Court Opinion

ID: 9754213
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-28 19:50:27.84198+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:27:50.725916
License: Public Domain

*294Dissenting Opinion by
ADKINS, J., which BATTAGLIA and BARBERA, JJ., join.
Most respectfully, I dissent from the majority opinion because the majority has trivialized Respondent’s serious misconduct of intentionally filing a forged document with the court. Whether Respondent intended to deceive the other attorney or not, he deceived the court when he presented a document that falsely purported to be signed by opposing counsel. This deserves more than a slap on the wrist.
The AGC characterizes Respondent’s conduct as “the cutting and pasting of a signature onto a document filed with the court without the authority or knowledge of the signatory,” and points to the Circuit Court’s finding of a violation of Maryland Rule 8.4(d). The Majority reports that the AGC argues that this misconduct is
serious[,] and relying on cases in which the falsification of documents resulted in a sanction of suspension from practice, Attorney Griev. Comm’n v. Babbitt, 300 Md. 637, 642, 479 A.2d 1372, 1375 (1984); Attorney Griev. Comm’n v. Maxwell, 307 Md. 600, 516 A.2d 570 (1986); Attorney Griev. Comm’n v. Sweitzer, 395 Md. 586, 592-94, 911 A.2d 440, 443-45 (2006), [recommends] that the respondent be suspended from the practice of law for 90 days.
(Footnote omitted.)
Majority Op. at 281, 31 A.3d at 520.
Although conceding that Respondent’s misconduct was serious, the Majority characterizes it as “procedural in nature and reflecting] a communication breakdown amongst counsel.” Maj. Op. at 282, 31 A.3d at 520. I have searched for and not found any cases recognizing a “procedural forgery.” A forgery by any other name is still a forgery. The document Respondent filed with the court was never seen or approved by Laura Penn Shanley, and she was chagrined when she learned that her “signature” appeared on it.
Citing Attorney Griev. Comm’n v. Hermina, 379 Md. 503, 510, 522, 842 A.2d 762, 766, 773 (2004) and two decades-old *295cases, the Majority concludes that a reprimand is a sufficient discipline. With respect to the older cases, the Majority cannot help but concede, however, that “this Court, over time, has become ‘much less lenient toward any misconduct involving theft, misappropriation, fraud, or deceit.’ Attorney Griev. Comm’n v. Gordon, 413 Md. 46, 57, 991 A.2d 51, 57 (2010) (quoting Attorney Griev. Comm’n v. Weiss, 389 Md. 531, 551, 886 A.2d 606, 617 (2005))” (footnote omitted).
The Majority analyzes Hermina as follows:
Nevertheless, under all of the circumstances, including the absence of any prior misconduct and Hermina’s commendable pro bono activities, this Court determined the appropriate sanction for Hermina’s misconduct to be a reprimand.
In contrast to Hermina, the Majority points to no commendable pro bono activities performed by Respondent. The Majority does not say much about Respondent in mitigation, as there is not much to say:
The [Rjespondent, in the words of one of his mentors, John Gardner, is:
“definitely one who could and should continue to practice law. He understands his error now, having had extensive discussions with [me and a named partner at his employing firm] on a number of occasions.”
These remedial actions dramatically reduce the likelihood that the conduct will be repeated. Additionally, Respondent has no record of any prior disciplinary action.
Maj. Op. at 292-93, 31 A.3d at 527. Several discussions with his new boss cannot fairly be said to “dramatically reduce the likelihood that the conduct will be repeated,” as the majority concludes. Nor can losing one job and finding another. This conduct was intentional misrepresentation to a court utilizing a forged document which, undeniably, violated Section 8.4(d). To impose only a reprimand for such conduct fails to protect the public, because it diminishes the high standards we have held attorneys to with respect to honesty and accuracy of the documents they file in court.
The Majority concludes:
*296The petitioner makes the point, with which we fully agree, that the misconduct in this case is serious. From that premise, it concludes the period of suspension it recommends is not simply justified, but required for the protection of the public. We do not agree. A reprimand under the circumstances sub judice will protect the public and also impress upon the respondent the seriousness of the misconduct in which he engaged.
Maj. Op. at 293, 31 A.3d at 527. I submit that filing a forged document with the court, whether' in a fit of pique at the other attorney or sheer aggressive behavior, is not to be so easily forgiven.
In conclusion, I dissent from the Majority’s imposition of only a reprimand, and agree with Bar Counsel’s recommendation that the Respondent be suspended from the practice of law for 90 days.
Judge BATTAGLIA and Judge BARBERA authorize me to state that they join in the views expressed in this dissent.