Court Opinion

ID: 9623149
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-22 06:28:32.186733+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:05:25.007092
License: Public Domain

Felton, Chief Judge,
dissenting. As I understand the record, Mr. Cushway was charged by his client with charging an exhorbitant fee. The only evidence of that fact is the opinion of the client that it was exhorbitant. The evidence, in my opinion, renders the conclusion that the fee was immorally exhorbitant very, very doubtful.
As to the fact that in rendering his account Mr. Cushway reported $497.72 paid to creditors was more than was actually paid, the error in reporting the excess paid to creditors was a miscalculation. What the attorney meant by the accounting was that he had paid out so much money and had so much money left in his hands and that he wrote a check for the balance to himself as a fee for services rendered. The attorney had authority from his client to issue a check to himself for his fee. The charge made against the attorney is simply that the amount of fee was unconscionably excessive. I do not think that the evidence authorizes the finding that the attorney stole the $497.72 and that the fee charged, which included the $497.72, was morally excessive. The mere opinion of the client, as against the record in this case, is simply insufficient to warrant the disbarment of the attorney in this case. This is especially true when the quantum of proof, as held by the majority, is evidence beyond a reasonable doubt. There is no assurance in this case that the proceedings were held under this theory. The rule on the subject is contradictory, in my opinion, and a presumption that the judge correctly interpreted the rule is unwarranted. Since there was no jury and no charge to a jury, the record should have shown whether the case was tried under a mere any-evidence rule or the correct rule, any evidence beyond a reasonable doubt. There is quite a difference. It is unfortunate, that the evidence is not set out in more detail.
*379As to the other sanctions it is my opinion that the rules should not be held to impose two sanctions for the same identical conduct. Think what untoward injustice that could lead to.