Attorney Grievance Comm'n of Md. v. Phillips

• Decision Date: 22 February 2017
• Docket Number: Misc. Docket AG No. 47, Sept. Term, 2015
• Citation: 155 A.3d 476,451 Md. 653
• Parties: ATTORNEY GRIEVANCE COMMISSION OF MARYLAND v. Dalton F. PHILLIPS
• Court: Court of Special Appeals of Maryland

451 Md. 653

155 A.3d 476

ATTORNEY GRIEVANCE COMMISSION OF MARYLAND

v.Dalton F. PHILLIPS

Misc. Docket AG No. 47, Sept. Term, 2015

Court of Appeals of Maryland.

February 22, 2017

Lydia E. Lawless, Senior Asst. Bar Counsel (Raymond A. Hein, Acting Bar Counsel, Atty. Grievance Commission, Maryland), for Petitioner.

No argument on behalf of Respondent

Barbera, C.J., Greene, Adkins, McDonald, Watts, Hotten, Getty, JJ.

Barbera, C.J.

On October 13, 2015, Petitioner, the Attorney Grievance Commission of Maryland, acting through Bar Counsel, filed in this Court a Petition for Disciplinary or Remedial Action ("Petition") against Respondent, Dalton F. Phillips. The Petition alleged violations of Maryland Lawyers' Rules of Professional Conduct (the "Rules") ¹ 3.1 (Meritorious Claims and Contentions); 5.3 (Responsibilities Regarding Nonlawyer Assistants); 5.4 (Professional Independence of a Lawyer); 5.5 (Unauthorized Practice of Law); 7.5 (Firm Names and Letterheads); 8.1 (Bar Admission and Disciplinary Matters); and 8.4 (Misconduct). Respondent's professional misconduct stems from his ratification of the unauthorized practice of law by a non-attorney, followed by a series of material falsehoods made to Bar Counsel, refusal to provide information requested by Bar Counsel, and other obstruction during the investigation.

Pursuant to Maryland Rules 16–752(a) and 16–757, this Court transmitted the case to the Circuit Court for Prince George's County and designated the Honorable Sean D. Wallace to conduct an evidentiary hearing and make findings of fact and conclusions of law. The hearing was held on April 27, 2016. Respondent testified and presented evidence on his behalf. On May 19, 2016, the hearing judge issued written findings of fact and conclusions of law, concluding that Respondent violated Rule 3.1, 5.3(c), 5.4(d), 5.5(a), 7.5(d), 8.1(a) and (b), and 8.4(a), (c), and (d).

No exceptions were filed. Respondent made no written recommendation regarding sanction; Petitioner recommended disbarment. On October 13, 2016, we heard oral argument, at which only Petitioner appeared. On October 14, 2016, we issued a per curiam order disbarring Respondent. Attorney Grievance Comm'n v. Phillips , 450 Md. 246, 147 A.3d 858 (2016). We explain in this opinion the reasons for that action. On November 28, 2016, Respondent filed a paper titled "Respondent's Opposition to the Per Curiam Order filed by the Court of Appeals." We have treated the paper as a motion for reconsideration of the Order of Disbarment and, upon review of the motion, we hereby deny it.

I

We summarize here the record and the hearing judge's findings of fact and conclusions of law, supported by clear and convincing evidence.

A. Initial Misconduct

Respondent Dalton Phillips was admitted to the Maryland Bar in May 1981. He practiced law for over 35 years. His son, Solon Phillips, graduated from law school in 2008 and in 2011 sought admission to the Maryland Bar. He has not been admitted to the Bar in Maryland or any other jurisdiction.

In August 2009, Solon Phillips caused Articles of Organization to be filed with the Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation establishing a law firm titled Phillips, Phillips and Dow LLC, to include Respondent, Solon Phillips, and a friend of Solon's, Anthony Dow. It is unclear from the record whether Mr. Dow, evidently a practicing lawyer in Georgia, knew that his name was listed as a member of the firm.

Solon Phillips discussed the formation of the firm with Respondent. Solon Phillips created a law firm insignia; hired an answering service for the firm; reserved a domain name; and created and ordered letterhead that included the firm name, Solon Phillips's home address, the phone number associated with the answering service, and the firm website. He also ordered business cards for himself using the firm insignia and the suffix "Esq.". Respondent agreed to be a member of the firm and reviewed the firm logo prepared by Solon Phillips.

At some point, Solon Phillips met Crystal Meehan through a Facebook support group for individuals experiencing marital discord and became Facebook friends with her. Crystal Meehan is a resident of Indiana. Solon Phillips and Crystal Meehan corresponded in May 2014 regarding unwanted communications that Crystal Meehan had been receiving from her ex-husband's current wife, Abigail Meehan. Solon Phillips prepared for Crystal Meehan a cease and desist letter ordering Abigail Meehan to discontinue all communications with Crystal Meehan, alleging that Abigail Meehan's communications constituted harassment, and threatening legal action. He corresponded over e-mail with Crystal Meehan, provided her with a draft of the letter signed "Solon Phillips JD/MBA", and received her approval of the letter. He then printed the letter on Phillips, Phillips and Dow, LLC letterhead. The content of the final letter was altered in only one regard—Solon Phillips signed Respondent's name to the letter, not his own.

