seares vs gonzales

8/11/2019 Seares vs Gonzales

1/7

Adm. Case No. 9058 : Robert Victor G. Searles, Jr. v. Atty. Na. Saniata i!li!a V.Gon"ales#Al"ate

FIRST DIVISION

Adm. Case No. 9058 : November 14, 2012

RO!RT VICTOR ". S!AR!S, #R.,Complainant, v.ATT$. SANIATA %I&%I&AV. "ON'A%!S(A%'AT!,Respondent.

D ! C I S I O N

!RSA)IN, J.:

Atty. Saniata i!li!a V. Gon"ales#Al"ate is c$ar%ed !it$ incom&etence and&ro'essional ne%li%ence, and a violation o' t$e &ro$ibition a%ainst re&resentin%con'lictin% interests. Com&lainant Robert Victor G. Seares, Jr. is $er 'ormer client.

Seares, Jr. alle%es t$at Atty. Gon"ales#Al"ate !as $is le%al co(nsel !$en $e ran 'or t$e&osition o' )(nici&al )ayor o' *olores, Abra in t$e )ay +00 elections- t$at a'ter $elost by a 50#vote mar%in to Albert . G("man, s$e 'iled in $is be$al' a /etition 1'

rotest Ad Ca(telam/234r6llin t$e Re%ional 7rial Co(rt R7C in an%(ed, Abra- t$at t$e&etition !as dismissed 'or bein% /'atally de'ective-/+34r6llt$at several mont$s later, s$einsisted on 'ilin% a /etition o' rotest/ in t$e R7C, b(t t$e &etition !as also dismissedon t$e %ro(nd t$at it !as already time#barred, and on t$e '(rt$er %ro(nd o' 'or(ms$o&&in% beca(se t$e certi'ication a%ainst 'or(m s$o&&in% !as 'alse- t$at t$e R7Cdeclared $er as /&ro'essionally ne%li%ent-/;34r6llt$at $e a%ain ran 'or )(nici&al )ayor o'*olores, Abra in t$e )ay +020 elections, and !on- t$at $e later learned t$at $is &oliticalo&&onents retained $er as t$eir co(nsel-34r6lland t$at s$e intentionally made 'alse and $(rt'(l statements in t$e memorand(m s$e

&re&ared in t$at administrative case in order to attac? $im.34r6ll

Seares, Jr. asserts t$at Atty. Gon"ales#Al"ate t$ereby violated Canon 25, Canon 2 andCanon 28 o' t$e Code o' ro'essional Res&onsibility 'or ne%li%ently $andlin% $iselection &rotest, 'or &rosec(tin% $im, $er 'ormer client, and 'or (tterin% 'alse and $(rt'(lalle%ations a%ainst $im. @ence, $e &rays t$at s$e s$o(ld be disbarred.

n $er comment,834r6llAtty. Gon"ales#Al"ate denies t$e c$ar%es o' &ro'essional ne%li%ence
http://www.chanrobles.com/cralaw/2012novemberdecisions.php?id=674#fnt1http://www.chanrobles.com/cralaw/2012novemberdecisions.php?id=674#fnt1http://www.chanrobles.com/cralaw/2012novemberdecisions.php?id=674#fnt2http://www.chanrobles.com/cralaw/2012novemberdecisions.php?id=674#fnt2http://www.chanrobles.com/cralaw/2012novemberdecisions.php?id=674#fnt3http://www.chanrobles.com/cralaw/2012novemberdecisions.php?id=674#fnt3http://www.chanrobles.com/cralaw/2012novemberdecisions.php?id=674#fnt4http://www.chanrobles.com/cralaw/2012novemberdecisions.php?id=674#fnt4http://www.chanrobles.com/cralaw/2012novemberdecisions.php?id=674#fnt5http://www.chanrobles.com/cralaw/2012novemberdecisions.php?id=674#fnt5http://www.chanrobles.com/cralaw/2012novemberdecisions.php?id=674#fnt6http://www.chanrobles.com/cralaw/2012novemberdecisions.php?id=674#fnt6http://www.chanrobles.com/cralaw/2012novemberdecisions.php?id=674#fnt7http://www.chanrobles.com/cralaw/2012novemberdecisions.php?id=674#fnt7http://www.chanrobles.com/cralaw/2012novemberdecisions.php?id=674#fnt8http://www.chanrobles.com/cralaw/2012novemberdecisions.php?id=674#fnt8http://www.chanrobles.com/cralaw/2012novemberdecisions.php?id=674#fnt2http://www.chanrobles.com/cralaw/2012novemberdecisions.php?id=674#fnt3http://www.chanrobles.com/cralaw/2012novemberdecisions.php?id=674#fnt4http://www.chanrobles.com/cralaw/2012novemberdecisions.php?id=674#fnt5http://www.chanrobles.com/cralaw/2012novemberdecisions.php?id=674#fnt6http://www.chanrobles.com/cralaw/2012novemberdecisions.php?id=674#fnt7http://www.chanrobles.com/cralaw/2012novemberdecisions.php?id=674#fnt8http://www.chanrobles.com/cralaw/2012novemberdecisions.php?id=674#fnt1


