In re Williams

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IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF KANSAS

No. 113,929

In the Matter of G. THOMAS WILLIAMS,
Respondent.

ORIGINAL PROCEEDING IN DISCIPLINE

Original proceeding in discipline. Opinion filed October 30, 2015. Disbarment.

Deborah L. Hughes, Deputy Disciplinary Administrator, argued the cause, and Stanton A. Hazlett,
Disciplinary Administrator, was with her on the formal complaint for the petitioner.

John J. Ambrosio, of Ambrosio & Ambrosio, Chtd., of Topeka, argued the cause, and G. Thomas
Williams, respondent, argued the cause pro se.

Per Curiam: This is an original proceeding in discipline filed by the office of the
Disciplinary Administrator against the respondent, G. Thomas Williams, of Overland
Park, an attorney admitted to the practice of law in Kansas in 1982.

On September 25, 2014, the office of the Disciplinary Administrator filed a formal
complaint against the respondent alleging violations of the Kansas Rules of Professional
Conduct (KRPC). The respondent filed a motion for additional time to file answer on
October 16, 2014, which was granted by order dated October 20, 2014, and filed an
answer on October 27, 2014. On January 7, 2015, the parties entered into written
stipulations of facts. A hearing was held on the complaint before a panel of the Kansas
Board for Discipline of Attorneys on January 15, 2015, where the respondent was
personally present and was represented by counsel. The hearing panel determined that
respondent violated KRPC 1.3 (2014 Kan. Ct. R. Annot. 475) (diligence); 1.4(a) (2014
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Kan. Ct. R. Annot. 495) (communication); 8.4(c) (2014 Kan. Ct. R. Annot. 680)
(engaging in conduct involving misrepresentation); 8.4(d) (engaging in conduct
prejudicial to the administration of justice); 8.4(g) (engaging in conduct adversely
reflecting on lawyer's fitness to practice law); 8.1(a) (2014 Kan. Ct. R. Annot. 670) (false
statement in connection with disciplinary matter); and Kansas Supreme Court Rule
207(b) (2014 Kan. Ct. R. Annot. 342) (failure to cooperate in disciplinary investigation).

Upon conclusion of the hearing, the panel made the following findings of fact and
conclusions of law, together with its recommendation to this court:

"Findings of Fact

. . . .
"9. J.S. worked for the United States Postal Service for many years. She
worked hard, saved her money, and was able to take early retirement at age 56.
Commerce Brokerage Services, Inc., erred in reclassifying the funds from her thrift
savings account, and J.S. suffered unexpected serious tax liability.

"10. On March 29, 2012, J.S. met with the respondent. He agreed to represent
her. On March 30, 2012, the respondent sent J.S. a contingency fee agreement. On April
4, 2012, J.S. signed and returned the agreement to the respondent.

"11. From time to time, J.S. called the respondent's office to find out the
status of the representation. Each time J.S. called, except once, the respondent was
unavailable. J.S. left messages for the respondent. The one time J.S. was able to speak to
the respondent, the respondent told J.S. that he had not heard back from Commerce
Brokerage Services, Inc. The respondent promised to pull her file and get back with her.
The respondent never communicated with J.S. again.

"12. On August 1, 2013, J.S.'s husband, M.S., called the respondent's office.
He identified himself only by his first name. The receptionist connected M.S.'s call to the
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respondent. The respondent told M.S. that he would be mailing out legal papers for J.S. to
sign and return. J.S. never received any papers from the respondent.

"13. Approximately 2 weeks later, J.S. called the respondent and left a
message on his voicemail asking about the legal papers the respondent promised to send.
The respondent failed to return the call.

"14. On November 19, 2013, J.S. wrote to the respondent inquiring about the
status of her case and asking to speak with him. The respondent received the letter but did
not respond to it.

"15. On December 30, 2013, J.S. filed a complaint against the respondent
with the disciplinary administrator's office. On January 2, 2014, Ms. Hughes sent the
respondent a copy of J.S.'s complaint to the respondent and directed that he provide a
written response to the complaint within 20 days.

