Iowa Supreme Court Board of Professional Ethics & Conduct v. Clauss

HARRIS, Justice.

There are several counts in this attorney disciplinary case, most of which arose from the lawyer’s dealings with a single, highly controversial, client. Because of the serious nature of the violations, and in view of the respondent’s past disciplinary history, we agree with the commission’s recommendation of a license suspension, but think a more lengthy one is demanded.

Robert J. Clauss, Jr., the respondent lawyer, undertook to represent Tri-State Debt Collection, Inc., an enterprise owned and operated by Robert Hurlbutt. As described by the commission in its findings, the…