2/7

and incom&etence, and o' re&resentin% con'lictin% interests. S$e states t$at Seares, Jr.solicited $er le%al services in t$e last !ee? o' )ay +00 beca(se $is co(nsel, Atty.Basser (mbos, in'ormed $im t$at $e co(ld not %o to Abra to $andle $is ad ca(telam&etition-934r6llt$at Seares, Jr. and $is &arents !ere t$emselves t$e ones !$o decided not

anymore to a&&eal t$e dismissal o' t$e ad ca(telam &etition des&ite $er advice t$at ana&&eal !o(ld li?ely s(cceed-2034r6llt$at s$e did not convince Seares, Jr. to 'ile t$e second&etition beca(se $e and $is &arents !ere t$e ones !$o insisted on 'ilin% t$e a&&eal indisre%ard o' t$e &ossibly adverse conse=(ences o' doin% so-2234r6lland t$at t$e im&(tation o'ne%li%ence a%ainst $er based on t$e trial (d%es declaration t$at s$e s(bmitted a 'alsecerti'ication a%ainst 'or(m s$o&&in% !as (n!arranted, beca(se all t$at s$e did !as toma?e s(&erim&ositions in t$e certi'ication a%ainst 'or(m s$o&&in% in order to !rite t$ecorrect dates as !ell as t$e notarial doc(ment n(mber and notarial doc?et &a%e n(mber'or t$e certi'ication a%ainst 'or(m s$o&&in%.

Atty. Gon"ales#Al"ate re'(tes t$e c$ar%e t$at s$e re&resented con'lictin% interests by

eD&lainin% t$at: a s$e !as en%a%ed as an attorney in t$e )ay +020 elections only by*ominic Valera a candidate 'or )(nici&al )ayor o' an%(ed, Abra and by residentA=(ino, neit$er o' !$om !as Seares, Jr.s &olitical o&&onent-2+34r6llb Carlito 7(r=(e"a(sed to be a &olitical ally o' Seares, Jr.-2;34r6llc s$e disclosed to 7(r=(e"a $er $avin% onceacted as a co(nsel o' Seares, Jr.-2


3/7

Co(rt and as a member o' t$e ar.2834r6ll

G(ided by t$e 'ore%oin% tenets, !e dismiss t$e disbarment com&laint a%ainst Atty.Gon"ales#Al"ate.

.

C$ar%e o' &ro'essional ne%li%ence and incom&etenceis (n'o(nded and devoid o' s(bstance

Seares, Jr. insists t$at Atty. Gon"ales#Al"ates s(bmission o' a /'atally de'ective/ &etitionin $is election &rotest violated Canon 22934r6lland Canon 28+034r6llo' t$e Code o' ro'essionalRes&onsibility, claimin% t$at $er attac$in% a /c(t#and#&aste/ certi'icate o' non#'or(ms$o&&in% to $is election &rotest, !$ic$ t$e trial co(rts decision described as/&ro'essional ne%li%ence,/ re'lected $er lac? o' dili%ence and com&etence as an attorney

beca(se it !as 'atal to $is &rotest.

