Louisiana State Bar Ass'n v. Nader

472 So. 2d 11, 1985 La. LEXIS 9191
CourtSupreme Court of Louisiana
DecidedJune 28, 1985
Docket83-B-2584
StatusPublished
Cited by4 cases

This text of 472 So. 2d 11 (Louisiana State Bar Ass'n v. Nader) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of Louisiana primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Louisiana State Bar Ass'n v. Nader, 472 So. 2d 11, 1985 La. LEXIS 9191 (La. 1985).

Opinion

472 So.2d 11 (1985)

LOUISIANA STATE BAR ASSOCIATION
v.
Nesib NADER.

No. 83-B-2584.

Supreme Court of Louisiana.

June 28, 1985.
Rehearing Denied September 9, 1985.

*12 Thomas O. Collins, Jr., New Orleans, Alfred S. Landry, New Iberia, Roland J. Achee, Shreveport, Robert J. Boudreau, Lake Charles, Wood Brown, III, New Orleans, Sam J. D'Amico, Baton Rouge, Carrick R. Inabnett, Monroe, Harold J. Lamy, New Orleans, Philippi P. St. Pee', Metairie, Gerald F. Thomas, for applicant.

Nesib Nader, in pro. per.

Ronald J. Miciotto, Shreveport, for respondent.

DISCIPLINARY PROCEEDINGS

CALOGERO, Justice.

In this attorney discipline matter defendant was charged with multiple violations of the disciplinary regulations of the Code of Professional Responsibility. The Commissioner appointed by this Court found defendant guilty of seventeen violations arising from fifteen different incidents.[1] Of the violations, five arose out of respondent's borrowing money from clients,[2] eight involved taking criminal cases on contingency bases,[3] three were for neglecting legal matters,[4] and one was for soliciting[5].

The Commissioner made an excellent and exhaustive report. He made no recommendation with respect to the appropriate discipline which should be imposed. The Bar Association for the most part concurred in the Commissioner's report. They excepted to his findings in only minor particulars. They recommend disbarment. Respondent concurred in some of the Commissioner's findings, but excepted to a number of the findings. He argues that the appropriate discipline should be a short period of suspension.

Respondent Nader's problems arose in large measure out of his lack of sufficient income. He freely admitted that for a two year period prior to August, 1983 he was in an extremely difficult financial situation. During this time he was pressured by his wife to bring home $2,000.00 to $2,500.00 per week. He was sued several times. His financial condition was such that he could not file some of his clients' lawsuits because he did not have the money to pay advance court costs even though he had received the fees and court costs from the clients. He admitted that during this two year period he could not meet the financial demands being made upon him and he knew "that this is going to eventually catch up with me."

TAKING CRIMINAL CASES ON A CONTINGENCY FEE BASIS

The Commissioner found Nader guilty of eight violations of DR2-106(C)[6] which provides:

*13 A lawyer shall not enter into an arrangement for, charge, or collect a contingent fee for representing a defendant in a criminal case.

In five of the cases Nader agreed to refund a fee in a criminal case if he was not able to obtain a promised result. For example, in one case Nader signed an agreement that he would have a client released from jail by December 27, 1982 or he would refund the money. In three instances, he guaranteed a given result but did not specify the sanction for his failure to do so. Nader wrote a client a letter which stated that "for an additional $300.00, you will not serve time."

A guarantee relative to the outcome of the case coincident with receipt of a fee, carries with it the implied promise to refund the fee if the promised outcome is not achieved. It is thus clearly a contingent fee arrangement. Such practice in criminal matters is expressly prohibited by the foregoing Disciplinary Rule. The Commissioner's findings were correct. The actions of respondent constitute a clear violation of DR2-106(C).

The Commissioner was also correct in finding these actions were violations of DR1-102(A)(4) (engaging in conduct involving misrepresentation), since no lawyer can guarantee the result of any judicial proceeding; and DR1-102(A)(5) (engaging in conduct that is prejudicial to the administration of justice). The attorney, by accepting a criminal case on a contingency fee basis makes it appear to the client that he is using personal influence, or something worse, to manipulate the judicial system in order to obtain the promised result. This may lead the client to conclude that the judicial system is susceptible to manipulation. Fostering such beliefs is prejudicial to the administration of justice.

NEGLECTING A LEGAL MATTER

DR6-101(A)(3) provides as follows: "A lawyer shall not neglect a legal matter entrusted to him." The Bar Association charged respondent with numerous violations of this Disciplinary Rule. The Commissioner *14 found only three specific violations because Nader's erratic behavior caused many of his clients to discharge him early, at a time which made it difficult to determine if he had neglected their cases. The Commissioner was correct in each of the three instances although two of them apparently had only minor adverse impacts on the client.[7] The third instance is more serious.

Robinson, Noyes and George hired Nader to represent them in a criminal case in Claiborne Parish. He gave them a receipt with the words "No time, no sentence" written thereon. When they were arraigned he was not present, but he did arrange for another attorney to stand in for him at the arraignment. Prior to the arraignment he told the three clients to plead guilty "because he knew we wasn't going to get any time." He also told the clients to plead guilty and not to say anything about it to the lawyer whom he had arranged to stand in for him at the arraignment. All three entered pleas of guilty and thereafter paid Nader another fee and received a receipt which stated "To obtain probation and/or fine." At sentencing George received eight years at hard labor, Robinson three years at hard labor, and Noyes three years at hard labor. Noyes' sentence was suspended and she was placed on probation, a condition which required her to spend sixty days in the parish jail. The Commissioner found, and we agree, that there is no evidence to indicate that Nader did anything to improve the legal position of any of the three clients. He had no contact with the judge in the matter until after they had been sentenced, and then only when the judge first called him. Nader's sole contribution was to induce his clients to waive any and all possible rights that they may have been entitled to assert in their defense, solely to obtain his fees. He did nothing for them. Not only did they not receive adequate representation, but they received from Nader no legal representation at all. The Commissioner correctly opined that this conduct goes beyond being prejudicial to the administration of justice and that it is "a large black mark against the entire judicial system" and a violation of DR1-102(A)5 of serious magnitude.

The conduct of respondent in all three instances was indeed neglect of a legal matter and it reflected on his fitness to practice law.

SOLICITATION

DR2-103(A) provides:

(A) A lawyer shall not recommend employment, as a private practitioner, of himself, his partner, or associate to a non-lawyer who has not sought his advice regarding employment of a lawyer.

In August or September of 1981 Calvin Willis was in court charged with aggravated rape. He was represented by an attorney with the Indigent Defender's Office. Willis' grandmother testified that on that date she was approached in the hall of the Caddo Parish Courthouse by Mr.

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472 So. 2d 11, 1985 La. LEXIS 9191, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/louisiana-state-bar-assn-v-nader-la-1985.