Office of Disciplinary Counsel v. Pasker

Electronically Filed Supreme Court SCAD-XX-XXXXXXX 11-MAR-2021 08:05 AM SCAD-XX-XXXXXXX Dkt. 27 ORD IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF HAWAI#I OFFICE OF DISCIPLINARY COUNSEL, Petitioner, vs. LEON E. PASKER, Respondent. ORIGINAL PROCEEDING (ODC Nos. 17-O-098, 18-0080) ORDER (By: Recktenwald, C.J., Nakayama, McKenna, Wilson, and Eddins, JJ.) Upon consideration of the March 5, 2021 report, submitted by Bradley Tamm, Chief Disciplinary Counsel at the Office of Disciplinary Counsel (ODC), in his capacity as Trustee over the law practice of incapacitated attorney Leon E. Pasker, pursuant to Rule 2.20 of the Rules of the Supreme Court of the State of Hawai#i (RSCH), the exhibits appended to that report, the record in this matter, and past and present versions of RSCH Rule 2.20, we conclude that the version of RSCH Rule 2.20(b) in effect at the creation of this trusteeship, on January 22, 2019, and RSCH Rule 2.20(g) (2021) both authorize Tamm, as trustee, to share with investigators from both ODC and from the Lawyers’ Fund for Client Protection the files of the two former clients of Pasker’s identified in the March 5, 2021 report, in order to cooperate in those investigations, though we note the December 24, 2018 order of this court in this matter suspended disciplinary proceedings against Pasker, pursuant to RSCH Rule 2.19(h). We further conclude that, in light of the steps taken thus far by Trustee Tamm to contact Pasker’s former clients, applying the provisions of RSCH Rule 2.20(h) (2021) to this trusteeship is warranted. Finally, we conclude that there is nothing further for Trustee Tamm to do with regards to this trusteeship. Therefore, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that Trustee Tamm may provide client files from Pasker’s law practice to ODC and Fund investigators to assist them in their investigations. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Trustee Tamm is thereafter discharged. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that ODC shall take possession of all remaining, unclaimed files from Pasker’s practice and may dispose of them pursuant to the process set forth in RSCH Rule 2.20(h) (2021). IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that, pursuant to RSCH Rule 2.20(j) (2021), ODC may assist the Disciplinary Board of the Hawai#i Supreme Court in submitting a Verified Bill of Costs for the costs incurred in this trusteeship, against attorney Pasker. DATED: Honolulu, Hawai#i, March 11, 2021. /s/ Mark E. Recktenwald /s/ Paula A. Nakayama /s/ Sabrina S. McKenna /s/ Michael D. Wilson /s/ Todd W. Eddins 2