7$e com&laint a%ainst Atty. Gon"ales#Al"ate is (n'o(nded and devoid o' s(bstance.

or administrative liability (nder Canon 28 to attac$, t$e ne%li%ent act o' t$e attorneys$o(ld be %ross+234r6lland ineDc(sable++34r6llas to lead to a res(lt t$at !as $i%$ly &re(dicial tot$e clients interest.+;34r6llAccordin%ly, t$e Co(rt $as im&osed administrative sanctions on a%rossly ne%li%ent attorney 'or (nreasonable 'ail(re to 'ile a re=(ired &leadin%,+


4/7

re=(ested $er to move 'or t$e !it$dra!al o' $is cas$ de&osit !as very &la(sible.

Also, !e cannot 'ind Atty. Gon"ales#Al"ate &ro'essionally ne%li%ent in res&ect o' t$e'ilin% and event(al dismissal o' t$e s(bse=(ent /etition 'or rotest./ 7$e veri'ication

and certi'ication a%ainst 'or(m s$o&&in% attac$ed to t$e &etition contained $and!rittens(&erim&ositions by Atty. Gon"ales#Al"ate, b(t s(c$ s(&erim&ositions !ere a&&arentlymade only to re'lect t$e corrections o' t$e dates o' s(bscri&tion and t$e notarialdoc(ment n(mber and doc?et n(mber 'or t$e veri'ication and certi'ication. ' t$at !asall t$ere !as to t$e s(&erim&ositions, t$en t$ere !as not$in% to s(&&ort t$e trial (d%esobservation t$at t$e /c(t and &aste/ met$od in &re&arin% t$e veri'ication andcerti'ication 'or non#'or(m s$o&&in% constit(ted /&ro'essional ne%li%ence/ t$at &roved'atal to $er clients &rotest.;834r6llAs a matter o' &olicy, a co(rt#bo(nd doc(ment or &a&er&re&ared in a sli&s$od manner a''ects only t$e 'orm b(t not t$e s(bstance o' t$es(bmission. S(c$ sli&s$od &re&aration, even ass(min% it to be tr(e, !o(ld not deserveadministrative cens(re. Not lettin% 'orm &revail over s(bstance still remains to be t$e

(dicial ideal.7$e 'ore%oin% not!it$standin%, !e do(bt t$e sincerity o' t$e c$ar%e o' &ro'essionalne%li%ence and incom&etence. @ad Seares, Jr. been &re(diced by Atty. Gon"ales#Al"ates ne%li%ent and incom&etent $andlin% o' $is election &rotest, !e !onder !$y $e!o(ld deno(nce $er only a'ter nearly 'ive years $ave &assed. 7$e motivation 'or t$ec$ar%e becomes s(s&ect, and t$e c$ar%e is t$ereby !ea?ened all t$e more.

.

C$ar%e o' re&resentin%

con'lictin% interests is bere't o' meritSeares, Jr. neDt c$ar%es Gon"ales#Al"ate !it$ violatin% Canon 25 o' t$e Code o'ro'essional Res&onsibility 'or s(&&osedly re&resentin% con'lictin% interests !$en s$etoo? on t$e administrative com&laint t$at 7(r=(e"a bro(%$t a%ainst Seares, Jr.

7$e c$ar%e o' Seares, Jr. is bere't o' merit.

Canon 25 o' t$e Code o' ro'essional Res&onsibility &ro$ibits an attorney 'romre&resentin% a &arty in a controversy t$at is eit$er directly or indirectly related to t$es(bect matter o' a &revio(s liti%ation involvin% anot$er client. Relevantly, R(le 25.02,

R(le25.0+ and R(le25.0; &rovide:c$anroblesvirt(alla!library

R(le 25.02A la!yer, in con'errin% !it$ a &ros&ective client, s$all ascertain as soon as&racticable !$et$er t$e matter !o(ld involve a con'lict !it$ anot$er client or $is o!ninterest, and i' so, s$all 'ort$!it$ in'orm t$e &ros&ective client.

