Grievance Committee, Wyoming State Bar v. Riner

765 P.2d 925, 1988 Wyo. LEXIS 167, 1988 WL 130548
CourtWyoming Supreme Court
DecidedDecember 7, 1988
DocketNo. D-88-6
StatusPublished
Cited by3 cases

This text of 765 P.2d 925 (Grievance Committee, Wyoming State Bar v. Riner) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Wyoming Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Grievance Committee, Wyoming State Bar v. Riner, 765 P.2d 925, 1988 Wyo. LEXIS 167, 1988 WL 130548 (Wyo. 1988).

Opinion

ORDER OF SUSPENSION OF THE RIGHT TO PRACTICE LAW

CARDINE, Chief Justice.

The Grievance Committee of the Wyoming State Bar has presented to this Court its Report, Findings and Recommendation which incorporates its Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law, and Recommended Action, a copy of which is attached to this Order as Appendix A and hereby incorporated herein by reference, charging the above-named respondent-attorney (respondent), regularly admitted to the practice of law in the State of Wyoming, with professional misconduct in his office as an attorney at law. The respondent has filed his Exceptions to Report of Grievance Committee in accordance with the former version of Rule VI(g)(2) of the Disciplinary Code [926]*926for the Wyoming State Bar, together with relevant portions of the Transcript of Hearing before the Grievance Committee. Both parties have filed briefs in accordance with the Order Setting Time for Filing Briefs and Setting the Matter for Argument entered in this case on August 26, 1988. The Court, having considered the file and record of the Court, the proceedings before the Grievance Committee of the Wyoming State Bar, the responsive pleading of the respondent, and the briefs and arguments of the parties, finds and rules:

The primary contention of the respondent to be addressed in this matter is whether an attorney who undertakes a probate matter pursuant to the Wyoming Probate Code is the attorney for the estate or the attorney for the personal representative. The thrust of this contention is that, as a matter of law, the relationship of attorney and client did not exist between the complainant in this matter and the respondent. Other issues are raised with respect to whether a violation of a disciplinary rule of the Code of Professional Responsibility requires a finding of intent before the imposition of discipline; whether borrowing money without regard to the existence of an attorney-client relationship amounts to conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit or misrepresentation, and conduct adversely reflecting on the fitness to practice law; whether the failure to repay money borrowed from the complaining party constitutes engaging in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit or misrepresentation; whether inability to repay amounts to a violation of the disciplinary rules by not promptly paying or delivering over the funds of a client when requested to do so; whether the inclusion of a charge in the Report of the Grievance Committee which was not contained in the complaint violates the right of the respondent to due process; and the extent of the disciplinary action that should be imposed. The Court is satisfied that an attorney-client relationship existed between the respondent and the complainant to the Grievance Committee. Consequently, the Court concludes that there was a violation of the disciplinary rules and appropriate discipline hereby is imposed.

This matter comes before the Court according to Rule VI(i), Disciplinary Code for the Wyoming State Bar, which provides:

“(i) Whenever the committee shall recommend to the Supreme Court that an attorney be disciplined and shall file its report, findings and recommendations with the clerk of the Supreme Court (with a copy mailed to the respondent-attorney and his or her counsel), the said respondent-attorney shall within twenty (20) days after the mailing of such copy file with the clerk of the Supreme Court six (6) copies of:
“(1) A statement that respondent does not wish to file exceptions to the report, findings and recommendations; or
“(2) Respondent’s exceptions to said report stating the explicit reasons for the exceptions together with a brief prepared in accordance with Rule 5.01 of the Wyoming Rules of Appellate Procedure.
“If the respondent-attorney files a statement that respondent does not wish to file exceptions to the report or, if the respondent-attorney fails to respond, the court shall proceed with such discipline as it may determine to be proper. If the respondent-attorney files exceptions as required herein, properly supported with a brief and a transcript of relevant portions thereof, the court immediately shall calendar the matter for such briefs or arguments as it may deem appropriate and shall thereafter enter its judgment. During its review, the Supreme Court shall not receive or consider any evidence that was not presented to the committee.”

The Grievance Committee of the Wyoming State Bar submitted its Report to the Court on August 1, 1988. The Exceptions of the respondent were filed on August 19, 1988 and, following compliance with the briefing schedule which was ordered by the Court, argument was held on October 4, 1988.

The specific issues raised by the respondent in his brief are:

[927]*927“1. Under the Wyoming Probate Code, is an attorney who undertakes to probate a decedent’s Will the attorney for the estate or the attorney for the Personal Representative?
“2. As a matter of law did an attorney-client relationship exist between Respondent and Complainant?
“3. Does violation of a Disciplinary Rule of the Code of Professional Responsibility for attorneys require a finding of intent before discipline can be imposed?
“4. Did the actions of Respondent in borrowing money from the Complainant, whether or not an attorney-client relationship existed as a matter of law, constitute Respondent’s engaging in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit or misrepresentation and conduct which adversely reflects on Respondent’s fitness to practice law in violation of DR1-102(A)(4) and (6)?
“5. Did the actions of the Respondent in failing to repay the money borrowed from the Complainant Avis Wagner constitute engaging in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit or misrepresentation in violation of DR1-102(A)(4)?
“6. Did Respondent’s inability to repay the monies borrowed constitute a violation of DR9-102(B)(4) by not promptly paying or delivering over the funds of a client when requested to do so?
“7. Does the inclusion of a separate charge of misconduct in the Report of the Grievance Committee to the Supreme Court, which was not contained in the Complaint for Formal Disciplinary Proceedings violate Respondent’s Constitutional Right of Due process?
“8. In the event the Court finds the Respondent to have violated one or more of the provisions of the Disciplinary Code what disciplinary action, if any, would be in the best interest of the Respondent, the Complainant, the Bar Association and the Public?”

Constitutionally, statutorily, by the Court’s own rules, and as an inherent responsibility, this Court is charged with supervising those attorneys who practice law in the courts of this state. In each instance in which a recommendation is made by the Grievance Committee, the Court must examine the evidence, make findings, determine whether there has been a violation of appropriate standards of conduct, and impose the discipline which is perceived to be appropriate. Mendicino v. Whitchurch, 565 P.2d 460 (Wyo.1977).

The respondent contends that he was attorney for the estate of Harvey P. Armstrong, and that the attorney-client relationship existed only with respect to the estate.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Jackson State Bank v. King
844 P.2d 1093 (Wyoming Supreme Court, 1993)
Committee on Legal Ethics of West Virginia State Bar v. Simmons
399 S.E.2d 894 (West Virginia Supreme Court, 1990)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
765 P.2d 925, 1988 Wyo. LEXIS 167, 1988 WL 130548, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/grievance-committee-wyoming-state-bar-v-riner-wyo-1988.