Opinion
A22-0138
04-12-2022
IN RE Petition for DISCIPLINARY ACTION AGAINST Jason Mario BRUNO, a Minnesota Attorney, Registration No. 0386447.
ORDER
The Director of the Office of Lawyers Professional Responsibility filed a petition for disciplinary action against respondent Jason Mario Bruno after the Arizona Supreme Court suspended him for 6 months, followed by 2 years of probation after reinstatement. See In re Bruno , No. SB-19-0077-AP, Order at 1 (Ariz. filed Oct. 10, 2020). Respondent was suspended in Arizona for withholding discoverable evidence, making misrepresentations to opposing counsel, and failing to correct the misleading deposition testimony offered by his expert witness. Respondent's misconduct violated Ariz. R. Sup. Ct. 42, ERs 3.3(a)(3), 3.4(a), 3.4(d), 8.4(c), and 8.4(d).
The parties have filed a stipulation for discipline with the court. In it, respondent waives his procedural rights under Rule 12(d), Rules on Lawyers Professional Responsibility (RLPR), and unconditionally admits the allegations in the petition. The parties jointly recommend that the appropriate discipline is a 6-month suspension, that the requirements for reinstatement in Rule 18(a)–(d), RLPR, be waived and that respondent be allowed to be reinstated by affidavit, and that following reinstatement, respondent will be placed on probation for 2 years.
The court has independently reviewed the file and approves the jointly recommended disposition.
Based upon all the files, records, and proceedings herein,
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED THAT:
1. Respondent Jason Mario Bruno is suspended from the practice of law for a minimum of 6 months, effective 14 days from the date of this order.
2. Respondent shall comply with Rule 26, RLPR (requiring notice of suspension to clients, opposing counsel, and tribunals).
3. Respondent shall pay $900 in costs pursuant to Rule 24, RLPR.
4. Respondent shall provide the Director with proof of compliance with the terms of his Arizona probation as follows: (1) proof of completion of 10 hours of continuing legal education (CLE) in the areas of professionalism and discovery, in addition to the mandatory CLE required under Ariz. R. Sup. Ct. 45 ; (2) proof of completion of the Members Assistance Program (MAP) assessment; (3) a copy of the results of the MAP assessment; and (4) ongoing proof of compliance with any terms and conditions that resulted from the MAP assessment.
5. Upon reinstatement to the practice of law, respondent shall be placed on probation for a period of 2 years, upon the following terms and conditions:
a. Respondent shall abide by the Minnesota Rules of Professional Conduct.
b. Respondent shall cooperate fully with the Director's Office in its efforts to monitor compliance with this probation. Respondent shall promptly respond to the Director's correspondence by its due date. Respondent shall provide to the Director a current mailing address and shall immediately notify the Director of any change of address. Respondent shall cooperate with the Director's investigation of any allegations of unprofessional conduct that may come to the Director's attention. Upon the Director's request, respondent shall provide authorization
for release of information and documentation to verify compliance with the terms of this probation.
6. The requirements for reinstatement in Rule 18(a)–(d), RLPR, are waived. Respondent shall be eligible for reinstatement to the practice of law following the expiration of the suspension period provided that, not less than 15 days before the end of the suspension period, respondent files with the Clerk of the Appellate Courts and serves upon the Director an affidavit establishing that he is current in CLE requirements, has complied with Rules 24 and 26, RLPR, and has complied with any other conditions for reinstatement imposed by the court.
7. Within 1 year of the date of this order, respondent shall file with the Clerk of the Appellate Courts and serve upon the Director proof of successful completion of the written examination required for admission to the practice of law by the State Board of Law Examiners on the subject of professional responsibility. See Rule 4.A.(5), Rules for Admission to the Bar (requiring evidence that an applicant has successfully completed the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination). Failure to timely file the required documentation shall result in automatic suspension, as provided in Rule 18(e)(3), RLPR.
BY THE COURT:
/s/ __________
Natalie E. Hudson
Associate Justice