| Case Digest |
Respondent was charged with drafting a will on behalf of a client, to whom he was not related within the third degree of relationship, in which he and his children were named as beneficiaries. Respondent’s client died and Respondent and his children received bequests valued in excess of $60,000.00.
Respondent argued that he was related to his client within the third degree but acknowledged that his children were not. Respondent also argued that his close personal relationship with the client mitigated any possible misconduct.
The Hearing Committee concluded Respondent had violated the rule charged in that neither he nor his children were related to the client within the third degree. The Hearing Committee went on to find that Respondent’s close personal relationship with the client served to mitigate the misconduct and recommended the imposition of private discipline. The Board accepted and adopted the Hearing Committee recommendation of private discipline. |
