In re Padgett

504 P.2d 814, 95 Idaho 141, 1972 Ida. LEXIS 272
Idaho Supreme Court·Decided December 29, 1972·No. No. 11153·Published

Opinion

PER CURIAM.

On August 23, 1971, a complaint was filed before the Committee on Discipline of the Idaho Bar Commission, charging William R. Padgett, a licensed attorney, with four counts of professional misconduct. Count I alleged that Padgett, without the consent or authorization of the owner of a Shell Oil Company credit card, made personal use of the credit card on at least five occasions in 1970. The count alleged that Padgett, in using the Shell credit card without the consent or permission of the owner, John C. O’Connell, violated Canons of Professional Ethics 22, 29 and 30, as well as Rules 153(b) and 153(o) of the Rules of the Board of Commissioners of the Idaho State Bar governing conduct of attorneys. Count II alleged that Padgett violated Rule 153(c) of the Rules of the Board of Commissioners of the Idaho State Bar in being convicted of driving while under the influence of intoxicating liquor in violation of I.C. § 49-1102. Count III alleged that in being convicted of issuing insufficient funds checks Padgett violated I.C. § 18-3106, I.C. § 3-301(1), Canon 32 of the Canons of Professional Ethics of the Idaho State Bar, and Rule 153(o) of the Rules of the Board of Commissioners of the Idaho State Bar. Count IV alleged that Padgett’s conviction for failing to file a State Tax Return for the year 1965 was in violation of I.C. § 63-3075(a), Canon 32 of the Canons of Professional Ethics of the Idaho State Bar, and Rule 153(c) of the Rules of the Board of Commissioners of the Idaho State Bar governing conduct of attorneys.

Following a hearing on April 17, 1972, the Committee on Discipline found that Padgett signed, without authority, the name of “J. C. O’Connell” to charge slips against the account of the Shell credit card which had been issued to John C. O’Connell. The Committee found that John C. O’Connell had given this ¿ard to his former wife, Mary T. O’Connell, and that Mrs. O’Connell gave the card to Mr. Padgett and either authorized or knew of Padgett’s signing “J. C. O’Connell” to the charge slips. The Committee found that although the merchandise obtained primarily benefited Mrs. O’Connell, Padgett was also benefited. The Committee on Discipline found that Mr. Padgett wrote to the Shell Oil Company representing himself as attorney for Mary T. O’Connell denying that she owed the unpaid balance on the charges incurred by them on the credit card, without disclosing that he had married Mrs. O’Connell and that he had incurred some of the charges himself.

The Committee found that Padgett was convicted of driving while under the influence of intoxicating liquor as alleged in Count II, and that his appeal to this Court on that conviction was dismissed on November 18, 1971.

The Committee found that Padgett had been convicted of issuing an insufficient fund check as alleged in Count III.

The Committee further found Padgett was convicted of failing to file an Idaho [143] income tax return for the year 1965 as alleged in Count IV.

Based upon these findings the Committee concluded that Padgett violated Canon 321 of the Canons of Professional Ethics, I.C. § 3-301(1),2 and Rules 153(b), (d) and (o) 3 of the Rules of the Board of Commissioners of the Idaho State Bar, and further that Padgett had not maintained the exemplary conduct expected of a lawyer. The Committee recommended that Padgett’s license to practice law be suspended indefinitely; that his license be reinstated not earlier than one year from the date suspension is made effective; and that Padgett be required to pay the costs of the disciplinary proceeding.

The Board of Commissioners of the Idaho State Bar adopted and approved the Committee’s findings and conclusions, as amended in the hearing of June 22, 1972. However, the Board of Commissioners did not concur with and disapproved the recommendations with respect to discipline. In lieu thereof, the Board of Commissioners recommended to this Court that Padgett be disciplined by suspension of his license to practice law for a period of twenty-four months and, as a condition precedent to application for reinstatement that Padgett be required to reimburse the Idaho State Bar of all costs and expenses incurred in the disciplinary proceedings and that before reinstatement he make a showing to the Board of Commissioners of the Idaho State Bar of his rehabilitation and suitability to return to the practice of law.

On August 21, 1972, Padgett petitioned to this Court for a review of the findings, conclusions and recommendatory order on grounds that (1) he was not granted a fair and impartial hearing because he was not given adequate notice of the hearing in order to prepare his defense; (2) that serious mistakes occurred in the recommenda[144] tory order of the Disciplinary Committee and Board of Commissioners without specifying what these mistakes were; (3) that the Commission did not take adequate time to review the file, transcript and objections of petitioner. Petitioner has not furnished the Court with any brief setting out a statement of the case, assignments of error, and points and authorities as required by Rule 41 of the Appellate Rules of this Court, even though an extension of time to file a brief was granted to petitioner for that express purpose. The matter was set down for oral argument before the Court on November 27, 1972, at which petitioner did appear in person and presented an oral argument. At no time before the Board of Commissioners or before this Court has the petitioner questioned the findings and conclusions of the Committee on Discipline, as amended, and those findings are herein affirmed. Petitioner’s argument before this Court was primarily addressed to the fact that petitioner had rehabilitated himself from a severe mental, emotional and physical disorder which he acknowledged had affected his competency to act as an attorney. This rehabilitation is alleged to have occurred after the matters of issue in this cause, and is outside of the record in this case.

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In re Padgett, 504 P.2d 814, 95 Idaho 141, 1972 Ida. LEXIS 272 (Idaho 1972).

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Related

§ 18-3106
Idaho § 18-3106
§ 3-301
Idaho § 3-301(1)
§ 49-1102
Idaho § 49-1102
§ 63-3075
Idaho § 63-3075(a)