"16. On January 30, 2014, the respondent provided a written response to J.S.'s
complaint to the disciplinary administrator's office. The respondent's letter provided, in
pertinent part, as follows:

'From the date of our meeting, I spoke with [J.S.] several times,
and her husband once, letting her know I was still reviewing her file.
Upon the completion of my review, I sent her the attached letter dated
April 3, 2013, and never heard from her again. I closed my file and did
not think anything of the matter, as my documents were copies and she
possessed the originals, or a duplicate set of copies.'

The letter that the respondent purported to have written and sent to J.S. on April 3, 2013,
provides as follows:

'I am writing to inform you that I am no longer interested in
representing you in the above matter. My reasons are as follows:

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1. The documents I have reviewed provide
questionable liability, at best, against the
defendant in this case, as they clearly
state you are responsible for your tax
advice.

2. I am very busy and do not care to
continue with this case.

'This is not a statement that you have no case at law, in fact I do
not pass judgment on that issue, just that I do not wish to represent you.
If you wish to continue this matter, you should seek the counsel of
another attorney, being mindful of your statute of limitations. You are
hereby released from my fee agreement with no financial responsibility
on your part. Should you wish copies or originals of your files, please
contact my office.'

During the disciplinary investigation, the respondent told the attorney assigned to
investigate J.S.'s complaint that he had mailed the April 3, 2013, letter. This statement
was false.

"17. J.S. did not receive the April 3, 2013, letter, because despite the respondent's statements
to the investigating attorney and in his letter to the disciplinary administrator, the respondent did not send
the April 3, 2013, letter. Rather, the respondent fabricated the letter for purposes of the disciplinary
investigation. [Footnote: The disciplinary administrator determined that the name of the respondent's law
firm, as of April 3, 2013, was different than what appeared on the letterhead of the April 3, 2013, letter. In
fact, the firm name that appeared on the letterhead of that letter did not exist on April 3, 2013; it came
into existence several months thereafter, evincing that the letter was created well after April 3, 2013.]

"18. During the disciplinary investigation, the respondent provided a copy of
the file he maintained in connection with his representation of J.S. In the materials
provided to the disciplinary administrator was a copy of a handwritten note which
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purported to reflect a telephone conversation between the respondent and Steven
Mathews, an employee in the compliance department of Commerce Brokerage Services,
Inc. The respondent's note was dated April 3, 2013, and included the following
statements:

'TC Steven Mathews – Commerce
– No mention of tax
– said "I want all the $"
– ignored tax advice
– told her to get tax counsel/advice'

"19. On March 19, 2014, Ms. Hughes wrote to the respondent, directed the
respondent to submit to a statement under oath, and directed the respondent to provide
certain items. Specifically, Ms. Hughes directed the respondent bring:

. . . .

'2. Electronic copies of any and all documents you or a
member of your support staff created in [J.S.'s] matter,
including the letter dated April 3, 2013, that you
provided to this office in response to [J.S.'s] complaint.

a. These documents are to be produced in
their native format, i.e., the format in
which they are stored and used in the
normal course of business with the
metadata showing the electronic history
of each document, including the dates
the document was created, modified,
and/or printed intact and accessible.
This request includes all electronically
stored documents, whether stored in
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current, back-up, or archived computer
files.'

. . . .

"20. On April 8, 2014, Ms. Hughes and Terry Morgan, special investigator
with the disciplinary administrator's office traveled to the respondent's office to take the
respondent's sworn statement and the respondent's administrative assistant's sworn
statement. During the respondent's sworn statement, the respondent testified that he could
not locate the April 3, 2013, letter in an electronic form. Thereafter, the respondent
offered false testimony regarding how the letter was created, as follows:

'Q. (BY MS. HUGHES) Showing you now what's been marked as
Exhibit No. 2 and ask you if you can identify that?

'A. It's a letter dated April 3, 2013, from me to [J.S.], Lansing,
Kansas.

'Q. And, again, the initials at the bottom are what?

'A. The same as the other, GTW colon SW.

'Q. Does that mean that Shirley Whitney typed that letter?

'A. That's what it indicates.

'Q. Is it possible you typed the letter and put her initials on it?

'A. I don't believe so.

'Q. And was this letter created on or about April 3 of 2013?

