In re Anonymous No. 42 D.B. 81

41 Pa. D. & C.3d 435
CourtSupreme Court of Pennsylvania
DecidedAugust 9, 1985
DocketDisciplinary Board Docket No. 42 D.B. 81
StatusPublished

This text of 41 Pa. D. & C.3d 435 (In re Anonymous No. 42 D.B. 81) 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. 42 D.B. 81, 41 Pa. D. & C.3d 435 (Pa. 1985).

Opinion

REPORT OF THE DISCIPLINARY BOARD OF THE SUPREME COURT OF' PENNSYLVANIA

CURRAN, Member,

I. HISTORY OF PROCEEDINGS

On July 23, 1981, petitioner, Office of Disciplinary Counsel, filed a petition for discipline with the Disciplinary Board charging respondent, [ ], with multiple violations of the Code of Professional Responsibility outlined in seven separate charges. The petition for discipline was duly served on respondent on July 27, 1981. No answer to the petition was filed within the prescribed time period. The matter was assigned to hearing committee [ ] on September 9, 1981. On September 11, 1981, respondent’s answer to the petition was received.

A prehearing conference was scheduled and held on October 27, 1981. It was decided that a separate [436]*436preliminary hearing on the issue of delayed prosecution (laches) be held. The laches hearing was initially scheduled for November 13, 1981, but was continued at respondent’s request because of judicial workload created by the medical absence of the other [ ] County judge. The laches hearing was then rescheduled to February 24, 1982. A scheduling conflict with a member of the hearing committee forced a continuance to April 15, 1982, when the laches hearing was held. After the filing of briefs by both parties, the hearing committee issued a ruling on July 6, 1982, denying respondent’s motion to dismiss on the grounds of laches.

Hearings on the substantive disciplinary charges were then set for November and December 1982, and January 1983. The November and December sessions were continued due to respondent’s judicial schedule and due to his undergoing eye surgery.

Hearings were held on January 10-11, 1983. Petitioner was represented by [A], assistant disciplinary counsel. Respondent was represented by [B], Esq. Testimony from 10 prosecution witnesses was taken during the two hearing days.

Further hearings were scheduled for February 3-4, 1983, but were continued due to respondent’s medical illness. Continued' hearings were scheduled for August 17-18, 1983. On August 17, 1983, testimony was received from four additional witnesses, and documentary evidence was introduced pertaining to the black lung cases. The Office of Disciplinary Counsel then rested. Respondent presented a motion to dismiss alleging that newspaper publicity violated his right to confidentiality and prejudiced his case.

Briefs were duly filed, and argument was presented to the hearing committee on September 16, [437]*4371983. The hearing committee denied respondent’s motions by order of September 29, 1983. Respondent was afforded 30 days to appeal that order, but no appeal was filed.

Hearings to take defense testimony were then set for January 23-24, 1984. Respondent requested a continuance of those hearings, which request was denied by the hearing .committee. The hearings convened on January 23, 1984, but respondent did not appear and presented no defense evidence. The record was closed. Respondent was afforded 30 days to file any appeal from the denial of the continuance or of the closing of the record. No such appeal was filed.

Pursuant to written “Notice of Hearing Dispositional” the hearing committee met on the morning of June 11, 1984, to afford the parties an opportunity to present any facts or arguments concerning appropriate disposition of this matter. Respondent’s attorney, in a letter dated June 4, 1984, to [ ], chairman of the hearing committee, reported that neither he nor respondent would appear and neither did appear.

Petitioner, through its attorney, [A], Esq., did appear and recommended disbarment.

II. DISCUSSION

Hearing committee [ ], attorneys [ ] filed their report on February 27, 1985. Therein said committee thoroughly reviews the facts and carefully discusses the rules respondent allegedly violated and their application to the facts in the instant procedure.

The discussion herein will therefore consist of a count by count synopsis of the case, initially citing a brief description of respondent’s alleged conduct [438]*438followed by the Disciplinary Rules petitioner charged were violated.

Charge No. 1

Charge No. 1 avers that respondent was retained to prosecute a personal injury action on behalf of [C], who was injured in an automobile accident. Respondent conducted no settlement negotiations on [C]’s behalf, failed to file any action on her behalf prior to the expiration of the statute of limitations or at any time thereafter, and did not make any other effort to preserve [C]’s cause of action. Further, respondent failed to respond to numerous telephone calls of [C], and did not advise her that her case had been prejudiced due to his lack of attention. Finally, in January of 1976 respondent transferred the files to attorney [D] without consulting with [C], As a result of respondent’s failure to timely institute suit, [C] was precluded from prosecuting her cause of action.

Petitioner avers that respondent has, by his conduct, violated the following disciplinary rules of the Code of Professional Responsibility:

A. D.R.2-110(A)(2) — dealing with necessary steps to be taken prior to an attorney’s withdrawal as counsel;

B. D.R.2-110(C) — dealing with the limited circumstances under which an attorney may withdraw as counsel;

C. D.R.6-101(A)(3) — dealing with neglect by an attorney of a legal matter entrusted to the attorney’s care;

D. D.R. 7-101 (A)( 1) — dealing with an attorney’s intentional failure to seek the lawful objectives of his client;

[439]*439E. D.R.7-101 (A)(2) — dealing with an attorney’s intentional failure to carry out a contract of employment;

F. D.R.7-101(A)(3) — dealing with an attorney’s intentionally prejudicing or damaging his client;

G. D.R. 1-102(A)(6) — dealing with conduct that adversely reflects on an attorney’s fitness to practice law.

Charge No. 2

Charge No. 2 was withdrawn by petitioner at the hearing.

Charge No. 3

Charge No. 3 avers that respondent was retained by [E] to represent [E] in the purchase of a residential property from a seller who was also a client of respondent. [E] was aware of respondent’s dual representation. Respondent assured [E] that he was getting clear title to the property and the- sale was consummated. In reliance on respondent’s assurance of clear title, [E] proceeded to make improvements to the property, expending approximately $5,000 therefor. Subsequently, [E] applied for a loan from a lending institution whose attorney searched the title and advised [E] that the title was defective and why.

At the time that the sale was consummated, Respondent knew or should have known that the title was defective but respondent failed to advise [E] of this fact and to the contrary assured [E] that he was getting clear title.

[E] advised respondent of the title problems found by the lending institution’s attorney. Respondent prepared and recorded a purportedly corrective [440]*440deed. This did not correct the title problems. Respondent refused to undertake any additional work on the matter. He did not discuss the title problems with the lending institution’s attorney or take any additional steps to cure the defects.

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41 Pa. D. & C.3d 435, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/in-re-anonymous-no-42-db-81-pa-1985.