In Re Complaints as to the Conduct of Williams

840 P.2d 1280, 314 Or. 530, 1992 Ore. LEXIS 210
CourtOregon Supreme Court
DecidedOctober 29, 1992
DocketOSB 89-2; 89-30; OSB 90-91; 90-92; 90-93; SC S38051
StatusPublished
Cited by25 cases

This text of 840 P.2d 1280 (In Re Complaints as to the Conduct of Williams) 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 Williams, 840 P.2d 1280, 314 Or. 530, 1992 Ore. LEXIS 210 (Or. 1992).

Opinions

[532]*532PER CURIAM

This opinion involves two separate disciplinary cases filed against the accused, James E. Williams. We have consolidated the two proceedings for this opinion.

A. THE FIRST PROCEEDING

In this disciplinary proceeding, the Oregon State Bar charged the accused with violations of DR 1-102(A)(3) (conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit, or misrepresentation), DR 1-102(A)(4)1 (conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice), and DR 9-101(A)2 (failure to maintain client’s funds in identifiable trust account). The trial panel of the Oregon State Bar Disciplinary Board found the accused not guilty of violating DR 1-102 (A) (4) and guilty of violating DR 1-102(A)(3) and DR 9-101(A), imposing a reprimand for each of the two violations.

The accused seeks review of the trial panel’s finding that he violated DR 1-102(A)(3). He does not seek review of the trial panel’s finding that he violated DR 9-101(A). We review de novo. ORS 9.536(3). The Bar has the burden of establishing disciplinary violations by clear and convincing evidence. BR 5.2.

[533]*533The issues presented for review are (1) whether the accused made a misrepresentation, in violation of DR 1-102 (A)(3), and, if so, (2) whether that violation, in addition to the violation of DR 9-101(A), warrants that the accused receive more than a reprimand. The Bar argues that the trial panel’s finding that the accused committed two disciplinary rule violations is correct, but asks that the court impose a suspension of no less than 30 days for those violations.

Concerning DR 1-102 (A) (3), we find: On December 2, 1986, Mr. and Mrs. Durham were landlords. Their tenant was Erin Nugent. On behalf of Nugent, on December 2,1986, the accused wrote a letter to the Durhams. The letter read as follows:

“I represent Erin Casey Nugent who is your tenant in the house located at 1910 20th Street, NE, Salem, Marion County, Oregon.
“There are some serious maintenance and repair problems existing in that house, all of which are your responsibility under the Oregon Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (ORLTA). These include:
“ 1. Repair entire electrical system
2. Repair roof leaks
3. Repair cooking stove
4. Provide adequate heat in all rooms
5. Repair or replace waterheater
6. Repair bathtub drain
7. Repair broken and loose windows
8. Weatherize doors and windows
9. Clean chimney
‘ ‘The first five items listed are essential services according to law. If you do not take immediate action to make those repairs and supply those essential services, my client will pursue the remedies available to her including but not limited to, causing the necessary work to be done and deducting the value of that work from her rent, and seeking damages in court.
“Further, until such time as you make arrangements to make all the repairs and perform all the maintenance set forth above as required by law, all rent payments will be placed in a trust account to assure your compliance.
“Please contact me immediately to make arrangements to effect these repairs, or if you wish to designate persons to do the work on items 1 through 5.
[534]*534“All further communications or notices to my client under the ORLTA are to be directed in care of this office.”

After receiving that letter, Mrs. Durham talked to the accused on December 3 or 4. Before the trial panel, she testified as follows:

“Q Will you please tell the panel the content of your conversation with Mr. Williams?
‘ ‘A Oh, you know, we were dumbfounded. I asked him what — you know, about the letter. And he reiterated that he had our rent money, and he said that we had 24 hours to make all the repairs on the list in his letter, or he would have them done —
“Q Okay.
“A — And sue us.
“ Q Did you ask him anything?
“A I said what gives you the right to keep our rent money. We know nothing about this. And he says I have it. I can do it.
“Q Was anything else said to you by Mr. Williams at that time?
“A That threat was repeated two to three times. And I hung up on him. ’ ’

The accused denies making those statements to Mrs. Durham.

On December 10, 1986, the accused again wrote to the Durhams as follows:

“Because you have chosen to ignor [sic] written and oral demands that you provide essential services required under the Oregon Residential Landlord and Tenant Act, we will be making arrangements with licensed contractors to make needed repairs to the roof, electrical system, cooking stove and waterheater, and to install space heaters. The cost of this work will be paid out of the rent payments held in trust, at the rate of $200.00 per month as provided by law.
“We will not hesitate to invoke the full protection of the law to prevent any further harassment of my client by you, by phone or in person.” (Bold emphasis added.)

On December 10, the accused had none of the Durhams’ rent money in his trust account. On or about [535]*535December 12, Nugent gave the accused a check for $250, which was to be placed in the accused’s trust account. The accused did not deposit the $250 in his trust account.

Mr. and Mrs. Durham hired an Albany lawyer named Kent Hickam. Hickam wrote to the accused on December 13, 1986, as follows:

“I represent Steve and Karolyn Durham regarding the landlord/tenant matter concerning your client, Erin Casey Nugent. Please direct all future communications concerning this matter to me at the above address.
CC* * * * *
“You also have no basis to hold the December rental payment in your trust account. We insist that the rent be paid immediately as it is now overdue.”

Hickam and Mr. and Mrs. Durham all testified that they understood, from the accused’s letters, that he was holding Nugent’s rent in his trust account to pay for the cost of repairs. Nugent moved out on or after December 15,1986. The accused returned the check to Nugent, but he did not advise Hickam or the Durhams that the $250 was not in his trust account. He wrote a letter terminating the tenancy effective January 3,1987. Not until several years later, when he was ordered to respond, did the accused tell his opponent that he held no funds in his trust account.

In its answering brief, the Bar states:

“The Bar does not dispute Mr. Williams’ assertion that the December 12 [sic: December 2] and December 10 statements regarding his intent to hold Ms.

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Bluebook (online)
840 P.2d 1280, 314 Or. 530, 1992 Ore. LEXIS 210, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/in-re-complaints-as-to-the-conduct-of-williams-or-1992.