State ex rel. Counsel for Discipline of the Neb. Supreme Court v. Bruno

308 Neb. 478

954 N.W.2d 636

STATE of Nebraska EX REL. COUNSEL FOR DISCIPLINE OF the NEBRASKA SUPREME COURT, Relator,

v.Jason M. BRUNO, Respondent.

No. S-20-814.

Supreme Court of Nebraska.

Filed February 19, 2021

Per Curiam.

INTRODUCTION

The State Bar of Arizona entered a "Decision Order" regarding the respondent, Jason M. Bruno, on October 9, 2020. The Counsel for Discipline of the Nebraska Supreme Court, the relator, filed a motion for reciprocal discipline against the respondent. We grant the motion for reciprocal discipline and impose a suspension of 6 months.

FACTS

The respondent was admitted to the practice of law in the State of Arizona in 2004 and in the State of Nebraska on February 28, 2005. He has been an active member of the Nebraska State Bar Association and the State Bar of Arizona.

On October 9, 2020, the State Bar of Arizona's presiding disciplinary judge issued a final judgment and order in which it found that the respondent violated the Arizona Rules of Professional Conduct. The respondent was found to have violated "Arizona Rules of Professional Conduct ER 3.3(a)(3), ER 3.4(a) and (d), and ER 8.4 (c) and (d)." The charges arose from a discovery matter. The underlying facts generally involved the respondent's failure to disclose material.

The order suspended the respondent from the practice of law for a period of 6 months, followed by 2 years of probation upon reinstatement, additional CLE, and a "MAP assessment" with possible terms and conditions, plus costs and expenses.

On November 19, 2020, the relator filed a motion for reciprocal discipline pursuant to Neb. Ct. R. § 3-321 of the disciplinary rules. The motion stated that the above-cited Arizona Supreme Court rules are in sum and substance the equivalent to Neb. Ct. R. of Prof. Cond. §§ 3-503.3(a)(3) (rev. 2016) (candor toward tribunal), 3-503.4(a) and (d) (fairness to opposing party and counsel), and 3-508.4(c) and (d) (rev. 2016) (misconduct).

This court filed an order to show cause as to why it should not impose reciprocal discipline. On December 14, 2020, the respondent filed a response in which he requested oral argument and claimed, summarized and restated, that (1) he was not afforded due process in the disciplinary proceedings in Arizona and (2) the evidence does not support discipline. On January 6, 2021, the relator filed a response, arguing that the respondent has not overcome the presumption of regularity of the Arizona proceedings, and requested that this court impose a like discipline as that imposed by the Arizona Supreme Court.

ANALYSIS

The basic issues in a disciplinary proceeding against an attorney are whether discipline should be imposed and, if so, the type of discipline appropriate under the circumstances. State ex rel. Counsel for Dis. v. Murphy , 283 Neb. 982, 814 N.W.2d 107 (2012). In a reciprocal discipline proceeding, a judicial determination of attorney misconduct in one jurisdiction is generally conclusive proof of guilt and is not subject to relitigation in the second jurisdiction. Id. Neb. Ct. R. § 3-304 of the disciplinary rules provides that the following may be considered as discipline for attorney misconduct:

(A) Misconduct shall be grounds for:

(1) Disbarment by the Court; or

(2) Suspension by the Court; or

(3) Probation by the Court in lieu of or subsequent to suspension, on such terms as the Court may designate; or

(4) Censure and reprimand by the Court; or

(5) Temporary suspension by the Court; or

(6) Private reprimand by the Committee on Inquiry or Disciplinary Review Board.

(B) The Court may, in its discretion, impose one or more of the disciplinary sanctions set forth above.

Section 3-321 of the disciplinary rules provides in part:

(A) Upon being disciplined in another jurisdiction, a member shall promptly inform the Counsel for Discipline of the discipline imposed. Upon receipt by the Court of appropriate notice that a member has been disciplined in another jurisdiction, the Court may enter an order imposing the identical discipline, or greater or lesser discipline as the Court deems appropriate, or, in its discretion, suspend the member pending the imposition of final discipline in such other jurisdiction.

In imposing attorney discipline, we evaluate each case in light of its particular facts and circumstances. State ex rel. Counsel for Dis. v. Murphy, supra .

Upon due consideration of the record, and the facts as determined by the State Bar of Arizona, we determine that...