EARL S. NIELSEN, PHD.

CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST

eDtember 22, 2014

PSYCHOLOGICAL EVALUATION

NAME:

Zachary B. Coughlin, Esq.

DATEOF BIRTH:

9/27/1976

CASE NAME:

In the Matter of Zachary B. Coughlin, Esq., Nevada Bar #9473,

COURT:
SUMBER:

AGE:

37

TES OF EVALUATION: 7/25/2014; 8/1612014; 9/20/2014

THODS:

OBLEM HISTORY: In April, 2012 the Nevada State Bar Association designated a Screening
I to revw complaints against Mr. Coughlin. The panel issued findings including, "". the
.eening panel believes that the Respondent is incapable of continuing the Practice of law
ause of<mental infirmity, illness, or addiction." The issue was reviewed by the Nevada
preme Court, and a Psychological Evaluation was ordered for the purpose of determining the
`ntalfitness of Mr. Coughlin and his competency to practice law.
]e

CIALHISTORY: Mr. Coughlin was born in Bellevue, Washington on SePtember 27, 1976.
s births
normal but he was jaundiced. He met developmental milestones within normal
its, He had seizures during infancy, but no other serious illnesses, high fevers, or head trauma
ring early childhood,
)

Coughlin's parents divorced when he was age two. His mother is age 66, a college graduate
to laugh/tEngli h in high school. She was a "great mother" with whom he has maintained a
d relLionsip. She was not abusive or hostile, but was hurt by his decision to live with his
er at age 10. She remains in good health and remains supportive and in close contact' She
i not use alcohol or drugs, and did not suffer mental or emotional difficulties'

WILL.OW

ST,

RENO

NV 89502

(775) 323-6766

FAX (775) 323-2716

NEVADA LICENSED
PSYCHOLOGIST
NATIO" NAL REGISTER HEALTH SERVICE PROVfDERS

PYO99
IN PSYCHOLOGY

esnphd@

sbcglobal.net
--

#30627

________________________________

His father is age 67, a Reno physician who graduated from Tulane University. Mr. Coughlin was
clearly proud of his father, but also conflicted. He likes and respects his father, but is largely
estranged. His father was dependable and their relationship was good in many ways. He also
describes his father as emotionally detached, conceited, arrogant, and says he saddled Mr.
Coughlin with high expectations. He was also hypercritical of Mr. Coughlin's mother. He
developed problems with alcohol but has been sober and active in Alcoholics Anonymous for 35
years. He was an athlete in college, modeled for an ad in Seventeen Magazine, and remains in
good health. He does not use alcohol or drugs.

Mr. Coughlin's parents divorced in Texas. Mr. Coughlin began kindergarten in Gardnerville,
Nevada while living with his mother, and remained there through fourth grade. He was a good
student, not a behavior problem, and had no difficulty adjusting socially. His mother remarried
when Mr. Coughlin was to begin fifth grade, and moved with him to Dayton, Ohio. His
stepfather was a high school graduate, an alcoholic who worked for the county. Mr. Coughlin
was enrolled in gifted and talented programs but his grades slipped to C's. He wore his hair in an
odd fashion and was heavily teased. He played Little League and Babe Ruth Baseball where he
pitched and played second base.
For sixth grade, Mr. Coughlin returned to Reno and lived with his father and stepmother in
Caughlin Ranch. He attended Swope Middle School. His grades and achievement improved, he
participated in athletics and music, and played competitive tennis. Socially, however, he
floundered and had few friends. He attended Reno High School. He maintained a 4.0 grade
point average through high school and was named a National Merit Scholar. He played
basketball where he was named to the All-State roster twice. He says he likes the intensity and
"rush" of competition. He was disciplined once for talking back to an English teacher, but had
no suspensions or juvenile arrests. He did not use drugs or alcohol during high school. He
graduated with honors in 1995.
He then went to the University of Washington for three semesters, then transferred to UNR. He
did well in school, although began using alcohol and some marijuana with friends. He didn't
have problems at UNR and graduated without difficulty.
He enrolled at Boyd School of Law in Las Vegas. He liked school, but had conflicts with some
teachers. He got into a conflict with an adjunct professor who accused him of academic fraud,
but it was cleared by investigation. He was confronted in a movie theater for entering without
paying, ran, and was arrested for Resisting a Public Officer. He used some alcohol and was
sarcastic when drinking. He took the Nevada State Bar examination in May, 2001 and was
informed of his passing score in August. He graduated from law school in December, 2001.

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Psychological Evaluation
Zachary B. Coughlin, Esq.
September 27,2014

After graduation, he sold suits at Macy's. He moved to Sacramento and worked for a law firm
while waiting for his licensure, but was dismissed when his license was delayed, He was arrested
for DUI in California and returned to Reno.

