LEO: Appearance of Impropriety -  LE Op. 1271

 

Appearance of Impropriety - Commonwealth's Attorney - Conflict of

Interest: Part-Time Commonwealth's Attorney Accepting Private

Employment in a Matter Involving Criminal Allegations.

 

November 21, 1989

 

You have advised that, in 1983, T executed a general power of attorney in

which he appointed H and W as his attorneys-in-fact. It is alleged that,

in the 30 months preceding T's death in 1987, H and/or W used the power of

attorney to transfer to themselves several hundred thousand dollars' worth

of stock owned by T. After T's death, several beneficiaries named in his

will brought a suit in equity in L County, where H and W reside and where

T resided, alleging that the transfers of stock by the attorneys-in-fact

were violations of the fiduciary responsibilities of H and W, in

furtherance of a scheme by H and W to obtain and dispose of the assets of

T, and a conversion of T's property for the benefit of H and W and not for

the use and benefit of T. The suit seeks to recover for T's estate the

property transferred by H and W to themselves by use of the power of

attorney. The part-time Commonwealth's attorney of County L has a private

law practice and is representing H and W in the pending suit.

 

You have inquired if the Commonwealth's attorney's representation of H

and W is proper in light of Creasy v. Henderson, 210 Va. 744 (1970),

which held that the use of a power of attorney to transfer the principal's

assets to the holder of the power is presumptively fraudulent.

 

The appropriate and controlling rules relative to your inquiry are DR:5-

105(B), which provides that a lawyer shall not continue multiple

employment if the exercise of his independent professional judgment in

behalf of a client will be or is likely to be adversely affected by his

representation of another client except if it is obvious that he can

adequately represent the interest of each and if each consents to the

representation after full disclosure of the possible effect of such

representation on the exercise of the lawyer's independent professional

judgment on behalf of each; DR:8-101(A)(2), which provides that a lawyer

who holds public office shall not use his public position to influence, or

attempt to influence, a tribunal to act in favor of himself or of a client;

and DR:9-101, which directs that, in order to avoid even the appearance

of impropriety, a lawyer shall not accept private employment in a matter

in which he had substantial responsibility while he was a public employee (

 DR:9-101(B)) and shall not state or imply that he is able to improperly

influence any tribunal, legislative body, or public official ( DR:9-101(

C)).

 

The Committee is of the opinion that if a determination is made by a

finder of fact that H and W committed fraud in the transfer of T's assets

to themselves, giving rise to the lawyer's conflict under DR:5-105(B) if

he were to represent both the Commonwealth and H and W, the conflict would

not be curable under the provisions of DR:5-105(C) since it would not be

obvious that he could adequately represent the interest of each,

regardless of whether both would consent. Even though there has not yet

been such a determination of fraud, the Committee is of the further

opinion that the Commonwealth's Attorney must be cognizant of the

potential for the appearance of impropriety and for the implication that

he would be using his public position to attempt to improperly influence

the tribunal in favor of his clients. Finally, the Committee is of the

view that it is the responsibility of the Commonwealth's Attorney to

exercise appropriate judgment as to his ethical responsibilities without

awaiting an actual verdict leading to criminal charges.

 

Thus, the Committee opines that where there are allegations of criminal

misconduct ostensibly requiring the Commonwealth's Attorney to assume

substantial responsibility in the investigation of the matter, and where

there is a potential presumption of fraud, the Commonwealth's Attorney

must be sensitive to the public perception regarding part-time private law

practice of a public officer. Therefore, the Committee is of the opinion

that under the circumstances you have related there is an appearance of

impropriety which can only be cured by the withdrawal of the

Commonwealth's Attorney, despite the fact that there is no per se ethical

impropriety. (See LE Op. 1241, LE Op. 1243, LE Op. 1250.)

 

Committee Opinion November 21, 1989