No. 1919, Disciplinary Docket No. 3

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IN THE SUPREME COURT OF PENNSYLVANIA OFFICE OF DISCIPLINARY COUNSEL, Petitioner No. 1919 Disciplinary Docket No.3 No. 156 DB 2012 v. Attorney Registration No. 208925 MICHAEL JOSEPH BOONE, Respondent (Dauphin County) ORDER PER CURIAM: AND NOW, this 24th day of April, 2013, upon consideration of the Recommendation of the Three-Member Panel of the Disciplinary Board dated February 5, 2013, the Joint Petition in Support of Discipline on Consent is hereby granted pursuant to Rule 215(g), Pa.R.D.E., and it is ORDERED that Michael Joseph Boone is suspended on consent from the Bar of this Commonwealth for a period of two years and he shall comply with all the provisions of Rule 217, Pa.R.D.E. A True Copy Patricia Nicola As Of 4/24/L013 ~)vt.dJ Attest: ChiefCier Supreme Court of Pennsylvania BEFORE THE DISCIPLINARY BOARD OF THE SUPREME COURT OF PENNSYLVANIA OFFICE OF DISCIPLINARY COUNSEL Petitioner v. MICHAEL JOSEPH BOONE Respondent No. 156 DB 2012 Attorney Registration No. 208925 (Dauphin County) RECOMMENDATION OF THREE-MEMBER PANEL OF THE DISCIPLINARY BOARD OF THE SUPREME COURT OF PENNSYLVANIA The Three-Member Panel of the Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, consisting of Board Members David A Nasatir, Douglas W. Leonard, and Gerald Lawrence, has reviewed the Joint Petition in Support of Discipline on Consent filed in the above-captioned matter on January 17, 2013. The Panel approves the Joint Petition consenting to a two year suspension and recommends to the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania that the attached Petition be Granted. The Panel further recommends that any necessary expenses incurred in the investigation and prosecution of this matter shall be paid by the respondent-attorney as a condition to the grant of the Petition. Date: J-\ 5 \dO\ 3 David A Nasatir, Panel Chair The Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania BEFORE THE DiSCIPliNARY OOARD OF THE SUPRBMECOURTOFPENNSYLVAN~ No. Disciplina!J Docket No. No. 156 OlE! 2012 Michael J!!S6plh Boone, Respomiloot (lla'li!philil Cowi!ly) JOINT PETIITION IN SUIPPORT OF DISCIPLINE ON CONSB\IT UNDER RUlE 215(d). Pa.RD.E Peli!ioner, Dmoo of DiscipliflaJY Co111nse.1, lby Paul J.. K!llrorn, Cl!iief Disciplina~ry Counse.l and !Edw:in W. Frese, Jr., Discipl:iirna!J Co11111sel, a111d Resporndoo!t, Michael Joseph Boone amlllis OO!llllSel, David E. Hershey, Esquire, . fi.le this Joililt Pel!ioon in S!IIJlpolt of Diooiplioo oo OolllSooit Under Rlllle 215id) of the Pennsyill3<111Ja Rules of DisQipilirn<ll!J Eniilllroeme:rnt ("P:a.RI!J.E"), 1. :arnlil Peli!.iiDner, whose pifllilcipa! offloe is loca!Jetl a1 the PA Juriliioia!l Oooileir, 601 Oommonweallh AWil'll.le, Sui!Je 2710ll, P.O.. !Box 624$'5, Hanrislbll~g, PA 17100, is inYes:led!, pllir.suall!: 11!:1 Rule 207 of fl1ie Penrn~nia Rules of I!JiooiplirnaJY Enfcroemoot (hereafter "Pa.RD.E"), with the power md the duly to F ll ED JAN 1 7 2013 Office of the Secretary The Oisoipllnary Board of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania SiPEC!FUC fACTUAl ADMISSIONS Alll!D RULES VIOlATED DiroipUirne <dm::ik:eled at 1\lu. 4.. ~56 DB 21!»12, fue a!Wgooor~s mW:illiw are de!