JACPA Ethics Alert
New York City Bar Association Formal Opinion addresses whatconduct by a lawyer constitutes a “threat of a disciplinary complaint”
Hello everyone and welcome to this Ethics Alert which will discuss the recent New York City Bar Association Formal Opinion addressing conduct by a lawyer which may constitute a “threat of a disciplinary complaint”. The ethics opinion is N.Y.C. Bar Assoc. Formal Op. 2015-5 (June 2015) and is online here: https://www.nycbar.org/member-and-career-services/committees/reports-listing/reports/detail/formal-opinion-2015-5-whether-an-attorney-may-threaten-to-file-a-disciplinary-complaint-against-another-lawyer
In my practice, I am frequently asked about (and I represent lawyers in defending alleged violations of) Florida Bar Rule 4-3.4(g), Rules Regulating The Florida Bar, which states that a lawyer must not “present, participate in presenting, or threaten to present disciplinary charges under these rules solely to obtain an advantage in a civil matter.”
This recent New York City Bar Association formal opinion examines New York Rules of Professional Conduct 3.4(e), which states that a lawyer “shall not … present, participate in presenting, or threaten to present criminal charges solely to obtain an advantage in a civil matter”.
The opinion states that a lawyer who “merely” advises another lawyer “that his conduct violates a disciplinary rule or could subject them to disciplinary action” would not violate the rule; however, including “a statement that (the lawyer) intend(s) to file disciplinary charges unless the other lawyer complies with a particular demand” constitutes an improper threat which violates the New York disciplinary rule.
The opinion further states that “’before making a report’ to the Bar, ‘an attorney is permitted to confront her adversary with evidence of misconduct to confirm that an ethical violation has occurred’ (emphasis supplied and citation omitted) Further, the attorney may ‘ask whether opposing counsel denies the misconduct or can cast doubt on whether it occurred. What the attorney may not do is condition the handling of a mandatory grievance on compliance with a particular demand. So, if after confronting the opposing lawyer with evidence of the misconduct, the attorney is convinced that the other lawyer in fact committed the misconduct, it would be improper, in the words of Professor Simon, to ‘invit[e] the opposing lawyer to bargain away the grievance.’”
The opinion concludes with the following admonition:
An attorney who intends to threaten disciplinary charges against another lawyer should carefully consider whether doing so violates the New York Rules of Professional Conduct (the “New York Rules” or “Rules”). Although disciplinary threats do not violate Rule 3.4(e), which applies only to threats of criminal charges, they may violate other Rules. For example, an attorney who is required by Rule 8.3(a) to report another lawyer’s misconduct may not, instead, threaten a disciplinary complaint to gain some advantage or concession from the lawyer. In addition, an attorney must not threaten disciplinary charges unless she has a good faith belief that the other lawyer is engaged in conduct that has violated or will violate an ethical rule. An attorney must not issue a threat of disciplinary charges that has no substantial purpose other than to embarrass or harm another person or that violates other substantive laws, such as criminal statutes that prohibit extortion.
Bottom line: The Bar rules in most jurisdictions (including Florida) prohibit lawyers from threatening to present disciplinary charges against another lawyer solelyto obtain an advantage in a civil matter. This opinion concludes that, under the New York disciplinary rule (which only addresses threatening criminal charges), a lawyer is permitted to confront the other lawyer with evidence of ethical misconduct to confirm that an ethical violation has occurred; however, if the lawyer states that he or she intends to file disciplinary charges unless the other lawyer complies with a demand, this would be an improper threat in violation of violate the New York rule.
Be careful out there.
As always, if you have any questions about this Ethics Alert or need assistance, analysis, and guidance regarding these or any other ethics, risk management, or other issues, please do not hesitate to contact me.
My law firm focuses on review, analysis, and interpretation of the Rules Regulating The Florida Bar, advice and representation of lawyers in Bar disciplinary matters, defense of applicants for admission to The Florida Bar before the Board of Bar Examiners, defense of all Florida licensed professionals in discipline and admission matters before all state agencies and boards, expert ethics opinions, and practice management for lawyers and law firms. If there is a lawyer or other Florida professional license involved, I can defend the complaint or help obtain the license.
If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to call me at (727) 799-1688 or e-mail me at [email protected]. You can find my law firm on the web at www.jac-law.com. In addition to handling individual cases, matters, problems and issues for my clients, I also am on retainer to provide ethics advice to numerous lawyers and law firms throughout the state of Florida. I also provide legal assistance and advice to numerous individuals and non-legal entities to help insure compliance with the law and rules related to UPL and other issues.
You are receiving this ETHICS ALERT since you are a current or former client or you have requested that this ETHICS ALERT be sent to you. Please note that you may opt in or out of receiving this ETHICS ALERTS any time. If you would like to discontinue receipt of this ETHICS ALERT or if you would like to begin receiving it, simply send me an e-mail to me advising of your request.
If there are others at your firm who would like to be included on the distribution list, please feel free to forward this update to them or let us know in an email. If you would like to forward thisETHICS ALERT to any person or entity please feel free do so as long as it is not for personal gain and you forward the entire email, including all contact information and disclaimers.
Disclaimer: this e-mail is not an advertisement, does not contain any legal advice, and does not create an attorney/client relationship and the comments herein should not be relied upon by anyone who reads it.
Joseph A. Corsmeier, Esquire
Law Office of Joseph A. Corsmeier, P.A.
2454 McMullen Booth Road, Suite 431
Clearwater, Florida 33759
Office (727) 799-1688
Fax (727) 799-1670