IN THE MATTER OF:
Paul Cornelious Bland
VSB Docket No. 03-000-0870
ORDER
THIS MATTER came before a duly convened panel of the Virginia State Bar Disciplinary
Board (the "Board"), consisting of John A. Dezio (Chair), James L. Banks, Jr.,
Thaddeus T. Crump (Lay Member), Robert L. Freed and Peter A. Dingman, on October
25, 2002, pursuant to a Show Cause Order entered September 25, 2002, and duly
served upon Paul Cornelious Bland ("Respondent"). The Virginia State Bar (the
"Bar") was represented by Barbara Ann Williams, Attorney at Law, Bar Counsel.
Respondent appeared and represented himself. The proceedings were recorded and
transcribed by Valarie L. Schmit (who was first duly sworn by the Chair), a
registered professional reporter, Chandler & Halasz, Post Office Box 9349, Richmond,
Virginia, 23227 (telephone number 804-730-1222).
The hearing commenced promptly at 9:00 a.m., and the Chair recited the purpose
of the hearing: to determine whether good cause existed not to impose on Respondent
alternative discipline specified in an order (the (Suspension Order() of the
Board entered pursuant to an agreed disposition by and between the Bar and Respondent
in VSB Docket Nos. 99-031-0907, 99-031-0921, 99-031-1708, 00-031-2092 and 00-031-3456.
The Chair further recited the procedure to be followed in the hearing and polled
the members of the panel as to whether any of them were conscious of any personal
or financial interest or bias which would preclude any of them from serving
on this panel. Each member, including the Chair, answered in the negative, and
the hearing proceeded.
After opening statement of counsel, the Bar introduced, without objection, as an exhibit, a true copy of the Suspension Order entered pursuant to the agreed disposition, entered on April 26, 2002, which provided, in pertinent part, that Respondent (...shall not accept any new clients between the date of the acceptance of this agreement by a panel of the Virginia State Bar Disciplinary Board and August 16, 2002, who require anything more than consultations and/or the preparation of documents". Further, the Bar introduced, again without objection, additional exhibits, being copies of orders entered in the Juvenile and Domestic Relations General District Court of the City of Petersburg, Virginia, showing that Respondent had been appointed, by judges of that Court, as guardian ad litem on behalf of various individuals brought before that Court on dates falling between April 26, 2002, and August 16, 2002.
Further, the Bar called Professor Robert Edward Sheppard, an emeritus professor of law at the T.C. Williams School of Law, University of Richmond, who was qualified as an expert witness on the subject of service as a guardian ad litem before the Juvenile and Domestic Relations General District Courts of the Commonwealth. Among other qualifications, Professor Sheppard, on behalf of the Virginia Supreme Court, conducts orientation for new Juvenile and Domestic Relations General District Court judges, served on a state-wide committee which drafted requirements for lawyers to serve as guardians ad litem before those courts and continues to provide, on behalf of Virginia CLE, an annual seminar on such service. Professor Sheppard has also himself served in that capacity and mentored or taught law students and lawyers desiring to serve in such capacity. Professor Sheppard testified that, in his opinion, the function of guardian ad litem was an attorney-client relationship, with some greater fiduciary responsibilities than might otherwise exist and subject to certain exceptions to the client-confidentiality requirements, limited to those specified by statute and rule of court.
Respondent, in his own testimony, testified that he did not consider the appointments
received between April 26, 2002, and August 16, 2002, to be in violation of
the suspension order because these appointments were on behalf of individuals
who had been previously represented by Respondent in other proceedings before
the same court. Thus, Respondent did not consider these individuals to be "new
clients".
In response to questions from the Board, however, Respondent testified that
he did not consider individuals (either the individuals in the subject appointments
or individuals represented by him in other proceedings before the Juvenile and
Domestic Relations General District Court) to be "clients" for purposes of providing
the notice of suspension mandated by the suspension order and the applicable
Supreme Court Rule. This testimony was viewed by members of the Board as undermining
Respondent's credibility regarding his understanding of the responsibilities
imposed on him by the Suspension Order.
Upon the evidence presented and after consideration of the argument of counsel,
the Board concluded that Respondent had failed to show cause why his license
to practice law in the Commonwealth of Virginia should not be further suspended
and the alternative discipline set forth in the Suspension Order (pursuant to
the agreed disposition) imposed, Respondent having failed to show by clear and
convincing evidence that he had not violated the terms of the Suspension Order
by accepting, during the time frame April 26, 2002, through August 16, 2002,
new clients requiring representation other than consultation and/or the preparation
of documents. Specifically, the Board found that Respondent failed to prove
by clear and convincing evidence that the persons for whom he was appointed
as guardian ad litem during the time period April 26, 2002, to August 16, 2002,
were not "new clients" within the meaning of the Suspension Order.
In consideration whereof, it is
ORDERED that the alternative
discipline specified in the Suspension Order be, and the same hereby is, imposed;
and
Accordingly, it is FURTHER ORDERED
that the license of Respondent to practice law in the Commonwealth of Virginia
be, and the same hereby is, suspended for a period of eighteen (18) months from
August 16, 2002; and
FURTHER ORDERED that, pursuant to Part Six, Section IV, Paragraph 13(M), of
the Rules of the Supreme Court of Virginia, Respondent shall forthwith give
notice, by certified mail, return receipt requested, of this suspension of his
license to practice law in the Commonwealth of Virginia to all clients for whom
he is currently handling any matters, to all judges and the clerk of the court
before which Respondent may have any pending cases and to opposing counsel in
all such cases. Respondent shall also make appropriate arrangements for the
disposition of matters now in his care, in conformity with the wishes of his
clients; and
FURTHER ORDERED that, pursuant to Part Six, Section IV, Paragraph 13M, of the
Rules of the Supreme Court of Virginia, the Clerk of the Disciplinary System
shall assess costs; and
FURTHER ORDERED that a copy of this order shall be mailed by certified mail,
return receipt requested, to Respondent, Paul Cornelius Bland, at his address
of record with the Virginia State Bar, P.O. Box 402, Petersburg, VA., 23804-0402,
and hand delivered to Barbara Ann Williams, counsel, Virginia State Bar, 707
East Main Street, Suite 1500, Richmond, Virginia, 23219.
ENTERED this ______ day of __________________, 2002.
VIRGINIA STATE BAR DISCIPLINARY BOARD
By: __________________________________________ _
John A. Dezio, Chair