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'A. Again, documents are created sometimes the day before—you
know, they might be done on a Friday, mailed Monday
inadvertently, and that kind of thing, or done after hours. It's
within a day or two. It's within one day postage-wise. And I
believe the program updates the date if you reprint the letter, so
it's within a day or two of April 3rd.

. . . .

'MR. MORGAN: The date the letter was typed would be the date
on this letter, is that correct, April 3rd?

'THE WITNESS: My understanding is that the program
automatically—that she's set up the program to automatically
produce the date that the letter is printed.

'MR. MORGAN: Thank you.

'THE WITNESS: But there's—that's my understanding.

'Q. (BY MS. HUGHES) Do you recall the circumstances
surrounding this letter? What caused you to create this letter for
[J.S.]?

'A. Well, I think it speaks for itself.

'Q. You were terminating any representation. Is that a fair
assessment?

'A. That's the intent—the overall intent.

. . . .

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'Q. Did you produce an electronic copy of this document on the disc
Ms. Whitney provided us?

'A. She said she couldn't find it.

'Q. And I'll represent to you that I loaded the disc, pulled it up and
that letter is not on there.

'A. I understand.

'Q. Is that consistent with your understanding from her?

'A. She said it wasn't on the computer. She didn't—she did a search
and couldn't find it. It wasn't misfiled, to her knowledge. She just
couldn't find that letter—

'Q. Okay.

'A. —is what she told me.

. . . .

'Q. (BY MS. HUGHES) Did you check your computer in case you
had typed this letter to see if you had saved—

'A. I wouldn't type it on my—you know, my computer.

'Q. You're confident you did not type this letter?

'A. Correct.'

"21. On September 25, 2014, Ms. Hughes filed a formal complaint in the
instant case. In the formal complaint, Ms. Hughes alleged that the respondent fabricated
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the April 3, 2013, letter and the respondent fabricated the notes which purported to
represent a telephone conversation he had with Mr. Matthews. On October 27, 2014, the
respondent filed an answer to the formal complaint. In his answer, the respondent
admitted to fabricating the letter and note for purposes of the disciplinary investigation.
Thereafter, on January 7, 2015, the disciplinary administrator and the respondent entered
into a written stipulation. In the written stipulation, the respondent again admitted to
fabricating the letter and notes.

"22. Despite his answer and the written stipulation, during the hearing on the
formal complaint, the respondent did not admit that he fabricated the April 3, 2013, letter,
and note after receiving the disciplinary complaint. Rather, regarding the letter, the
respondent testified as follows:

'Q. Mr. Williams, is it your testimony here today that the April 3,
2013, letter was already drafted and existed in your file when the
disciplinary complaint came in, the letter to [J.S.]?

'A. The way that it worked was this, that—my assistant's name is
Shirley. Okay. That I had drafted a letter that was in the file in
draft form.

'Q. What do you mean "draft form "?

'A. Well, our office uses—and they're old school, I don't know why
they do this—they have a printed letterhead. Okay. Everybody
else in the 20th Century or 21st Century now that I know of uses
a letterhead that's generated by a word processor. And I drafted a
disengagement letter and apparently it never got sent.

'Q. But it was actually typed?

'A. Correct.

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'Q. And existed?

'A. Right.

'Q. But it hasn't been sent?

'A. I don't think it was, no.

. . . .

'Q. In the electronically stored documents you provided for [J.S.'s]
file that was not in there, was it?

'A. I don't believe so.

'Q. But it had been—it's your testimony that it had been created,
though, and it should have been saved; is that a fair statement?

'A. You have to understand that—that not everything gets saved
that's ever produced in the system. And, yes, of course, it should
have been saved. And, yes, of course, it should have been there.
But it had happened in my office before that letters had been sent
and generated and no saved copy existed. In other words, they're
on the system, but they were never saved in the file, in the
computer file that was called [J.S.] file. And so I had seen that
before and, no, the letter never got saved.

'Q. This is the first time you've shared this story that the letter had
existed—had already been drafted and existed in the file with our
office, the Disciplinary Administrator's Office; is that a fair
statement?

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'A. I don't know what's been stated by Mr. Ambrosio. I thought he'd
offered that statement before. I think the point of my response
was—

'Q. Let me ask it—I want the answer to my question. You had not
told—you, I'm not asking what Mr. Ambrosio told us. You had
not told the Disciplinary Administrator's Office this that the
file—that that letter existed in your file, it had been drafted, but
just had never been sent, you have never told that to this office,
other than what I'm hearing here today?

