Court Opinion

ID: 9541822
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-07 16:28:52.330347+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:04:57.926057
License: Public Domain

PAPADAKOS, Justice,
dissenting.
I respectfully dissent from the majority’s holding that the evidence of psychiatric illness sufficiently mitigates the Respondent’s egregious misconduct so as to justify the sanction of suspension rather than the disbarment. I disagree with the Court’s disposition of this matter for several reasons. My review of the record convinces me that the Respondent has not carried his burden of establishing, by clear and convincing evidence, a connection between his psychiatric illness and his acts of misconduct. Therefore, there are no mitigating circumstances in this case. Respondent has engaged in conduct which is illegal, dishonest and deceitful, and I recommend that he be disbarred.
At the hearing of evidence in mitigation of the discipline to be imposed on August 28, 1987, Respondent presented the testimony of a psychiatrist, Edward H. Slagle, M.D., and his own testimony with regard to his history of neurotic depression and treatment thereof. The testimony shows that Respondent sought help for his depression on two occasions, first in 1976 and second in late October 1986. Neither of these occurred during the relevant time period *163when the misconduct took place. Respondent represented the executrix in administering her decedent’s estate from November of 1980 to September 1985, during which period he took no action of record with regard to the estate. He did, however, manage to forge the name of his executrix to fifteen checks between the period of March 1982 and July 1985. Respondent claims to have been severely depressed during the entire period (1980 through 1985). Yet he sought no treatment whatsoever during that period. The only basis for Dr. Slagle’s diagnosis as to Respondent’s condition during that time period was Respondent’s own assertion that he was depressed. With regard to the causal connection between the depressed condition and the misconduct, the most Dr. Slagle could say was that he thought that Respondent set himself up to be punished because of guilt feelings. When asked whether neurotic depression would cause a person to engage in forgery or misappropriation of client funds, Dr. Slagle said “I would say sometimes” (N.T. 21). However, upon further questioning for clarification purposes, Dr. Slagle talked in terms of neglect or morally dishonest conduct rather than legally dishonest conduct.
Dr. Patrick McDonough, Petitioner’s expert, testified regarding the symptoms of neurotic depression. His testimony for the most part agreed with Dr. Slagle as to the general symptoms of depression; however, he unequivocally stated that the symptoms did not include dishonest or illegal conduct. He testified that in his professional opinion the neurotic depression did not cause Respondent to misappropriate the funds or engage in forgery (N.T. 81-84). Further, he testified that the self-punitive conduct which is characteristic of neurotic depression ordinarily takes the form of actual physical harm to the person, i.e., cutting the wrists or taking pills in a suicide attempt, and does not involve engaging in conduct to harm third parties (N.T. 82).
Respondent admitted that he committed the forgeries, that he knew what he was doing was wrong, and he was *164aware of the consequences. I find the fact that Respondent attempted to conceal his misconduct by replacing funds which he had misappropriated when he feared discovery of his very careful forgeries to be in conflict with the theory advanced by Dr. Slagle that Respondent was setting himself up to be punished. I also find it interesting that Respondent only sought treatment for his depression after he received the letter of allegations from the office of Disciplinary Counsel. I would also like to note that forgery and conversion are crimes in this Commonwealth and, if criminal charges are brought, neurotic depression would not constitute a defense to such charges. The Hearing Committee report noted that the Respondent received an informal admonition for violation of DR 6-101(A)(3) in 1983, but he sought no help for his alleged depressive condition at that time. In fact, at no time during the three year period during which Respondent engaged in the forgeries and misappropriation did he seek treatment for his depression. Further, Dr. Slagle testified that Respondent clearly has not progressed to the point where he is cured or able to function without monitoring. He also cannot provide any assurances that Respondent’s depression will not recur or that Respondent will not be a danger to the public.
The primary purpose of our system of lawyer discipline is to protect the public from unfit attorneys and to maintain the integrity of the legal system. Office of Disciplinary Counsel v. Keller, (citations omitted) 509 Pa. 573, 579, 506 A.2d 872, 875 (1986). In light of the serious breaches of trust engaged in by the Respondent and the lack of any mitigating circumstances, the imposition of suspension for a two year period is an inadequate response if we intend by our disciplinary process to engender the public perception of confidence in our system. Id,., 509 Pa. at 579, 506 A.2d at 875. I would, therefore, make the Rule to Show Cause why Respondent Should not be Disbarred absolute and disbar Seymour H. Braun from the practice of law within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.