SC suspends Gadon over ‘arrogant, insulting’ language vs. lawyer, client

The Supreme Court has ordered the suspension of lawyer Lorenzo "Larry" Gadon, who ran and lost in the last May senatorial elections, for using "arrogant, malicious, and insulting" language against a fellow lawyer and his client in 2009, and for putting the judicial system in a bad light.

In a ruling dated June 26, 2019 but obtained by the media on Saturday , the high tribunal found Gadon guilty of breaching his oath as a lawyer and of culpable violation of code of ethics of the legal profession.

The case stemmed from a disbarment complaint filed by dermatologist Helen Joselina Mendoza on August 3, 2009 against Gadon, whom she accused of violating a lawyer's oath and the Code of Professional Responsibility.

It all began when a patient of Mendoza's complained about her for prescribing her a medicine she was allergic to. Disappointed by how the doctor handled the situation, the patient filed a complaint against with Clinica Manila, where Mendoza's clinic rented a space under an arrangement with Ambulatory Health Care Institute Inc (AHCII).

Mendoza said she ended up being "unilaterally suspended" by Gadon "without authorization from the board of directors and without just cause." Gadon was AHCII's corporate secretary and vice president, while Mendoza was a stock holder in the same company.

Mendoza eventually was allowed back in at her clinic but under reduced hours. When she complained about it, Gadon allegedly responded in an insulting manner and used intemperate language.

Gadon denied the doctor's allegations saying his letter-response to her was frank, straight forward, equivocal and not "very insulting." He also insisted that the complainant can no longer exercise her right as a stockholder of AHCII since the company's registration has already been revoked.

In his letter to Mendoza, Gadon threatened to make the dermatologist's life in her clinic unproductive, dsaying that her and her lawyer's legal actions "demonstrated shortsighted analytical thinking."

"The board would like to be working and [be] associated with people more intelligent who could weight [sic] things to its proper perspective," Gadon further said in his letter.

A commissioner of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines eventually recommended suspension of Gadon for four months, which the IBP Board of Governors in turn approved but lowered the suspension period to three months.

Weighed but found wanting

In its ruling, the SC found the IBP's decision to be in accordance with pertinent rules and jurisprudence on bar discipline.

"Atty. Gadon has been weighed by the exacting standards of the legal profession and has been found wanting," read the SC resolution, an apparent reference to Lino Brocka's 1974 classic film "Tinimbang Ka Ngunit Kulang."

"Gadon should be more circumspect in his actions and should control himself better in times of emotional outbursts. He should refrain from using abusive and intemperate language which displays arrogance towards the legal system and his colleagues," it added.

The high court also called out Gadon for putting the Philippine justice system in a bad light when he described it as slow and for insinuating that cases are won based on the abundance of resources.

"In the instant case, it  is clear that Atty. Gadon put the whole judicial system in bad light after he described the use of legal remedies as slow and requires a  lot of resources," said the high tribunal.

The high court also warned Gadon that a repetition of his act or a similar act in the future would be dealt with more severely.

Gadon became infamous for cursing and raising his middle finger at supporters of then Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno in Baguio City. It was Gadon who had filed an impeachment case that led to Sereno's ouster.

He called Sereno's supporters "stupid" in Filipino when they booed him.

"Itong mga nagra-rally na ito, mga bobo at mga tanga ang mga ito eh, kasi very clear na ang violations ni Sereno," Gadon told reporters when interviewed.

He later yelled at a protester who cut him off during the interview. "Ikaw bobo, p----- ina mo ka!" he said. — MDM, GMA News