In Re: Wilfredo Cruz Liciaga

Summary

The Supreme Court of Puerto Rico immediately and indefinitely suspended attorney and notary Wilfredo Cruz Liciaga from the practice of law and notary for ignoring the Notaries Inspection Office's (ODIN) repeated attempts to inspect his notarial records and for defying the Court's own orders, including an express warning that noncompliance could result in suspension. Applying Canon 9 of the Code of Professional Ethics, the per curiam opinion held that his failure to appear at the rescheduled inspection, his silence toward the inspector, his unfiled 2011-2015 annual notarial reports, his lapsed notarial bond, and his refusal to correct deficiencies in the seized records evidenced neglect and a serious affront to judicial authority. The suspension took effect August 10, 2017 upon personal notification; respondent must notify clients, return unearned fees, and complete correction of the seized records within a non-extendable 45-day term or face referral for contempt proceedings.