In December, 2002 the Nevada Supreme Court issued an order deferring Mr. Coughlin's
admission to the Nevada State Bar, "partially based upon a condition that Mr. Coughlin receive
psychological counseling"

In 2003 Mr. Coughlin was diagnosed with ADHD and was prescribed Adderall. He was also
diagnosed with major depression and was prescribed Welbutrin by Dr. Stepinova at Northern
Nevada Mental Health Services. He attended counseling once per month and said it helped He
did not taking Adderall and discontinued. He was admitted to the Nevada State Bar Association
on October 1, 2004, but was not formally notified until May, 2005 according to Mr. Coughlin.
He did some piecework for Barber and Klearman and Associates, then went to work for the Hale
Lane Law Firm where he stayed five months. He left there due to severe gastroenteritis which
left him unable to work and lead to an addiction to Oxycontin and opioid medications. When he
recovered, he went to work for Nevada Legal Aid.

He lived with a woman from 2007 to 2011, but she left him following her college graduation. He
resented the fact that he had helped put her through college and felt used, but his family sided
with her.

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In 2009 Mr. Coughlin accepted a divorce case in Family Court, the 2"dJudicial District Court,
Department ll, with Judge Linda Gardner presiding. In her order after trial, Judge Gardner
described Mr. Coughlin's behavior as "rude, sarcastic, and disrespectful at trial", She also cited
his failure to conduct discovery, difficulties understanding a balance sheet, and lack of
knowledge with respect to mies of evidence and trail procedure. According to Mr. Coughlin, she
later rescinded her complaint.

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In August, 2011 Mr. Coughlin was arrested for the theft of an iPhone. He served seven days in
jail. Nine days later he was arrested for shoplifting at Walmart for consuming a candy bar and
throat lozenges.

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In November, 201 I Mr. Coughlin was evicted from his home/office in Reno and was locked out.
He was arrested for trespassing and spent three days in jail. On November 30 his trial for the
candy bar theft came before the Reno Justice Court in front of Judge Howard. The trial was
delayed, but Mr. Coughlin was held in Contempt of Court and served three days in jail. Judge
Howard issued the order for "Refusing to obey the directives of the Judge, continuing lines of
inquiry after being advised by the Court to refrain form doing so, demeaning the Court with

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Psychological Evaluation
Zachary B. Coughlin, Esq.
September 27,2014

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1

statements such as Wow' in response to Court rulings, laughing during testimony and further
questioning the Court and its authority."
On December 20, 2011 a six"hour hearing was conducted for a contested lien on his property.
He was ordered to pay $400.00 for 17 days storage, then was given December 22 and 23 to
remove his final belongings. He was unable to remove all of his possessions during the alloted
time.

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On January 12, 2012 Mr. Coughlin saw his belongings were being loaded into a truck belonging
to a contractor for his landlord. He confronted, then followed the truck to the trash dump. He
believed that having filed for a Summary Judgement would have preserved his property until a
ulin a made, butswhen he filed for am
J Ternorary Restraining der, he was ene
He
returned to his home/office and filmed the removal of his property. He was confronted by a
police officer who told him to stop. When Mr. Coughlin resisted, he was arrested for jay
walking, then posted bail and was released.
After his eviction, Mr. Coughlin had rented a room in essentially a "flop house". He agreed to
pay $200.00 per month, but when he had moved in the landlord then demanded $50-00 for
utilities. The tenants threatened him and slashed the tires on his car. He called 91I for police
assistance. The same officer who arrested him two days before arrested him for Misuse of 911.
He was convicted in April, 2013 and was sentenced to six months in jail, suspended.
In February, 2012 Mr. Coughlin filed a "Notice of Appearance, Entry a Plea of Not Guilt, Waiver
of Right to Arraignment, and Motion to Dismiss" in the Reno Municipal Court case. On
February 28, 2012 he was in Reno Municipal Court to contest traffic citations. He was found in
Contempt of Court by Judge Dorothy Nash Holmes, and served five days in jail. The traffic
citations were dismissed. On March 5, 2012 he filed a "Notice of Appearance of Co-Counsel
and Motion to Dismiss" in a case in Department 11 of the 2"d Judicial District Court. On March
12, 2012 Judge Holmes issued an order prohibiting Mr. Coughlin' s contact with the Reno
Municipal Court, continued the criminal case, and referred Mr. Coughlin to the Nevada State
Bar.
On March 15, 2012 Mr. Coughlin was late for an eviction hearing and the landlord was granted
the eviction by default. He went to the apartment, gathered personal items and then attended a
hearing in the Bankruptcy Court of Judge Beasley. He wore a tie and jacket, but had only a tee
shirt underneath. Judge Beasley continued the hearing, but complained. Mr. Coughlin was
homeless, and his possessions had again been placed in storage.
A friend assis'ted Mr. Coughlin and allowed him the use of a fifth-wheel trailer for storage in