>Clribecl hereill. illl'l or aoout September 2010, Respo:mlle:mt, Micihae! Je»sep!h Boo:rne, was hired !by fue llaw film of Weber, Galtaglier, Sim~rn. Slla~lelorn, Fares & ll\leWby, LLf'. (Weber Gal!aglhler), as am Assoo\a!l!e liCI warik in lthe Wmikers" CGmpeMaliilllll pirac!i!le .. billing on fmM cases, liCI wit Clioot A {Ma!t!l!er No. 58118), C!lioot lB {Mat!l!er lllos. 57100 and ,.... 491135), :ami CUioot C (Maller t.llo. 30073}. 1 ' The dlioots' i!llooliities are d"lSd!llsed in fue pe11!ilirng Peli!ioo for Disi:iipflllle rdl!ildk:eled al t.ilo. 156 00. 2012. However, Weber Ga1!agiher has reqllles!l!ed fuat fue 111lames oot be 1!1el1001e!ll. 6. Wilh re,gard Ito Maller No. 55118 of Ciiiem: A, Mr. Gootiloo fO!.IIld 11111 evi!leinloo in fue ffile to Sl!.!b:sltalll!Jiale Respontiloof's bilfing fur a lkl>'!all of $1,125 for Ui lll!llllll'S atfue mle of$115 perh!lllrbetweoo fueda:tes ofMalldhl15, 21:112 and March 23, 2!:112.. 7. Wtilh regalld Ito Mai!ter No. 57788 of Client B, Mr. Goorlloo f!l:utnd 11110 evidlenee in fue file Ito subslta1!111biale Respundem:'s billing fur a toltal of $1,053 fur 11.7 oouns at fue m!e of $9!1 per hour between fue dalles of Ma!ldh 1, 2012 and March 9, 2012. a. Willhl regalld m Mallter No. 49835 of Client B, Mr. Goodoo fuvrnd oo eviidenoe irl 1ti!Je iliille to substanlbime Resp!lndellfs bil~irng fur a lkl>'!all of $1,314 fur 14.6 itnOl.ll!fs at the m!e of $00 per holllr betweern the dales ((]Jf Malldhl 9, 2012 ood Marclil 12,. 2012. 9. Wilh regaro to Mm!er No. 39973 of Clliem c. Mr.. Goooern found oo evidernoe in fille fille Ito su!l!sta!ilbiate Resp!lnde11fs bi!lin!! fur $1,007 for 13.!1 hours at fue mle of $131(1 per hour l:lmweoollihie dimes of febma!fY 10, 2012 ami Februa!Y ·n5, 2012. ·· 1!l · Mr. Gooiiern oo!111imrn!en1 Resporndoot W>iilh his co111oems ami Respoodenfs lbime :and bllling reoorols., at whicli i!itme Respomiem admit!ed fuat he had not done !he specllix: WOI!ik he halllbilled for :and fuat he 11. mew it was WfOO!!. On April 5, 2012, Respoodeifit ood Mr. Goorllern a~erll a vidoo oonreneooe willhl ililile filfm"s M:anage:ment Co.mmitltae 1001\lSis!ting of Joseph Goldboo.:!J and Paul Fires irn lf'il'iiladeiljmia, and Paula Kux:za:rn ill lf'nli:B'b:Uirgl\l, dlilfillll!lJ whicli o~lll"eirernoo Respmrdernt a!lmi!ted Ito !laving fublix:ated his bi!lirngs and repeailierlliy apologized for his misoomiluct. 3 12. At lllh:e on:rnolul>ion «::I! the wiidoo OO>ll~ereooe, Respm~d:ernfs emplawm!l1111! with the fii1111'1 was terminated ¢ . 13. Wh:e:rn as!kell by Mr. G!>OOen and later by the Marnagement Cmli!millliee why Respond:en~ fab:rUcateri 14. lhlis !:>.illill!IS, Respoml:e:rnt ofi!iered oo e:xp!a<rnali!llll. After Respood:e:rnt was lie!1111lililated, Mr.. Gooden OOIIl!limilari !lis reifoew of Respoodernfs bi!llrngs arnd d:efeinmined !hat R:espoodem had fabricated llil~mgs urn four additional fillers, to wit Cii:e:rnt ll (Malter 1!\los. 4971!H, 46400 arnd 5!1419) ami Cli:e:rnt IE {IMiallter No. 15. ~11994}. With 1rega1111"1 to Matrer INio. 49761 of Cruiernt ll, Mr. Gooden »ood oo evidlenoe irn the file to jiJis!lify R:espmillll:e:rnll's b!Uil1llll for a total of $1,292 w 13,.6 oours at the rate <Of$95 per lhloor between the dates of Jarnuaay 13, 2012 ood Jaooary 16, 2012. 16.. Wilill rellJard to Matrer 1!