Automated Summary
Key Facts
Carolina Morales López was referred by the Programa de Educación Jurídica Continua (PEJC) for non-compliance with its requirements and court orders. Despite multiple opportunities to respond, she failed to appear, leading to her immediate and indefinite suspension from the practice of law and notary. She must notify clients of her inability to represent them, return unearned fees, inform judicial and administrative forums of her suspension, and verify compliance with the court within 30 days of notification. The Alguacil was ordered to seize her notary seal and protocol book, which will be held by the Office of Notary Inspection until further court orders. Her notary bond is canceled but remains valid for three years post-termination for acts committed during its validity.
Issues
The primary issue addressed was the lawyer's non-compliance with the Continuing Legal Education Program (PEJC) requirements and the court's orders. Despite multiple opportunities to show cause for non-compliance, the lawyer failed to appear, leading to an immediate and indefinite suspension from legal practice and notarial duties. The court also mandated the incautation of the notarial seal and protocol work, along with the automatic cancellation of the notarial bond.
Holdings
The Supreme Court of Puerto Rico ordered the immediate and indefinite suspension of Carolina Morales López from practicing law and notary, effective September 18, 2019, due to non-compliance with the PEJC requirements and court orders. She must notify clients, return unearned fees, inform courts of pending matters, and submit proof of compliance within 30 days.
Remedies
- Must inform immediately all judicial and administrative forums where she has pending matters.
- Must report compliance with the above requirements to the court within 30 days of notification. Failure to do so may result in not being reinstated upon request.
- Require to notify all clients about her inability to continue representation and return any fees received for work not completed.
- Ordered immediate and indefinite suspension from the practice of law and notary due to non-compliance with the PEJC requirements and the court's orders.
- The notary bond is automatically canceled. However, any acts performed during its validity are considered valid and binding for three years after its termination.
- Ordered the Alguacil to seize the protocol book and notary seal of Lcda. Morales López and deliver them to the Director of the Office of Notary Inspection for examination and reporting to the court. If already seized, the Director will retain custody until the court orders otherwise.
Legal Principles
The court applied the principle of enforcing mandatory continuing legal education (PEJC) requirements for licensed professionals, suspending the practitioner for non-compliance with established deadlines and failure to respond to judicial orders.
Precedent Name
In re Exoneración Multas Reglamento PEJC
Judge Name
- Rodríguez Rodríguez
- Estrella Martínez
Passage Text
- Se le impone el deber de notificar a todos sus clientes sobre su inhabilidad para continuar representándolos y devolverles cualesquiera honorarios recibidos por trabajos no realizados. Deberá además informar inmediatamente de su suspensión a los foros judiciales y administrativos en que tenga asuntos pendientes.
- Culminado ese periodo, el Programa de Educación Jurídica Continua (PEJC) inició una evaluación en aras de referir a este Tribunal los miembros de la profesión legal que aún estaban en incumplimiento.
- En lo pertinente, la Lcda. Carolina Morales López fue una de las profesionales del Derecho que el PEJC refirió. En vista de que aún no ha comparecido, ordenamos su suspensión inmediata e indefinida del ejercicio de la abogacía y la notaría por incumplir con los requerimientos del PEJC y las órdenes de este Tribunal.