The Pragmatic Approach

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court imposed a five-year suspension of an attorney after review of an 134-page report of the Disciplinary Board recounting misconduct in six matters.

The Board opined that the Respondent

placed profit over professionalism. He employed a predatory style of taking on client representation, failing to ascertain whether the client’s goals could be accomplished, and nevertheless accepting legal fees.

The report further recounts a number of ethical lapses, noting that

Respondent’s explanations of how he practices law and manages his law firms reveal his nonchalance and inepititude.

As to his asserted “pragmatic” approach to the practice of law

Such a confounding statement of his professional approach highlights Respondent’s choice to operate a law practice outside the bounds of the rules and underscores his lack of ethical compass, revealing him to be a danger to the public and the integrity of the legal profession. Respondent bore responsibility for the client matters that came to his firm. Here, he wholly abdicated that obligation and in doing so, seemingly forgot that while the practice of law is a business, the fundamental core of the business is the client. On this record, we find no evidence that Respondent had genuine concern for his clients. 

(Mike Frisch)