Ways to be Disbarred

Lawyers, in their infinite wisdom, find ingenious ways to get themselves booted off the profession. Listed below are just some of the examples. Mind you, this is not an exhaustive list. There is more than one way to skin a cat, as they say. But you'll get the idea of what not to do if you're a lawyer in the following instances:

Keeping a mistress, entering into another marriage while a prior one still subsists, as well as abandoning and/or mistreating your wife and children (Tapucar v. Tapucar);

Receiving from an adverse party money pursuant to an amicable settlement, but never giving the proceeds to your client. (Resureccion v. Sayson);

Taking advantage of the law profession in committing the crime of falsification of public document to defraud your clients. (In Re Avanceña);

Having an illicit relationship with a married woman and her niece at the same time. (Royong v. Oblena);

Misrepresenting yourself to be a bachelor, then marrying your very powerful and influential client's daughter. (Cojuangco v. Palma);

Entering into multiple marriages and then resorting to legal remedies to sever them (Macarrubo v. Macarrubo);

Borrowing from the clerk of court the folder containing the adverse party's evidence, surreptitiously tearing off two pages, crumpling the papers and placing them inside your pocket. (Fernandez v. Grecia);

Raping your neighbor's wife (Calub v. Suller);

Through attrocious maneuvers, successfully delaying the disposition of an estate settlement for thirty-eight (38) years (Re: Administrative Case no. 44 of RTC, Branch IV, Tagbilaran);

Continuing to practice despite being disbarred [Technically, you're not going to be disbarred anymore, because you were already disbarred, but you are subject to contempt] (San Luis v. Pineda);

Extorting money from his client through deceit and misrepresentation (Docena v. Limon);

Swindling your client (Villanueva v. Sta. Ana).


Photo: kevindooley, Creative Commons, Flickr