CASE 2019-0007:  JUSTICE FERNANDA LAMPAS-PERALTA, JUSTICE STEPEHN C. CRUZ AND JUSTICE RAMON PAUL L. HERNANDO VS. ATTY. MARIE FRANCES E. RAMON
(A.C. NO. 12415. MARCH 5, 2019, PER CURIAM) (SUBJECT/S: DISBARMENT) (BRIEF TITLE: JUSTICE F.L. PERALTA VS ATTY RAMON)

 

 DISPOSITIVE:

 

“WHEREFORE, Atty. Marie Frances E. Ramon is GUILTY of violating the Lawyer’s Oath, Canons 1, 7, and 10, and Rules 1.01, 1.02, 7.03, 10.01, 10.02, and 10.03 of the Code of Professional Responsibility, and Grave Misconduct. For reasons above stated, she is DISBARRED from the practice of law and her name stricken off the Roll of Attorneys, effective immediately, without prejudice to the civil or criminal cases pending and/or to be filed against her.

 

Let a copy of this Decision be furnished to the Office of the Bar Confidant to be entered into Atty. Marie Frances E. Ramon’s records. Copies shall likewise be furnished the Integrated Bar of the Philippines and the Office of the Court Administrator for circulation to all courts concerned.

 

SO ORDERED.”

 

 SUBJECTS/DOCTRINES/DIGEST:

 

WHAT WERE THE FINDINGS OF THIS COURT IN THIS CASE?

 

The Decision states:

 

“The Court finds that complainants have established by substantial evidence that respondent: ( 1) drafted a fake decision of the CA acquitting Fajardo; (2) falsely and shamelessly included the names of complainants in the fake decision even though the criminal case was raffled to another division and handled by a different Justice; (3) maliciously represented that she can influence Associate Justices of the CA to acquit an accused; ( 4) fraudulently presented this fake decision to her clients in exchange for a hefty monetary consideration; ( 5) exacted exorbitant fees from her clients in the amount of Pl,000,000.00; and (6) was caught red-handed by the NBI operatives when she received the marked money from her client for the fake decision of the CA. As discussed above, these acts constitute violations of the Lawyer’s Oath, and Canons 1, 7, and 10, and Rules 1.01, 1.02, 7.03, 10.01, 10.02, and 10.03 of the Code. Respondent is guilty of grave misconduct because her transgression showed her clear intent to violate the law and disregard the Code.”

 

WHAT IS THE REASON FOR DISCIPLINING A LAWYER WITH SUSPENSION OR DISBARMENT?

 

THE REASON IS: THE PRACTICE OF LAW IS A PROFESSION, A FORM OF PUBLIC TRUST, THE PERFORMANCE OF WHICH IS ENTRUSTED TO THOSE WHO ARE QUALIFIED AND WHO POSSESS GOOD MORAL CHARACTER.

 

HOW TO DETERMINE THE APPROPRIATE PENALTY?

 

THE APPROPRIATE PENALTY FOR AN ERRANT LAWYER DEPENDS ON THE EXERCISE OF SOUND JUDICIAL DISCRETION BASED ON THE SURROUNDING FACTS.

  

IS THERE A SIMILAR CASE?

 

YES. THE COURT SAID:

 

In Taday v. Atty. Apoya, Jr.,  the Court disbarred a lawyer for authoring a fake court decision, which was considered a violation of Rule 1.01, Canon 1 of the Code. The lawyer therein even delivered and misrepresented the fake decision to his client. The Court held that the lawyer “committed unlawful, dishonest, immoral[,] and deceitful conduct, and lessened the confidence of the public in the legal system.”

 

 TO READ THE DECISION, JUST CLICK/DOWNLOAD THE FILE BELOW.

 

SCD-2019-0007-JUSTICE FERNANDA LAMPAS-PERALTA ET AL VS. ATTY. MARIE FRANCES E. RAMON

 

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