Properly Chastised

An attorney who submitted a redacted letter from a treatment facility in support of a plea for leniency in his client’s second offense DUI case was publicly censured by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.

The client had been discharged from the facility for non-compliance with the program. The attorney had his paralegal take that fact out of the version of the letter and submitted the document with a sentencing memorandum. As a result, it appeared that she had completed the treatment.

He also made false representation at allocution.

The Disciplinary Board noted that the attorney was distracted by other matters and motivated by a desire to assist the client, as successful completion of an inpatient program is a significant factor in such cases.

The board concluded that this “is not a suspension matter” and that the sanction “still permit[s] a properly-chastised but nonetheless reputable member of the bar to continue practicing in that community.” (Mike Frisch)