finding that false signature on complaint “prejudiced the administration of justice itself, even though the[ ] dishonesty, as such, caused the client little, if any, prejudice”
How later courts described this case
- finding that false signature on complaint “prejudiced the administration of justice itself, even though the[ ] dishonesty, as such, caused the client little, if any, prejudice”
- imposing a suspension of six months for "false signing, notarization, and filing of a pleading,” “serious conduct” that was dishonest, prejudicial to the administration of justice, and "plainly intolerable”
- involving attorneys hired to pursue a divorce claim who forged their chent’s name while filing a second complaint after the first was dismissed without informing the client of the dismissal and subsequent refiling
- identifying relevant mitigating factors as admission of wrongdoing, contriteness, full cooperation throughout disciplinary proceedings, and unblemished record of professional conduct
Written by the judges who cited it.
The opinion
NEWMAN, Associate Judge,
dissenting:
I join the dissent of Terry, J., and write separately only to reaffirm my continued adherence to the views expressed in that portion of Section II of the division opinion which discussed the appropriate sanction, In re Reback and Parsons, 487 A.2d 235, 242-43 , vacated 492 A.2d 267 (D.C.1985), that portion of Section II having been authored by me. This court does a disservice to the public in imposing such meager discipline on these two lawyers who have demonstrated fundamental flaws in the most vital area of basic honesty.