\lo. 4849!) of CUiern!: ID, Mr. Gandoo »u.rnd na iiMdMOO irn llhe Me tto S'lllbstlin~iate Respoodernll's billing for a total of $997.50 for 11».5 lh!IJui\S at llhe rale of $95 pa· !Jour beitweern l!lhe !llates of Jarnuary 17, 2012 and Jaooary 19, 21l12. 11. Wil!h r<e,!Jaiid to Matter INin. 49761 of C!iernt 0, Mr. Gooriern foornd na ewitd:e:rnoo iiil1l fue file to jllls!lify Respoodcernfs billirng for a tto'la! of $2,155.50 fulr 22.1 hours at llhe rate of $95 per 11om beit1ween too <tlal;es of Jai1llila!IY 13, 2012 and J:aooary 16, 201:2. 11!1.. Wi~rn regard to Mat%er 1\io. 56004 of ewjdoooo in the file to substamiate Respr:Y.rnJlernfs CHi~mt lb~llillg b E, Mr. Goooe:rn fournd no a total of $1.442 for 1 Ul lln!MiS at llhe rate of $122 per hnllif ib:et~Meen the dates of february 23, 2012 and february 27,2012. hoors of worn: Respondent did not do. H~. mme of Iitle dliool:s aOO!aiBy paid the mflaled amoarnts as ll1e lilm e.'illi!e;r ardljmled ltitie billings be~re they were sent to the 20. f'o~ilioo The Respoodernt was sent a OB-7 Reqoosilfor Stalement of R<espoordlenf's orn July 31, 20112. The Do:mel!!iic RdL!m Rooeiipl: was signed for om Alll!iiUsi 8, 2012.: The Respoodenfs arnswer was dille oo ~l: 30, 2012, 1M he did not slllbmit 1001 do so and has rnot respolldOO to \!he D:S-7 or e~ained Why. 24. As a res!Jiill of liis wrnduct as set ·lil:lrfu in f'aragl"llli[llls 3 furoo!]lh 23, tile Respornde:rnt admits lie lfio'aled tile following Rules of f'rolessio:na1 Cmidlllot a. Rf'C 1.5(a) A lawyer :shall n!Jl enter iililto oo agree:tl!llellll: for, chaage, or colled a111 ialegal or dleau1y emes:sive ·fee; b. Rf'C 8A(b) It is profe:ssiooal miscood111ct far a lawyer to commit a oliimina! act fum ~ adve,!Sflly l(lffl tile illll~r"s Uliooesty, ~rustwo:rthirness or fimess as a \Iawver in ofuer respec>Js; arn!l c. RPC 8.4(c) it is professional misoondllct for a lawyer to 00!!139e in coml!IJIC! imli'O!iring dis!OOnes!ly, iliraudl, deoei! «<f musrepreserntalii~rn. 25. The Resplll1!denit's l'aiilure to respond lii:l fue 08-1 Req1111erst for S!atemMt of RespOOdeilllit's Posiliioo wilhom goml cal!lse is arD im.lependooil: gTmllrnl lioxr lihle SPECIFIC JOINT RECOMME~OAllONIIFOR OiSCIPU~E rdisciplirrne to lb>e im[f.llllSOO f«lf II!Je Responrdoofs misooOOI!lct is a two year SIIIISpensoo .. . 21. Respom:!Jeilllt hereby oornselilis to lihlat discipliW~e beillg imposed I.I!Jlllllil him by II!Je Sll:Jilreme C!1>1.111 IJf Peoosyhrania. Mached to illl1is Pelii!iioo is Respondeilllfs exoo!llted Atiidmrit lf16!lli,iired by Rule 215{rd), Pa.R.D.E., sta~irng tlilait he oo:mserns ~o lihle respecl.iliwlly su!bl\l1litlled fuere are several mitigaliirng ciroomstanoes: a. Resporndent lilas no prior l!lOO!lrd of rdisdlpline; of Profess1o!l1lai Co:rn:ll111cl 1.!ii(b), 3.4{1:1), am.l3.4(c); c. iFolbwJrng llis discharge fmm Weber Gailaglle~;, Res:poo!ilernt :sfu>~ped ptraelici!l1lg llaw ood regi~ed Refired on Odobsr 11, 20·12; and 29. A MO yoor SU$peii11Sion is wililiWI fue range IO!f pillb~c discipline imposed in $!imilar Peoosyi11an~a disciplinary cases imrohring lawyers l.W!1\o inlliale!i their !ega! fees. In Too attomey did oot reimbur-se fue filllil1. Too Pe.am case ares the case of in re A~Jonymous (JoJ1n h1~ooy wm) No. 149 0111005, Wllere fue