In re Anonymous No. 14 D.B. 84

49 Pa. D. & C.3d 32
CourtSupreme Court of Pennsylvania
DecidedMarch 9, 1988
DocketDisciplinary Board Docket no. 14 D.B. 84
StatusPublished

This text of 49 Pa. D. & C.3d 32 (In re Anonymous No. 14 D.B. 84) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of Pennsylvania primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
In re Anonymous No. 14 D.B. 84, 49 Pa. D. & C.3d 32 (Pa. 1988).

Opinion

To the Honorable Chief Justice and Justices of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania:

McGINLEY, Member,

— Pursuant to Rule 218(c)(5), Pa.R.D.E., the disciplinary board of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania submits its findings and recommendations to your honorable court with respect to the above captioned petition for reinstatement.

HISTORY OF PROCEEDINGS

Petitioner voluntarily assumed inactive status on January 1, 1973, in accordance with Rule 219 Pa.R.D.E. In the latter part of 1981, petitioner allegedly engaged in the unauthorized practice of law on two occasions and also filed a petition for reinstatement. In early 1982, petitioner withdrew the petition for reinstatement and once again allegedly engaged in the unauthorized practice of law..

As a result, allegations of professional misconduct were brought against petitioner by the office of disciplinary counsel. Petitioner, through counsel, asserted that he was suffering from a disabling condition that made it impossible for him to prepare an adequate defense to the allegations of professional [33]*33misconduct. Subsequently, on March 15, 1984, the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania issued an order transferring petitioner from voluntary inactive status to inactive status pursuant to Rule 301(e), Pa.R.D.E., relating to disabled attorneys.

Petitioner filed the current petition for reinJ statement on July 8, 1985. The matter was referred to Hearing Committee [ ]. Following a hearing regarding this matter, the 'hearing committee filed a report on May 21, 1986. Iii that report the hearing committee concluded that petitioner’s illness had improved and that petitioner could resume the practice of law subject to eight recommended conditions. The conditions called for the continued psychiatric treatment of petitioner and the updating of his legal education.

Disciplinary counsel filed a brief on exceptions to report of Hearing Committee [ . ]. Disciplinary counsel argued that petitioner had not met the burden of proof set forth in rule 301(h) PaR.D.E.

Petitioner filed a brief opposing disciplinary counsel’s brief on exceptions arguing that the findings of the hearing committee were supported by clear and convincing evidence. Petitioner argued further that he possessed the moral qualifications and competency and learning in the law required for admission to practice law.

Following oral argument before a three-member panel of the board, the board issued an order on September 4, 1986 reopening the record and remanding the matter to Hearing Committee [ ]. The order directed the hearing committee to receive additional evidence on the mental capacity of petitioner and to consider the recommendation that petitioner consult with a psychiatrist on a continuing basis in light of the fact that the record indicated he was not under the care of a psychiatrist. The board [34]*34also requested an independent psychiatric evaluation by Dr. [A].

A second hearing was held by Hearing Committee [ ] on February 11, 1987. Dr. [B] again testified on behalf of petitioner at this hearing, as he had done at the prior hearing. Dr. [A] also testified at this hearing. The hearing committee filed a second report on April 23, 1987, recommending immediate and unconditional reinstatement of petitioner.

Disciplinary counsel once again filed a brief on exceptions and that brief was followed by petitioner’s brief opposing the brief on exceptions. Disciplinary counsel again argued that petitioner had not met the burden of showing by clear and convincing evidence that his disability had been removed and that he was fit to resume the practice of law, as required by Rule 301(h) Pa.R.D.E. Disciplinary counsel asserted that the opinions of each doctor should have been viewed in light of all of the medical evidence presented throughout these proceedings. Petitioner argued that he had met the burden of proof of Rule 301(h) Pa.R.D.E. based upon the opinion of Dr. [B] and petitioner’s conduct during the proceedings.

On July 23, 1987 the disciplinary board issued an order reopening the record and remanding this matter to Hearing Committee [ ] to give petitioner sixty days to submit a treatment plan, as recommended by Dr. [A].

A hearing was held on October 14, 1987 at which time petitioner presented a treatment plan to Hearing Committee [ ]. The treatment plan was outlined by Dr. [C]. The hearing committee filed a third report on November 20, 1987, recommending that petitioner be immediately returned to active status subject to conditions. The first condition was that petitioner consult with his psychiatrist a minimum [35]*35of once every three months for a period of not less than one year. The .second condition provided that the first condition would be terminated if, after one year, Dr. [C] reports that petitioner remains symptom free. The second condition provided further that the first condition would remain in effect until Dr. [C] issues a discharge report, if thé first condition were not met after one year.

Disciplinary counsel filed a letter brief on exceptions to the hearing committee report and petitioner followed suit by filing a letter brief in support of the recommendation of Hearing Committee [ ]. Disciplinary counsel argued that petitioner’s exhibit containing the treatment plan was not properly admitted as evidence because Dr. [C] was not made available for cross examination. Counsel argued further that conditional reinstatement is unworkable and that the conditions indicate that there are significant doubts about petitioner’s fitness or competency to resume the practice of law. Petitioner argued that his exhibit was admitted to prove that the statement was made rather than to prove the truth or falsity of the statement. Petitioner argued further that his reinstatement should be unconditional, disposing of the argument that conditions would be impracticable.

This matter and the foregoing arguments were carefully considered by the disciplinary board at its January 15, 1988 meeting.

FINDINGS OF FACT

(1) Petitioner was bom on March 30, 1929, in [ ]. He presently resides at [ ].

(2) Petitioner graduated from the University of [ ] with an A.B. Degree in 1950. He then went to the University of [ ] School of Law where he graduated in 1954.

[36]*36(3) Petitioner was admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania on March 14, 1955.

(4) From January 1955 to November 1958, petitioner was engaged in the private practice of law in [ ] County, Pennsylvania.

(5) From November 1958 to June 1961, petitioner was employed by the federal government as a field attorney for the [D] Board in [ ], Pennsylvania.

(6) From June 1961 to June 1962, petitioner assisted his mother in the operation of a family business.

(7) From June 1962 to April 1965, petitioner again engaged in the private practice of law.

(8) From April 1965 to October 1967, petitioner was employed by the federal government as an attorney advisor for the [E], in [ ], Pennsylvania.

(9) From October 1967 to October 1969, petitioner was employed by the federal government as a legal advisor in the [F] in [ ], Pennsylvania.

(10) Commencing in 1969 the petitioner, following his resignation from the [F], became essentially unemployed because of consistent and recurring bouts of mental depression.

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