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("$    ($$   1  ((' dxd dP Pd'''''dxd<  9p`(Arial% Line 7 d++++7Border 1dd!#,C << G  !  #d#*  ""  *   YYY FILED*XMarch16,1998CecilW.CrowsonAppellateCourtClerk  PtPtHH(EG(HH(d'`Styl{WP}01  HH  2$HH  Geneva  <Px443!#4$*$$*$ KK  Geneva  Geneva .,6 Geneva   ion-F Geneva  ion-F Geneva ! . *  4   ` 7XXdXXd7  \RA'\  &Xd&ӛ @ INTHESUPREMECOURTOFTENNESSEE@ ATNASHVILLE        FORPUBLICATION        Filed:March16,1998 INRE:FRANCISE.DICHTEL  ) BOARDOFPROFESSIONAL      ) RESPONSIBILITY      )       ) NO.01S019506BP00101!ٜR-.,A1-j|L`  `@Rߛ ForFrancisE.Dichtel:    ForBoardofProfessional      Responsibility: FrancisE.Dichtel,ProSe   SandraLeachGarrettMemphis,Tennessee   Nashville,Tennessee* @ OPINION *X` XX̜HELDINCONTEMPT      ANDERSON,C.J.  ThiscasearoseoutofapetitionfororderofcontemptfiledinthisCourtbytheBoardofProfessionalResponsibilityagainstFrancisE.Dichtel.ThepetitionallegedthatDichtelviolatedanorderofsuspensionpreviouslyenteredbythisCourtbyfailingtocomplywithTenn.Sup.Ct.R.9,18,whichrequiresthatsuspendedattorneysnotifyclientsofthesuspension,withdrawfrompendingcases,andrefrainfromacceptingnewcases. Afterconsiderationoftheentirerecordandoralargument,thisCourtfoundthatthepetitionwaswelltaken.WethereforeheldFrancisDichtelincontemptofthisCourtandenteredajudgmentonOctober7,1997,sentencinghimtoservetendaysinjailwithcreditfortimeservedatthetimeofhisarrest.@ BACKGROUND  OnApril29,1996,pursuanttoapetitionfiledbytheBoardofProfessionalResponsibility,thisCourtenteredanordertemporarilysuspendingFrancisDichtelfromthepracticeoflaw.ThesuspensionwasbaseduponafindingthatDichtelwas improperlyholdingorhasmisappropriatedclientfundsandpose[d]asubstantialthreatofharmtothepublic.Atthetimethisorderwasentered,acomplaintagainstDichtelallegingfourteengroundsfordisciplinewaspendingbeforetheBoard. OnSeptember11,1996,followingahearingonthecomplaintandDichtelsappealtothechancerycourt,weenteredan orderofenforcementthatsuspendedDichtelslicenseforoneyearandonemonth.TheorderwasbasedonthehearingpanelsfindingsofDichtelsnumerousviolationsofethicalanddisciplinaryrules,includingfailingtoactcompetentlyandzealouslyonbehalfofcertainclients,failingtoreturnfundstocertainclients,andcominglingoftrustfunds. OnApril30,1997,theBoardfiledthispetitionfororderofcontemptallegingthatDichtelviolatedtheordersoftemporarysuspensionbycontinuingtorepresentclientsandbyfailingtocomplywithTenn.Sup.Ct.R.9,18.ThisSupremeCourtrulerequiressuspendedattorneystonotifyclientsofthesuspension,withdrawfromrepresentationinpendingcases,givenoticetoadverseattorneyswhenclientshavenotfoundsubstitutecounsel,refrainfromacceptingnewcases,andfileanaffidavitwiththeCourtandtheBoardstatingthattheattorneyhascompliedwiththeCourtsorder. TheBoardspetitionfororderofcontemptwassupportedbycourtdocumentsandaffidavitsdemonstratingthatDichtelrepresentedclientsandacceptednewcasesaftertheApril29,1996orderoftemporarysuspension.Thesecasesincluded:8 0   InJuneof1996,DichtelacceptedafeetofileabankruptcypetitiononbehalfofKarlShumaker.  8 0   InJuneandJulyof1996,DichtelcontinuedtorepresenttherespondentinDokesv.Dokes,No.26695I,ShelbyCountyChanceryCourt.  8 0   InJulyof1996,DichtelfiledabankruptcypetitiononbehalfofVerleneHill.  8 0   InJuneof1996,DichtelacceptedafeetorepresentBenedaSmithinadivorceproceeding.  8 0   InJuneof1996,DichtelacceptedafeetorepresentAnitaNormaninadivorceproceeding.  8 0   InJuneof1996,DichtelacceptedafeetorepresentTerryHughWilliaminacustodycase.  8 0   InJuneof1996,DichtelwrotetoM.C.JacksonrelativetohisrepresentationofJacksoninadivorceproceeding,despitepreviouslyinformingJacksonoftheorderofsuspension.  8 0   InJuneof1996,DichtelfiledacomplaintfordivorceonbehalfofJodyChaseinChasev.Chase,No.152465,ShelbyCountyCircuitCourt.   ExhibitsandaffidavitssupportingeachoftheseallegationswereattachedtotheBoardspetition. ThisCourtissuedanorderrequiringFrancisDichteltoappearbeforetheCourtonJune10,1997,andtoshowcausewhyacontemptordershouldnotissuebasedontheaboveconduct.WhenDichtelfailedtoappear,thisCourtissuedacapiasrequiringthatDichtelbetakenintocustodyandpostbondforhisappearance.DichtelwastakenintocustodyonJune26,1997,andlaterpostedbond.AshowcausehearingwassetforOctober7,1997.DichtelfailedtorespondtotheBoardspetitioninwriting,butpersonallyappearedonOctober7,1997,fortheshowcausehearing. Afterconsiderationofthepetition,Dichtelsstatementunderoath,thesupportingdocumentationtotheallegationsofmisconduct,includingaffidavitsandcourtpleadings,andargumentofcounsel,thisCourtfoundthatDichtelhadviolatedtheordersofsuspensionpreviouslyenteredbythisCourtbyfailingtonotifyclientsofhissuspension,failingtowithdrawfrompendingcases,andfailingtorefrainfromtakingnewcases.Inshort,therecordshowedthatDichtelfailedtocomplywithTenn.Sup.Ct.R.9,18.WethereforefoundDichtelincontemptofthisCourtandenteredajudgmentonOctober7,1997,sentencinghimtoservetendaysimprisonment,withcreditfortimeservedatthetimeofarrest.Tenn.CodeAnn.299102;seealsoInreSaperstein,811S.W.2d900(Tenn.1991)(attorneyfoundincontemptforcontinuingtorepresentclientsinviolationoforderofsuspensionandfornoncompliancewithTenn.Sup.Ct.R.9,18).@ CONCLUSION HavingconsideredthepetitionfororderofcontemptagainstFrancisDichtelfiledbytheBoardofProfessionalResponsibility,hisstatementunderoath,supportingpleadingsandexhibits,andargumentoftheparties,weconcludedthatDichtelviolatedthisCourtsorderofsuspensionbyfailingtocomplywithTenn.Sup.Ct.R.9,18,andbycontinuingtorepresentclients.WethereforeheldFrancisDichtelincontemptofthisCourtandsentencedhimtoservetendaysimprisonmentwithcreditfortimeservedatthetimeofhisarrest.  CostsofthisproceedingaretaxedtoFrancisDichtel,forwhichexecutionmayissueifnecessary.     ________________________________     RILEYANDERSON,CHIEFJUSTICE CONCUR: 󛀀Birch,Drowota,Reid,andHolder,JJ.