Office of Disciplinary Counsel v. Heard

There can be little doubt that the record supports a finding that respondent violated DR 2-103. The severity of respondent’s violations is accentuated by the fact that respondent ignored a specific warning by the Disciplinary Counsel and attempted to accomplish by indirection that which he knew or should have known was violative of the Code of Professional Responsibility.

Respondent argues that his actions were in response to dire socioeconomic circumstances of those in financial distress and that his actions should not be subject to sanction, citing N.A.A.C.P. v. Button (1963), 371 U.S. 415,…