'A. I don't believe so, no.

'Q. And it wasn't in your answer that you filed in response to the
complaint?

'A. No. I wasn't completely forthright.'

And, regarding the note, the respondent testified, as follows:

'Q. I'd ask you to look at Exhibit 13, the document at page—Bates
stamp page 110. You've talked about the April 3, 2013, letter and
the circumstances surrounding that, but you have not addressed
this note. What is this document that's Page 110?

'A. It's a photocopy of a handwritten note in my file.

'Q. And this was also not—this was fabricated, you didn't have a
conversation with Mr. Williams—with Mr. Steve Matthews at
Commerce on April 3, 2013?

'A. No. I spoke to somebody else. I spoke to somebody in their
compliance department. This is a cryptic note to myself and I
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should have removed it from the file that's my mistake. I think if
I had an attorney who would have bothered to look at it, he
would have told me to do that.

'Q. To remove this from your file?

'A. It's misleading. It's a cryptic note to myself. I don't keep
complete notes. When I was in a law firm where I had to interact
with other attorneys I kept better notes. But now I sometimes
will write TC on a note pad where I don't actually speak to a
person or whatever. This was a misstatement and a
misrepresentation to you because that's not what happened. I
didn't speak to him. I spoke to somebody in Commerce
compliance department. When I was downtown we represented
Commerce Bank and I know they have a compliance department
and I spoke to somebody there. So this note was not an accurate
representation of what occurred in terms of that phone call.

'Q. This note purports to document what somebody said. I'm looking
at the second note. It says, said, quote, I want all the—and then
it's a money symbol, I think, dollar symbol, closed quote. Do you
see that on there?

'A. Correct.

'Q. And that appears to me to be somebody telling you what [J.S.]
said?

'A. No, it's what [J.S.] told me.

'Q. Said I want all the money?

'A. Yeah.
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'Q. Ignored tax advice, what's that mean—

'A. That—

'Q. —on there?

'A. That—it's a note that means that she has a tax obligation and—
independent of Commerce Bank and that—that Commerce—she
did not engage Commerce Bank for the purpose of rendering tax
advice, she had a CPA that offered her tax advice. And that was
a note I made to myself regarding some of the substance issues
of the file.

'Q. So these four notes under TC, Steven Matthews, Commerce, are
not documentation of a conversation with Steven Matthews at
Commerce?

'A. Correct.

'Q. They're not documentation of a conversation with anybody?

'A. No. They're notes to myself. Again, it's cryptic and taken in
context they're—and I should have either offered an explanation
for those or not submitted it, but you asked me for the full file, I
believe.

'Q. You didn't submit this to our office in an effort to mislead us into
believing that you had actually spoken to Steven Matthews at
Commerce Bank?

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'A. No. My misrepresentation was regarding the letter, it wasn't
about this note. And I apologize for that. That was never my
intent to tell you that I spoke—but that was my—I wrote that
down because that's who I intended to call and I ended up talking
to somebody in compliance and saying my name is Tom
Williams, I want to ask about investment and the process that
your investment people go through. I spoke to somebody else
and I didn't write down who it was. I don't know who it was. It
was just somebody in the compliance department.'

"23. The respondent provided five statements regarding the April 3, 2013,
letter—(1) the statement in his initial response, (2) the testimony provided during the
sworn statement, (3) the respondent's answer, (4) the written stipulation entered by the
parties, and (5) the testimony provided during the hearing on the formal complaint. The
respondent's statements regarding the April 3, 2013, letter are inconsistent. After
weighing all the evidence presented by both parties, the hearing panel concludes that the
respondent's admissions in his answer to the formal complaint and the written stipulation
are consistent with the other evidence presented to the hearing panel; while the
respondent's initial response and sworn testimony are not consistent with the other
evidence. Thus, the hearing panel concludes that the respondent's statements in his initial
response as well as in his testimony both during the sworn statement and the hearing on
the formal were self-serving and false.

