In Re Kopf

Filed Feb. 14, 1989

I respectfully dissent. The policy underlying attorney discipline in Missouri is to protect the public, not to pamper lawyers. The only way the public can be protected from conduct such as respondent’s is to withdraw respondent’s license and privilege to practice law.

Respondent and the majority opinion both urge us to accept the Master’s recommendation of a public reprimand. He contends that a sanction no more severe than a public reprimand is an appropriate response to isolated instances of attorney neglect that resulted in no actual prejudice to the client. In re Staab,…