Abigail Meehan received the letter and began attempting to contact the firm. On May 19 and 20, 2014, Abigail Meehan called the number listed in the letter. Someone answered the phone and advised her that, although the attorney was unavailable, she should comply with the letter. On May 20, Solon Phillips e-mailed Crystal Meehan informing her that Abigail Meehan had called the firm's number and asked why a Maryland firm would send a cease and desist letter to her in Indiana. The e-mail exchange between the two included Solon Phillips advising Crystal Meehan that, "[i]f [Abigail Meehan] continues you can go to the police and press charges in IN," specifically, a charge of harassment.

The hearing judge found: "Meanwhile, Abigail Meehan, growing increasingly suspicious of the firm, conducted online searches and eventually obtained the Respondent's phone number." On May 28, Abigail Meehan called and spoke with Respondent for a few minutes regarding the letter. Respondent told her that he knew nothing about the letter and stated that Phillips, Phillips and Dow, LLC was his son's law firm. Following the conversation, Abigail Meehan e-mailed Respondent an image of the letter and its envelope, and requested an e-mail confirming that Respondent did not represent Crystal Meehan.

On May 29, 2014, Respondent e-mailed Abigail Meehan the following:

Dear Ms. Meehan:

Greetings! I am responding to your email regarding a Cease and Desist letter you received from the law firm of Phillips, Phillips and Dow, LLC (the Law Firm). As I had advised you during our brief telephone conversation on May 28, 2014, I was unaware of the Cease and Desist letter you received from the Law Firm. I have been able to confirm, however, that the Law Firm does in fact represent Ms. Crystal Meehan. A junior attorney for the firm sent out the letter you received without advising me of the Law Firm's representation of Ms. Meehan or discussing the letter with me. This is contrary to our practice, which requires my review of every correspondence written on the Law Firm's letterhead and under my name.

Even though the letter was issued without my knowledge, the fact remains that Ms. Crystal Meehan is a client of the Law Firm. If Crystal Meehan is so disturbed by your alleged communications that she hired an attorney to discourage them, in the interest of peace and harmony, I believe that you should seriously consider not contacting her. If you are a person of peace, as I believe you are, you would demonstrate good judgment and wisdom by simply avoiding attempts at correspondence or communication with Crystal Meehan; no good ever evolves from unwelcomed communications.

Understandably, you were upset by the contents of the letter. I suggest that you ruminate on the matter for a few days before doing anything. Sometimes, the most powerful action is no action at all.

Sincerely,

Dalton F. Phillips, Esquire.

On June 17, Abigail Meehan replied in an e-mail to Respondent's May 29 e-mail. She wrote: "Since your firm is representing Ms. Crystal Meehan, I will need you[r] address so that I can send you documents." The e-mail was sent to Respondent and copied Solon Phillips. A few minutes later, Solon Phillips replied to Abigail Meehan's e-mail, copying Respondent and stating:

Our firm is not representing Ms. Crystal Meehan. Furthermore, your attempts to continue to contact members of our firm is inappropriate and borders harassment.

This e-mail is to demand all communications with our firm to cease immediately.

Thank you for understanding.

B. The Complaint and Bar Counsel's Investigation

On or about June 8, 2014, Abigail Meehan filed a complaint with the Attorney Grievance Commission regarding Respondent's conduct and enclosed the cease and desist letter and Respondent's May 29 e-mail. She stated the following:

This attorney sent me a cease and desist letter claiming to represent my husband's ex-wife. When I called him, he told me he had no knowledge of this then later he emailed me telling me someone sent it from his firm and she is represented.

How is he sending me legal letters if he isn't licensed to practice in Indiana!

By letter dated June 19, 2014, Bar Counsel forwarded a copy of the complaint to Respondent and requested a response. On June 23, 2014, Respondent replied by letter stating:

After seeing the Firm's name and symbol on the envelope in which the letter was mailed, I wrote Ms. Abigail Meehan the polite email that she has attached to her complaint.... After sending the email, I had an opportunity to review the letter that Ms. Abigail Meehan alleged I had sent to her husband's ex-wife and also speak to a member of our law firm.... I have learned also that our Firm does not represent Ms. Crystal Meehan and no one in the Firm seems to have heard of her prior to this incident.... After I had sent that single email to Ms. Abigail Meehan, for example, I learned that she has contacted our Firm about the matter on several occasions, despite having been told that the firm does not represent Ms. Crystal

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