Disciplinary Case Summaries, 0621 COBJ, Vol. 50, No. 6 Pg. 78
| Position | Vol. 50, 6 [Page 78] |
OFFICE OF THE PRESIDING DISCIPLINARY JUDGE
No. 21PDI015. People v. Delorme-Gaines.
3/26/2021. Conditional Admission of Misconduct—Attorney Suspended.
The Presiding Disciplinary ludge approved the parties' conditional admission of misconduct and suspended Angela Delorme-Gaines (New Mexico attorney number 24883) for 90 days with payment of $4,000 in restitution, with conditions. The suspension took effect on March 26, 2021.
Delorme-Gaines is notlicensed to practicelaw in Colorado. Though she is licensed to practice lawinNewMexico,shewassuspendedin2019for noncompliance with continuing legal education requirements. In 2019, Delorme-Gaines agreed to help a client whose former employer refused to release his security clearance. The client also understood that she would represent him in a tort action against his former employer. She had not previously represented the client, but she did not provide him with a written fee agreement or a written scope of representation. The client paid her $4,000.
Delorme-Gaines discussed with her client the benefits and costs of filing the tort suit in Colorado and in Florida. She conducted legal research about her client's matter andraised the issue of his security clearance with the office of Congressman Doug Lamborn, telling the congressman's staff that her client's security clearance was being illegally held by his former employer. When the congressman's office intervened, the former employer agreed to release the security clearance. The relationship between Delorme-Gaines and her client later broke down, andshenotifiedher client that she would not represent him in litigation.
Through this conduct, Delorme-Gaines violated Colo. RPC 1.5(b) (a lawyer shall inform a client in writing about the lawyer's fees and expenses within a reasonable time after being retained if the lawyer has not regularly represented the client) and Colo. RPC 5.5(a) (1) (a lawyer shall not practice law without a law license or other specific authorization). The case file is public per CRCP 251.31.
No. 21PDI021. People v. Finn. 4/19/2021. Conditional Admission of Misconduct—Attorney Suspended.
The Presiding Disciplinary ludge approved the parties' conditional admission of misconduct and suspended William Ryan Finn (attorney registration number 51171) for sixmonths, with three months to be...
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