In re Complaints as to the Conduct of Hills

678 P.2d 262, 296 Or. 526, 1984 Ore. LEXIS 1106
CourtOregon Supreme Court
DecidedMarch 6, 1984
DocketOSB 82-56 and 82-130; 83-15 and 83-16 SC S30023
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 678 P.2d 262 (In re Complaints as to the Conduct of Hills) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Oregon Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
In re Complaints as to the Conduct of Hills, 678 P.2d 262, 296 Or. 526, 1984 Ore. LEXIS 1106 (Or. 1984).

Opinion

PER CURIAM

On January 5,1983, the Oregon State Bar served the first of two complaints on John Hills accusing him of unethical conduct. The first complaint consisted of three separate causes. The first cause involves Hills’ conduct during and after the course of his representation of Mr. and Mrs. Clive Cashman. The second cause involves Hills’ conduct in drawing partnership agreements for and obtaining loans from Leonard Cebula. The third cause involves Hills’ conduct in issuing a check from his clients’ trust account to Judy Thompson.

On April 6,1983, a hearing on the first complaint was conducted before the Trial Board. That hearing was continued to April 25, 1983. Hills did not appear on either date.1 On June 10, 1983, the Trial Board issued an order of default and on July 1,1983, filed its findings, conclusions and recommendations.

After taking testimony, the Trial Board recommended that Hills be suspended indefinitely2 from the practice of law in Oregon and be required to take and pass the Legal Ethics examination as a condition to reinstatement to active practice. The Disciplinary Review Board recommended that Hills be permanently disbarred from the practice of law. In its brief to this court on the first complaint, the Oregon State Bar recommends that Hills be permanently disbarred.

On July 13, 1983, the Oregon State Bar served the second complaint on John Hills accusing him of unethical conduct in two causes. The first cause involves Hills’ conduct during and after his representation of Shirley Snowe. The second cause involves his representation of Paul White.

On October 24, 1983, a hearing on the second complaint was held before the Trial Board and Hills again failed to [529]*529appear. The Trial Board issued an order of default and recommended that Hills be permanently disbarred. The Disciplinary Review Board also recommended permanent disbarment. We find that Hills violated the disciplinary rules set out below and order his permanent disbarment.

FIRST COMPLAINT

Cashmans

After reviewing the record of the first cause of the first complaint, we find that in January, 1980, Mr. and Mrs. Clive Cashman consulted with Hills to obtain legal advice regarding a real estate transaction. During the course of his representation of the Cashmans, Hills learned they had approximately $60,000 in cash they wished to invest. Hills advised the Cashmans of an investment opportunity in a mobile home park in Salem, Oregon, in which Hills had a financial interest. On June 26,1980, the Cashmans gave him a cashier’s check in the amount of $30,000 and received a promissory note, signed by Hills and two other persons whose signatures are illegible. The promissory note provided for an interest rate of 18 percent. The interest was to be paid in monthly installments of $450 for six months, and the principal was to be repaid after six months.

Beginning in October, 1980, the Cashmans had extreme difficulty in obtaining any payments from Hills. Hills repeatedly advised them that payments would be forthcoming, but payments were consistently made late and in an amount less than $450. Nearly one year later, Hills tendered to the Cashmans a check in full payment of the loan. They subsequently presented the check to a bank and it was returned for insufficient funds.

At no time did Hills advise the Cashmans to seek independent legal counsel before making the loan to him.

Hills was charged with violations of DR 1-102(A)(4) and (6), DR 5-104(A), and DR 7-102(A)(5). DR 1-102(A)(4) and (6) of the Code of Professional Responsibility provide:

“DR 1-102 Misconduct.
“(A) A lawyer shall not:
a* * He * *
[530]*530“(4) Engage in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit, or misrepresentation.
* * * *
“(6) Engage in any other conduct that adversely reflects on his fitness to practice law.”

We conclude that Hills engaged in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit and misrepresentation in his dealings with the Cashmans. Hills told the Cashmans they could obtain the loan principal at any time and that funds were available to pay the note. We find from the evidence that Hills wrote a check to the Cashmans knowing that there were insufficient funds in the account. Hills’ conduct violated DR 1-102(A)(4) and (6).

DR5-104(A) of the Code of Professional Responsibility provides:

“DR 5-104 Limiting Business Relations with a Client.
“(A) A lawyer shall not enter into a business transaction with a client if they have differing interests therein and if the client expects the lawyer to exercise his professional judgment therein for the protection of the client, unless the client has consented after full disclosure.”

In In re Bartlett, 283 Or 487, 584 P2d 296 (1978), we held that in any situation in which a lawyer enters into a business transaction with his client where they have differing interests, and the client expects the lawyer to exercise his professional judgment, the lawyer must advise his client to seek independent legal advice. In this case, the Cashmans not only entered into business transactions with Hills, but also relied on Hills’ professional judgment. Furthermore, Hills did not advise the Cashmans that their interests were adverse to his or that they should seek independent legal counsel before entering into the transactions. Hills’ conduct was and is unethical and a violation of DR 5-104(A).

DR 7-102(A)(5) of the Code of Professional Responsibility provides:

“DR 7-102 Representing a Client Within the Bounds of the Law.
[531]*531“(A) In his representation of a client, a lawyer shall not:
((* * * * *
“(5) Knowingly make a false statement of law or fact.”

The evidence proves that Hills told the Cashmans that funds were available to pay them when they were not. Hills’ conduct violated DR 7-102(A)(5).

Cebula

We reviewed the record on the second cause of the first complaint and find that Hills met Leonard L. Cebula in April, 1980, to discuss investment opportunities with Hills. Hills told Cebula that he wanted to borrow money from Cebula in order to invest in various real properties. Between April, 1980, and February, 1981, Cebula loaned funds to Hills. None of the loans was secured. In July, 1981, at Cebula’s request, Hills gave Cebula a trust deed as security for the loans. Cebula asked Hills to record the trust deed and was told that it would be recorded promptly. The trust deed was not recorded until December 31, 1981, at which time there were four prior trust deeds, claims for unpaid taxes, and a judgment filed against the property. Hills became delinquent in making loan payments to Cebula and in November, 1981, Hills tendered checks to Cebula as payments on his loans. The checks were returned for insufficient funds.

During the same time period, Cebula entered into partnerships with Hills. Hills represented to Cebula that Cebula would be a limited partner. Hills drew up the partnership agreements and Cebula and Hills signed them.

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

Related

In Re Complaint as to the Conduct of Willer
735 P.2d 594 (Oregon Supreme Court, 1987)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
678 P.2d 262, 296 Or. 526, 1984 Ore. LEXIS 1106, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/in-re-complaints-as-to-the-conduct-of-hills-or-1984.