"24. Additionally, the respondent provided three statements regarding the
April 3, 2013, note that purport to reflect a telephone conversation between the
respondent and Mr. Mathews: the respondent's answer, the written stipulation, and the
respondent's testimony during the hearing on the formal complaint. Again, the hearing
panel finds the respondent's statements to be inconsistent. And, again, the hearing panel
concludes that the respondent's admissions made in his answer and the statements in the
written stipulation are consistent with the other evidence presented regarding the April 3,
2013, note. As such, the hearing panel concludes that the respondent's testimony before
the hearing panel was false.

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"Conclusions of Law

"25. Based upon the findings of fact, the hearing panel concludes as a matter
of law that the respondent violated KRPC 1.3, KRPC 1.4, KRPC 8.1, KRPC 8.4(c),
KRPC 8.4(d), KRPC 8.4(g), and Kan. Sup. Ct. R. 207, as detailed below.

"KRPC 1.3

"26. Attorneys must act with reasonable diligence and promptness in
representing their clients. See KRPC 1.3. The respondent failed to diligently and
promptly represent J.S. when he failed to take any action on her behalf to accomplish the
purpose for which he was retained. Because the respondent failed to act with reasonable
diligence and promptness in representing his client, the hearing panel concludes that the
respondent violated KRPC 1.3.

"KRPC 1.4

"27. KRPC 1.4(a) provides that '[a] lawyer shall keep a client reasonably
informed about the status of a matter and promptly comply with reasonable requests for
information.' In this case, the respondent violated KRPC 1.4(a) when he failed to return
J.S.'s telephone calls and when he failed to respond to J.S.'s email messages.
Accordingly, the hearing panel concludes that the respondent violated KRPC 1.4(a).

"KRPC 8.4(c)

"28. 'It is professional misconduct for a lawyer to . . . engage in conduct
involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit or misrepresentation.' KRPC 8.4(c). The respondent
engaged in conduct that involved dishonesty when he fabricated the April 3, 2013, letter,
when he fabricated the April 3, 2013, note, when he testified falsely during the sworn
statement, when he provided false information to the disciplinary investigator, and when
he testified falsely at the hearing on the formal complaint. As such, the hearing panel
concludes that the respondent violated KRPC 8.4(c).

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"KRPC 8.4(d)

"29. 'It is professional misconduct for a lawyer to . . . engage in conduct that
is prejudicial to the administration of justice.' KRPC 8.4(d). The respondent engaged in
conduct that was prejudicial to the administration of justice when he failed to take action
to represent J.S. Additionally, the respondent engaged in conduct that is prejudicial to the
administration of justice when he fabricated a letter, fabricated notes, provided false
information to the disciplinary investigator, and when he testified falsely under oath both
at the sworn statement as well as at the hearing on the formal complaint. As such, the
hearing panel concludes that the respondent violated KRPC 8.4(d).

"KRPC 8.4(g)

"30. 'It is professional misconduct for a lawyer to . . . engage in any other
conduct that adversely reflects on the lawyer's fitness to practice law.' KRPC 8.4(g). The
respondent engaged in conduct that adversely reflects on his fitness to practice law when
he obstructed the disciplinary investigation by fabricating evidence, providing false
information to the disciplinary investigator, and testifying falsely under oath during the
sworn statement and the hearing on the formal complaint. The hearing panel concludes
that the respondent violated KRPC 8.4(g).

"KRPC 8.1 and Kan. Sup. Ct. R. 207(b)

"31. Lawyers must cooperate in disciplinary investigations. KRPC 8.1(b) and
Kan. Sup. Ct. R. 207(b) provide the requirements in this regard.

'An applicant for admission to the bar, or a lawyer in connection
with a bar admission application or in connection with a disciplinary
matter, shall not:

(a) knowingly make a false statement of material
fact; or

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(b) fail to disclose a fact necessary to correct a
misapprehension known by the person to have
arisen in the matter, or knowingly fail to respond
to a lawyer demand for information from an
admissions or disciplinary authority, except that
this rule does not require disclosure of
information otherwise protected by Rule 1.6.'

KRPC 8.1.

'It shall be the duty of each member of the bar of this state to aid
the Supreme Court, the Disciplinary Board, and the Disciplinary
Administrator in investigations concerning complaints of misconduct,
and to communicate to the Disciplinary Administrator any information
he or she may have affecting such matters.'

