overlooks the benefit to the public and the profession that accrues when a lawyer takes personal responsibility for his or her actions, freely *1188admits misconduct, pays or makes arrangements to pay for the clients’ losses, and cooperates fully in the disciplinary process.
I am very troubled that no intermediate sanction is available (such as suspension for longer than three years) that would recognize both the seriousness of conversion of client funds and also that the public interest is served when lawyers acknowledge their misconduct, demonstrate remorse, and voluntarily make arrangements for restitution, as Mr. Rhodes has done here. In this case, I believe the public would be best served by imposing a significant suspension on Mr. Rhodes and requiring as conditions of reinstatement that he complete his restitution obligation, obtain appropriate training in law office management, a practice monitor, treatment for his mental condition, and such other conditions as are deemed necessary to protect the public and his future clients. I would urge the Colorado Supreme Court to include such an intermediate sanction in Rule 251.6.