R(le 25.0+A la!yer s$all be bo(nd by t$e r(le on &rivile%e comm(nication in res&ect o'
http://www.chanrobles.com/cralaw/2012novemberdecisions.php?id=674#fnt38http://www.chanrobles.com/cralaw/2012novemberdecisions.php?id=674#fnt38http://www.chanrobles.com/cralaw/2012novemberdecisions.php?id=674#fnt38


5/7

matters disclosed to $im by a &ros&ective client.

R(le 25.0;A la!yer s$all not re&resent con'lictin% interests eDce&t by !ritten consent o'all concerned %iven a'ter a '(ll disclos(re o' t$e 'acts.

Atty. Gon"ales#Al"ates le%al re&resentation o' 7(r=(e"a neit$er res(lted in $er betrayalo' t$e 'idelity and loyalty s$e o!ed to Seares, Jr. as $is 'ormer attorney, nor invited t$es(s&icion o' (n'ait$'(lness or do(ble dealin% !$ile s$e !as &er'ormin% $er d(ties as anattorney.;934r6llRe&resentin% con'lictin% interests !o(ld occ(r only !$ere t$e attorneys ne!en%a%ement !o(ld re=(ire $er to (se a%ainst a 'ormer client any con'identialin'ormation %ained 'rom t$e &revio(s &ro'essional relation.


6/7

D D D

>. E$en )ayor Robert Victor Seares arrived, $e !as !it$ a blac? s$irt and eans andt$e Vice Governor started t$e con'erence as?in% (s i' t$ere is a &ossibility o' amicable

settlement. Atty. )a. Saniata i!li!a Gon"ales#Al"ate 'irst tal?ed and s$e raised t$e'act t$at in +00 )ayor Robert Victor Seares !as $er client in an election &rotest ands$e even said $o! s$e re&resented $im, and )ayor Seares said /!en Attorney yesAttorney and t$e Atty. Gon"ales#Al"ate said to all o' (s in t$e said room t$at s$e !asbe'ore t$e la!yer o' Jr. Seares )ayor Robert Victor Seares and no! i' Jr. !ill noto&&ose it, s$e !ill be re&resentin% me in t$e said administrative case and t$is time, s$e!ill no! be a la!yer a%ainst Jr. Seares. 7$e said la!yer !as even smilin% !$en s$e saidt$at and Jr. Seares )ayor Robert Victor Seares !as normally %i%%lin% and smilin% andsaid /!en attorney, a!an ti ?(a? dita, iyabo%ad(am latta a, is(na lan% a ni ?a&itan nonya &aylan% ti ?ayatna, nayted la n%ar(d s(eldo nan/ Bes, attorney, $ave no concern!it$ t$at, yo( la!yer 'or $im i' t$at is so, dont ?no! !$at t$e baran%ay ca&tain

!o(ld still !ant, $is salary !as already released to $im. DDD.D D D

7$e Co(rt em&$asi"es t$at an attorney enoys t$e &res(m&tion o' innocence, and!$oever initiates administrative &roceedin%s a%ainst t$e attorney bears t$e b(rden o'&roo' to establis$ t$e alle%ation o' &ro'essional miscond(ct.


7/7

la!yer is, m(st s$ield s(c$ 'ra%ility 'rom mindless assa(lt by t$e (nscr(&(lo(s and t$emalicio(s. t can do so, 'irstly, by =(ic?ly c(ttin% do!n any &atently 'rivolo(s com&lainta%ainst a la!yer- and, secondly, by demandin% %ood 'ait$ 'rom !$oever brin%s anyacc(sation o' (net$ical cond(ct. A ar t$at is ins(lated 'rom intimidation and

$arassment is enco(ra%ed to be co(ra%eo(s and 'earless, !$ic$ can t$en best contrib(teto t$e e''icient delivery and &ro&er administration o' (stice.

seares vs gonzales

Documents