Codiga

We review recommendation of the Disciplinary Board of the State Bar that William J. Codiga be suspended from the practice of law for three years. (Bus. & Prof. Code, § 6083, subd. (a).)

Petitioner was admitted to practice in 1957 and was involved in a prior disciplinary proceeding resulting in public reproval. The misconduct for which petitioner was reproved involved acts of deceit and willful misrepresentation which occurred during the same time period as in the instant case.

Petitioner is now charged with four separate acts or courses of misconduct, In the first, the Portenga matter, petitioner undertook in 1972 to represent Betty Portenga and her husband in an effort to recover damages for her personal injuries arising out of an automobile accident involving a newspaper as a defendant. Petitioner had represented the newspaper in a number of matters. Additionally, the stock of the newspaper was wholly owned by persons who were petitioner’s in-laws. A hearing panel of the Disciplinaiy Board of the State Bar (see Rules of Proc. of the State Bar, eff. Jan. 1, 1976 [3B West’s Ann. Bus. & Prof. Code (1974 ed., 1977 cum.supp.), foll. § 6087; DBering’s Cal. Codes Ann. Rules…