Kan. Sup. Ct. R. 207(b). The respondent fabricated the April 3, 2013, letter after
receiving the disciplinary complaint. Further, the respondent fabricated the April 3, 2013,
notes which purport to reflect a telephone conversation between the respondent and Mr.
Mathews. The respondent falsely told the attorney appointed to investigate the complaint
that he had mailed the April 3, 2013, letter to J.S. Finally, the respondent provided false
testimony during the sworn statement and during the hearing on the formal complaint. As
a result, the hearing panel concludes that the respondent violated KRPC 8.1(a) and Kan.
Sup. Ct. R. 207, by providing fabricated documents, by making a false statement to the
attorney investigator, and by testifying falsely.

"American Bar Association
Standards for Imposing Lawyer Sanctions

"32. In making this recommendation for discipline, the hearing panel
considered the factors outlined by the American Bar Association in its Standards for
Imposing Lawyer Sanctions (hereinafter 'Standards'). Pursuant to Standard 3, the factors
to be considered are the duty violated, the lawyer's mental state, the potential or actual
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injury caused by the lawyer's misconduct, and the existence of aggravating or mitigating
factors.

"33. Duty Violated. The respondent violated his duty to his client to provide
diligent representation and adequate communication. The respondent violated his duty to
his client, the public, and the legal profession to maintain his personal integrity.

"34. Mental State. The respondent knowingly and intentionally violated his
duties.

"35. Injury. As a result of the respondent's misconduct, the respondent caused
actual injury to the legal profession and potential injury to his client.

"Aggravating and Mitigating Factors

"36. Aggravating circumstances are any considerations or factors that may
justify an increase in the degree of discipline to be imposed. In reaching its
recommendation for discipline, the hearing panel, in this case, found the following
aggravating factor present:

"37. Prior Disciplinary Offenses. The respondent has been previously
disciplined on two prior occasions. In 2004, the respondent entered into the attorney
diversion program for violating KRPC 1.4. The respondent successfully completed the
diversion. Additionally, in 2010, the disciplinary administrator informally admonished
the respondent for having violated KRPC 1.3 and KRPC 1.4.

"38. Dishonest or Selfish Motive. The respondent's misconduct was
motivated by dishonesty and selfishness. The respondent fabricated evidence, made a
false statement to the disciplinary investigator, and falsely testified under oath. The
respondent's dishonest conduct in this case is a significant aggravating factor.

"39. A Pattern of Misconduct. The respondent has engaged in a pattern of
misconduct. Twice the respondent created evidence to make it appear as though he
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properly represented J.S. Further, twice, the respondent falsely testified under oath.
Finally, the respondent's prior discipline involved two of the same rules at issue in this
case. Thus, the hearing panel concludes that the respondent engaged in a pattern of
misconduct.

"40. Multiple Offenses. The respondent committed multiple rule violations.
The respondent violated KRPC 1.3, KRPC 1.4, KRPC 8.1, KRPC 8.4(c), KRPC 8.4(d),
KRPC 8.4(g), and Kan. Sup. Ct. R. 207(b). Accordingly, the hearing panel concludes that
the respondent committed multiple offenses.

"41. Submission of False Evidence, False Statements, or Other Deceptive
Practices During the Disciplinary Process. As discussed above, the hearing panel
concludes that the respondent made a false statement to the attorney assigned to
investigate the complaint filed by J.S. and the respondent testified falsely during the
sworn statement taken during the course of the disciplinary investigation. Also, the
hearing panel concluded that the respondent testified falsely during the hearing on the
formal complaint. The hearing panel is deeply troubled by the respondent's submission of
false evidence and the false statements.

"42. Substantial Experience in the Practice of Law. The Kansas Supreme
Court admitted the respondent to practice law in the State of Kansas in 1982. At the time
of the misconduct, the respondent had been practicing law for more than 30 years.

