LAQUEY v. People

180 P.3d 1031, 2008 Colo. Discipl. LEXIS 8, 2008 WL 748288
CourtSupreme Court of Colorado
DecidedFebruary 29, 2008
Docket06PDJ035
StatusPublished

This text of 180 P.3d 1031 (LAQUEY v. People) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of Colorado primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
LAQUEY v. People, 180 P.3d 1031, 2008 Colo. Discipl. LEXIS 8, 2008 WL 748288 (Colo. 2008).

Opinion

AMENDED OPINION AND ORDER RE: READMISSION PURSUANT TO C.R.C.P. 251.29

I. ISSUE

An attorney seeking readmission after disbarment must prove, among other matters, fitness to practice law and rehabilitation by clear and convincing evidence under C.R.C.P. 251.29. Petitioner, disbarred over fourteen years ago for engaging in criminal conduct, presented evidence of the substantial changes in his personal life and character. Are these substantial improvements sufficient for Petitioner to meet his burden of proving rehabilitation and fitness to practice law by clear and convincing evidence?

Although the People argue that Petitioner has not met his burden and should not be readmitted, the Hearing Board finds Petitioner is rehabilitated and fit to practice law.

DECISION OF HEARING BOARD: ATTORNEY READMITTED TO THE PRACTICE OF LAW.

II, PROCEDURAL HISTORY

On May 31, 2006, over twelve years after the effective date of his disbarment, Petitioner filed a "Verified Petition for Readmission." The People answered the petition and agreed to its technical sufficiency, but took no position regarding readmission pending an investigation.

On September 17, 2007, the People filed their "Trial Brief Re: Readmission" and stated therein that they did not plan on calling any witnesses and would leave it to the Hearing Board to "... determine if the evidence is clear and convincing that the petitioner is rehabilitated and that he is fit to practice law." At the conclusion of the hearing, the People argued that Petitioner had not demonstrated a fundamental change in character, primarily because Petitioner had not entered into a payment plan with the IRS and the Colorado Department of Revenue on taxes he owed before filing his petition. Nevertheless, Petitioner entered into such a plan after the close of evidence at the hearing; the People did not object to the Hearing Board considering such evidence in its findings.

The parties submitted a "Stipulation of Facts," which the Hearing Board incorporates into its findings set forth below.

III FINDINGS OF FACT

The Hearing Board considered the testimony of witnesses and exhibits admitted into evidence, and now finds the following facts by clear and convincing evidence.

Petitioner took and subscribed the Oath of Admission and gained admission to the Bar of the Colorado Supreme Court, Attorney Registration No. 15602, on May 21, 1986. The Colorado Supreme Court disbarred Petitioner on November 15, 1998. The Hearing Board first addresses those matters that led to his disbarment.

Matters Leading to Petitioner's Disbarment

First Conviction

On September 14, 1990, four years after his admission to the Bar in Colorado, Petitioner accompanied a friend who arranged for the purchase of ten pounds of marijuana for $8,500.00 from an undercover agent with the South Metro Drug Task Force who posed as a buyer. On May 9, 1991, Petitioner pled guilty to possession of marijuana greater than eight ounces in violation of C.R.S. § 18-18-106(4)(b)(I) based upon his participation in this undercover purchase.

Second Conviction

On January 13, 1992, Petitioner entered the Arapahoe County Courthouse, while in possession of a loaded and functional .38 caliber revolver. On May 14, 1992, Petitioner pled guilty, in United States District Court, to a one-count indictment charging *1034 him with felony possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

Petitioner's testimony as to why he possessed a gun is undisputed in these proceedings. Petitioner began carrying a gun for self-defense following an incident where he was robbed at gunpoint. 1 Jan Jenkins, a clinical psychologist, treated Petitioner following the incident and found that he suffered "acute psychological trauma" stemming from the assault. One day while working at the Park Avenue Law Firm, Petitioner, in his haste, went to the courthouse to file a pleading with the gun in his briefease. When Petitioner went through a magnetometer at the courthouse security post, guards immediately detected the weapon and arrested Petitioner without incident.

Immediate Suspension and Subsequent Disbarment

Effective October 1, 1991, Petitioner consented to the immediate suspension of his license based on the two convictions discussed above. On or about July 21, 1993, Petitioner and the People entered into a stipulation in which he admitted misconduct and consented to the imposition of a three-year suspension or disbarment. On November 15, 1998, the Colorado Supreme Court accepted Petitioner's stipulation and admission of misconduct and disbarred him from the practice of law. See People v. LaQuey, 862 P.2d 278 (Colo.1993).

Evidence Presented in Support of the Petition for Readmission

Recent Conduct in Support of the Petition for Readmission

Over fourteen years have lapsed since Petitioner was disbarred from the practice of law. While Petitioner could have applied for readmission in 2001, he waited until 2006, because he felt he was not ready to resume the practice law. However, approximately one year ago, Petitioner took the following steps to establish his fitness to once again practice law.

® In July 2005, Petitioner passed the Colorado Bar Examination, and has also sue-cessfully passed the Multi-State Professional Responsibility Examination.
® Petitioner has complied with all orders of the court arising out of his disbarment and has complied with all rules and regulation attendant necessary to process his petition.
e Petitioner attends weekly therapy sessions with Dr. Jenkins, a clinical psychologist. ® Petitioner attends daily Alcoholics Anonymous ("AA") meetings.
meets weekly with his AA sponsor in addition to attendance at AA meetings.
® Petitioner attends weekly CBA Colorado Lawyers Helping Lawyers group meetings.
ePetitioner has now paid a substantial amount of the taxes and penalties he owed to the Federal government. 2
® Petitioner has assisted indigent citizens who live near the Park Avenue Law Firm in obtaining eye care and glasses by personally paying for their services.
® Petitioner, although not affiliated with a formal charitable program, provided assistance to the homeless by providing them money, shelter, and legal assistance through Mr. Sessions.
*1035 e Petitioner acted as basketball coach for a boy's league and later served on the board of directors for the recreational facility that hosted the program.
e As a paralegal, Petitioner continues to provide excellent legal assistance, including research and writing for Vernon Sessions, a lawyer with fifty years of experience in the practice of law in Denver.

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862 P.2d 278 (Supreme Court of Colorado, 1993)
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March v. Committee of Bar Examiners
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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
180 P.3d 1031, 2008 Colo. Discipl. LEXIS 8, 2008 WL 748288, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/laquey-v-people-colo-2008.