all:omey was ~deli f« <Jr year alil!:l a day fur l!iaving memilled $16,338 in regal !fees airnd $9,164 fur ~el ... Addilionally, fue atromey wrote lel:ilers and olher oommlllrnicaliioos to cliellts llil'llailllifl!!J lf:a!se sl:allemen!:s abullli: aolii1Yi11ies llle 111at11 pe;nfomned oo :sOOieen o!lcasioos. The attorney's fiilm '' AliH cases ciilied wdlho:ut an official cil:aliioo may be reviiewelillby openillg fue IDisclpliillii!J Reporter IJI!lder Attorney lnfurmalion at I))IWW.P§!dl:u.11s and emeriny ltihle aftromey's name or ltihle IDS Jrnumber ill fue appropriafte seareta llliallil. The IDisoiplirrary Reporfter S!ll!i!m'tllllry' Will illc!mle a Birnk w fue fte%1 of tfle report " Offfire of Discip!!inary Cooose#l( Bmwn. 520 Pa. 157, !5!53 A.2d 1194 (1900). 1 WHEREFORE,~- ~tmt ~ask 1111lata Thr~er Pooel of yoor H~ Boom: ~ 1111lis Pe!ii!ID:rn; a. and, R~lly Soomilied, OfACE OF DISCif>liiNARY COUNSEl Paul J. Killioo Coolllrel Chief Disciplilll dwin W. Frere, Jr. Disciplilllal}' Coornsei Attorney Regmralioo No. 0028 PA Jooicial Ctmter, Suite 5800 001 OolnrnmOOIIWeallh A~illle P .0. !Box 62615 Ha~.IP'A 11105-2615 111-172-8512 p::vJV//I " If, Dale '2-<Yt;J ---~ ~ / - . ¢. ~. E.oojlilire Co!Ml~Sel for Re&p!lll'ldernt AHwirlley Reg~ No. 43002 COlGAN &ASSOCIATIES, llC Dawi!l E. 130 W. Chwcla Street, Suite 100 Dillsburg, I"A 11019 117-502-5001» 'lt.s \ \} ~/ R~Mt 2932 Oll!kgiiiWe Avenue St A'lllgustine, f l 321»29 I lllEfORE THE OISCIPUNARY OOARD OF THE SIJPRBIIJE COURT OF PENNISYl'VM'IIA OFFICE OF DISCIPUNARY COUNSEl, : F"eliiliooer No. 155 Dill 2012 'II ¢ . Midhlaell J~ BOOTie, Respl)rnioot (Da!llphilll Coull!:y) VtERIRCAllOiN The $latsnme;l1lts oollllaiood in tile f01re!JGing Jtllililt Peliliolll il1l Support of Oisciipiine . oo Cllllllsellt Ul1!11tleir f'aRO.E 215{11) are true a11111l correct to tile best moor koo!roledge, il1lfo:rmalioo amjj IOOiief il!ll!l are mede subject to the .relali!ilg to l!llmli'l1ll>J"l111 fallsifit:atiolll to alltOO:nii'~&S. _) c::;:'//Vc// 15J :t~r '3 O:ale pe~~allies of 18 Pa. C.S. §4004 EXHIBIT A BEFORE THE DISCIPliiNARV BOARD OF THE SUIF'REII\JliE COURT OF PBIIINISVlVANIIA OffiCE OF DISCIPUNARV COUNSEl, : Peli1!iioner No. 156 DlB 2(1)12. II.. Michaeil Joseph Boorne, Resp~.lider~~t AFfiDAVIT PURSUANT TO RUlE 215(d). PaROE . Resporndem, Mimael Jl(llsepfh &mre, hereby eileiles that he oornseirrts 1bO> tl:!e imposiiliion of a two year susper!ISioo as joilllily 111e00mmoode!l I:Jv Petiliiooe:r, Office of C.onselil: pllrs!larnt 1bO> Rule 215(d), Pennsy'lvania Rilles of Disclp~oory E1111'oroem&rnl, al1ld fu~!l1ler stlllies fuat s!Jibjeeiloo w ooe:nc:ioo m d11mss; lhle iis fully aware of fue impflcaliiorns of oobmiffirng the coosernt; and he has oonsul!e!l wlllh c0011seil, Da\rid E. Herslrey, Esq~~ire, in aHIS!iill>liioos iliOOt he is gl.llilty of nsoorndueil as sell: fu:rilh in !l1le Joint Peliiliioo; 3. He a~edgas that !l1le meilemial fueils set ro:rlilil in the Joint Pellii!iilll.rn am t:rue;; arnd 111 l!llem. It is 111lllilers'loo!llihiat l!lle 5!ailemeni!E made herein are subject i O> lihie pernaltieE of 18 Pa. C..:SA §'Mll!l4 (relalill!ll to unsworn fll!lsffica~iDn iiO> au!i!"!mil:ies). :Si!llllB!II!ili& Is day of .km!lmy :201:3.. 11

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