"43. Mitigating circumstances are any considerations or factors that may
justify a reduction in the degree of discipline to be imposed. In reaching its
recommendation for discipline, the hearing panel, in this case, found the following
mitigating circumstances present:

"44. Personal or Emotional Problems if Such Misfortunes Have Contributed
to Violation of the Kansas Rules of Professional Conduct. In December, 2014, the
respondent underwent a psychological evaluation. The psychologist concluded that the
respondent does not have a 'diagnosable mental illness' and has an 'underlying normal
personality' as the 'test indices do not indicate the presence of antisocial behavior,
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hostility, anxiety, thought disorder, agitation, paranoia, or impulsivity.' However, the
psychologist also concluded that the respondent has 'likely for some time (perhaps a few
years) suffered depression, frustration, over-extension, discontent, and anger, without the
insight to assess or the ability to express these feelings.' The psychologist also identified
certain personality traits that are problematic. The hearing panel concludes that the
respondent's personal or emotional problems mitigate his conduct as it related to the
diligence and communication issues. However, the hearing panel finds no connection
between the respondent's personal or emotional problems and the dishonest conduct.

"45. Previous Good Character and Reputation in the Community Including
Any Letters from Clients, Friends and Lawyers in Support of the Character and General
Reputation of the Attorney. The respondent is an active and productive member of the
bar of Overland Park, Kansas. The respondent also enjoys the respect of his peers and
generally possesses a good character and reputation as evidenced by several letters
received by the hearing panel.

"46. Remorse. At the hearing on this matter, the respondent expressed
remorse. However, the hearing panel concludes that this factor is not a significant
mitigating factor as the respondent appears to be remorseful that he is presently in this
situation. The respondent does not appear to be remorseful for failing to properly
represent J.S. or for engaging in dishonest conduct in the disciplinary investigation. The
respondent's lack of genuine remorse was captured by his psychologist as follows:

'Mr. Williams has been open and cooperative with the
evaluation, though he has made it clear he feels his offenses, for which
he fully accepts responsibility, are minor and insignificant compared to
those for which most other attorneys receive severe discipline. He
becomes indignant when he considers he might suffer a significant
disciplinary, practice-limiting sanction while other attorneys who have
actually committed harmful, egregious acts have been merely
reprimanded. Additionally, Mr. Williams's interview description of what
transpired to bring on the current complaint was an abbreviated, glossed-
over version of what appears in the Kansas Board's formal complaint.'
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The hearing panel concludes that while the respondent presented some evidence of
remorse, it is not a significant mitigating factor.

"47. Remoteness of Prior Offenses. The discipline imposed in 2004 is remote
in time, but not in character, to the misconduct in this case.

"48. In addition to the above-cited factors, the hearing panel has thoroughly
examined and considered the following Standards:

'4.41 Disbarment is generally appropriate when:

. . . .

(c) a lawyer engages in a pattern of neglect with
respect to client matters and causes serious or
potentially serious injury to a client.

'4.42 Suspension is generally appropriate when:

(a) a lawyer knowingly fails to perform services for
a client and causes injury or potential injury to a
client; or

(b) a lawyer engages in a pattern of neglect and
causes injury or potential injury to a client.

'5.11 Disbarment is generally appropriate when:

. . . .

(b) a lawyer engages in any other intentional
conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit, or
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misrepresentation that seriously adversely
reflects on the lawyer's fitness to practice.

'6.11 Disbarment is generally appropriate when a lawyer, with the
intent to deceive the court, makes a false statement, submits a
false document, or improperly withholds material information,
and causes serious or potentially serious injury to a party, or
causes a significant or potentially significant adverse effect on
the legal proceeding.

'7.1 Disbarment is generally appropriate when a lawyer knowingly
engages in conduct that is a violation of a duty owed as a
professional with the intent to obtain a benefit for the lawyer or
another, and causes serious or potentially serious injury to a
client, the public, or the legal system.'

"Recommendation

"49. The disciplinary administrator recommended that the respondent be
disbarred. The respondent recommended that he be censured by the Kansas Supreme
Court and that the censure be published in the Kansas Reports.

"50. The respondent engaged in repeated dishonest conduct. The hearing
panel recognizes that the ABA Standards support a recommendation of disbarment.
However, based on all the evidence presented to it, the hearing panel concludes that
something less than disbarment is the appropriate discipline to recommend in this case.
Thus, the hearing panel unanimously recommends that the respondent be indefinitely
suspended from the practice of law. In the event the respondent applies for reinstatement,
he should be required to establish that he clearly understands the serious nature of his
misconduct and unconditionally and unequivocally accepts responsibility for engaging in
a pattern of dishonest conduct.

