Court Opinion

ID: 9488912
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-05 12:59:35.431848+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:53:11.155117
License: Public Domain

WELLFORD, Circuit Judge,
concurring.
I concur in the majority opinion but write separately to emphasize several aspects of the case. The amount paid by Maurello’s fraud victims who indicated dissatisfaction with his services represents to this judge a good initial measure of the degree of “loss” involved by reason of this deceitful and unconscionable conduct by a disbarred lawyer. The “value” of legal services is hard to gauge by laymen clients just as the “measure of harm” to these “clients” is difficult to assay. It is also a serious challenge to ascertain to what extent Maurello’s services may have benefitted the victims or “clients” who did not complain. A qualified and licensed attorney may have done a better job for less money, or it may be that Maurello’s services were actually inadequate, unknown to his “client.” Upon the remand, I would emphasize that the district court must only determine whether the dissatisfied “clients” or victims have “a reasonable basis in fact” for their professed feeling of having been shortchanged by Maurello.
I am disposed to concur, not altogether enthusiastically, with my brothers in their interpretation of United States v. Kopp, 951 F.2d 521 (3d Cir.1991), and United States v. Badaracco, 954 F.2d 928 (3d Cir.1992), in assessing fraud loss under the guidelines. I find it difficult, however, to find a good analogy between the services of an unlicensed contractor in building a structure, and the services of a disbarred lawyer in handling a domestic relations case. Thus, I do not find United States v. Schneider, 930 F.2d 555 (7th Cir.1991), particularly relevant.
I would also emphasize that the district court is “free to reconsider on remand” whether an upward departure is “appropriate” in light of all the circumstances.