Admonition For Supreme Threat
A recent admonition from Massachusetts
ADMONITION NO. 15-20
CLASSIFICATIONS:
Knowingly Advancing Frivolous Claim or Defense [Mass. R. Prof. C. 3.1]
Improper Threat or Presentation of Criminal or Disciplinary Charges [Mass. R. Prof.
C. 3.4(h)]
SUMMARY:
On September 16, 2013, a New Jersey lawyer filed a civil suit in New Jersey Superior Court on behalf of her corporate client (Company A). The lawsuit alleged that the defendants, a corporate entity and an individual doing business as Company B, had failed to pay Company A for services rendered. The respondent represented the interests of an investor and managing member of Company B as its outside general counsel.
In October 2013, the respondent contacted the lawyer for Company A in an attempt to resolve the civil dispute. The parties were unable to resolve the matter. On or about January 27, 2014, the New Jersey court entered a default judgment against the defendants in the civil lawsuit. The defendants did not contest the entry of the default judgment or move to vacate the default judgment or reopen the matter.
On September 2, 2014, the respondent sent an email to the plaintiff’s lawyer, in which he threatened to file a motion with the Supreme Court of the United States of America seeking her disbarment unless she removed the default judgment. The respondent stated that if he was forced to file any motions in the case, he would seek her disbarment and significant attorneys’ fees and costs. After the lawyer responded to the respondent’s initial email, he sent her a second email on September 2, 2014, again threatening to petition the Supreme Court of the United States of America for her disbarment unless she dismissed the civil action and removed the judgment secured in that case. The respondent set a deadline of 6:00 p.m. on the following Friday for her to remove the judgment, or he would seek her disbarment. Therespondent further stated, “Should you have any questions, please retain the service of a competent Supreme Court of the United States of America practitioner.” Mass. R. Prof. C. 3.4(h) prohibits a lawyer from presenting, participating in presenting, or threatening to present criminal or disciplinary charges solely to obtain an advantage in a private civil matter. To the extent that the defendants had a valid defense to the New Jersey civil action, the appropriate remedy would have been for the defendants to move to vacate or remove the default judgment and seek to present their defense. In addition, the respondent had no non-frivolous basis for filing a petition seeking the disbarment of the New Jersey lawyer with the Supreme Court of the United States. In these circumstances, the respondent’s conduct violated Mass. R. Prof. C. 3.1 (prohibiting lawyers from asserting frivolous claims) and 3.4(h) (threatening to file disciplinary charges solely to gain an advantage in a private civil matter).
The respondent, who was admitted to practice in 1989 and had no prior discipline, received an admonition for his conduct on the condition that he attend a continuing legal education class identified by bar counsel.
(Mike Frisch)