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"51. Costs are assessed against the respondent in an amount to be certified by
the Office of the Disciplinary Administrator."

DISCUSSION

In a disciplinary proceeding, this court considers the evidence, the findings of the
disciplinary panel, and the arguments of the parties and determines whether violations of
KRPC exist and, if they do, what discipline should be imposed. Attorney misconduct
must be established by clear and convincing evidence. In re Foster, 292 Kan. 940, 945,
258 P.3d 375 (2011); see Supreme Court Rule 211(f) (2014 Kan. Ct. R. Annot. 363).
Clear and convincing evidence is "'evidence that causes the factfinder to believe that "the
truth of the facts asserted is highly probable."'" In re Lober, 288 Kan. 498, 505, 204 P.3d
610 (2009) (quoting In re Dennis, 286 Kan. 708, 725, 188 P.3d 1 [2008]).

Respondent was given adequate notice of the formal complaint, to which he filed
an answer, and adequate notice of the hearing before the panel and the hearing before this
court. The respondent did not file exceptions to the hearing panel's final hearing report.
As such, the findings of fact are deemed admitted. Supreme Court Rule 212(c) and (d)
(2014 Kan. Ct. R. Annot. 383).

The evidence before the hearing panel establishes by clear and convincing
evidence the charged misconduct violated KRPC 1.3 (2014 Kan. Ct. R. Annot. 475)
(diligence); 1.4(a) (2014 Kan. Ct. R. Annot. 495) (communication); 8.4(c) (2014 Kan. Ct.
R. Annot. 680) (engaging in conduct involving misrepresentation); 8.4(d) (engaging in
conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice); 8.4(g) (engaging in conduct
adversely reflecting on lawyer's fitness to practice law); 8.1(a) (2014 Kan. Ct. R. Annot.
670) (false statement in connection with disciplinary matter); and Kansas Supreme Court
Rule 207(b) (2014 Kan. Ct. R. Annot. 342) (failure to cooperate in disciplinary
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investigation), and it supports the panel's conclusions of law. We adopt the panel's
conclusions.

At the hearing before this court, at which the respondent appeared, the office of
the Disciplinary Administrator recommended that respondent be disbarred. The
respondent recommended published censure. The Hearing Panel recommended that the
respondent be suspended indefinitely.

This court is not bound by the recommendations of the Disciplinary Administrator
or the hearing panel. In re Mintz, 298 Kan. 897, 911-12, 317 P.3d 756 (2014). The court
bases each disciplinary sanction on the specific facts and circumstances of the violations
and aggravating and mitigating circumstances presented in the case. Mintz, 298 Kan. at
912. This court has taken the position that, while prior cases may have some bearing on
the sanctions that the court elects to impose, those prior cases must give way to
consideration of the unique circumstances that each individual case presents. In re Busch,
287 Kan. 80, 86-87, 194 P.3d 112 (2008). This court concerns itself less with the
sanctions that were appropriate in other cases and more with which discipline is
appropriate under the facts of the case before us. In re Dennis, 286 Kan. at 738.

We adopt the recommendation of the Disciplinary Administrator. The respondent
validated our conclusion by continuing to suggest before this court that his behavior was
something less than criminal and that this characterization somehow minimizes the
severity of his actions. As pointed out at oral argument, he admitted the conduct of twice
lying under oath, which actually is a crime punishable by imprisonment.

The pattern of misconduct, including the dishonesty, fraud, deceit, and
misrepresentation outlined in the hearing panel's report coupled with the respondent's
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continuing denial of the gravity of his conduct leads us to conclude that disbarment is the
appropriate discipline in this matter.

CONCLUSION AND DISCIPLINE

IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that G. Thomas Williams be and is hereby disciplined
by disbarment in accordance with Supreme Court Rule 203(a)(1) (2014 Kan. Ct. R.
Annot. 306).

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the respondent shall comply with Supreme Court
Rule 218 (2014 Kan. Ct. R. Annot 414) and Supreme Court Rule 219 (2014 Kan. Ct. R.
Annot. 415).

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the costs of these proceedings be assessed to the
respondent and that this opinion be published in the official Kansas Reports.