Psychological Evaluation
Zachary B. Coughlin, Esq.
September 27,2014

___________________

Psychological Evaluation
Zachary B. Coughlin, Esq.
September 27,2014

In May, 2013 Mr. Coughlin was arrested for Resisting a Public Officer. He served two weeks in
jail, then met bail conditions and was released. He was convicted in October, 2013 and was
sentenced to six months in jail. His suspended sentence for the use of "911" was revoked, and he
was ordered to serve the sentences consecutively. He was in jail from November, 2013 until
April, 2014 when he was released.
In June, 2014 Justice Pickering rejected the Nevada State Bar's recommendation for permanent
disbarment and ordered a Psychological Evaluation.
PSYCHOLOGICAL TESTING: Mr. Coughlin was on time for appointments and cooperative
with all requests and inquiries. He understood directions and materials. Results are valid for
interpretation.
On Mental Status Examination, Mr. Coughlin is alert, responsive, and well"oriented to all
perceptual spheres. His memory is intact for recent and long-past events. He denies
hallucinations and delusions, and does not describe beliefs or perceptions consistent with thought
disorder He does tend to ramble, is interesting but difficult to interview, but generally recalls
dates, times, and incidents. He reports some depressive symptoms by history and has
intermittently received psychotropic medications and psychological counseling. He is
embarrassed and remorseful about his behavior, and remains mildly depressed. He denies
problems with allxiety, but was diagnosed with ADHD quite late, and may have experienced
some mallic agitation rather than hyperactive display. He does not describe significant problems
with substance abuse. He denies significant aggression or violence, and has not been suicidal or
prone to self mutilation.
Cognitively, Mr. Coughlin obtains a Full Scale IQ score of 131, within the gifted range. His
vocabulary and verbal reasoning abilities are very strong. He has good capacity for abstract
reasoning, but impulsivity and inattention to detail interfere with problem solving, practical
solutions, and perceptual reasoning. He does not show evidence of impaired thinking or signs of
brain impairment.
Clinically, Mr. Coughlin does not endorse symptoms of thought disorder or psychosis. He does
not describe any experience with hallucinations or delusions. He is suspicious and mistrustful,
but not at the level of gross confusion necessary for a diagnosis. His reality testing in intact. His
thinking may be judged as odd by some, but he is not bizarre or fully out of touch.
He does acknowledge struggles with chronic depression throughout his adulthood, and has been
medicated, primarily with Welbutrin for most of that time. He has not had major depressive
episodes but rather chronic and insidious symptoms of low self esteem, disinterest in people or

_________________________________________________________

Psychological Evaluation
Zachary B. Coughlin, Esq.
September 27,2014

activities, low motivation, and some social avoidance. The condition has persisted for 20 years,
with intermittent relief from prescribed medications. He has low frustration tolerance and some
self defeating patterns. He has never planned or attempted suicide, but has experienced suicidal
thoughts. He is not violent or aggressive, and does not present a danger to others,
Mr, Coughlin has also been diagnosed with ADHD for the past 10 years and medicated with
Adderall. He can describe benefits, including improved concentration, better personal
organization, and better sustained effort, but he doesn't like the perceived side effects.
Psychological test results do not confirm the full array of ADHD symptoms, and instead suggest
underlying anxiety symptoms which may be interpreted as ADHD. Although ADHD is often
missed during childhood and identified only later in early adulthood, Mr. Cough|in does not
report having had the serious attention or concentration problems during school, and was not
described as hyperactive by observing adults.
While some anxiety symptoms are noted in test results, these may be artifacts of his chronic
depression. He is restless and on edge, had difficulty maintaining concentration, can be irritable,
and often worries. The chronic aspect of his anxiety drives him to be somewhat cynical,
expecting disappointment, and to make "mountains out of molehills" (his phrase). He seems to
enjoy argument for argument's sake, and as seen in his own legal responses, tends to ramble and
drift from the point by over-developed but irrelevant details. He doesn't report actual panic
attacks or somatic complaints. He does not openly express manic agitation, hyperactivity, or
hypomanic display. He does not endorse racing thoughts, tremors, or excessive fears. He does
admit to some hoarding behavior, but test results are not elevated on measures for
obsessive/compulsive disorder. He does experience some dysfunctional negative emotions in the
form of negative attitudes in addition to other depressive symptoms.

Mr. Coughlin was raised in a home where alcohol was just not prohibited, but disdained. During
his early adulthood he drank to excess out of spite, and by age 25 described himself as an
alcoholic. He attended AA, but was uncomfortable. Around age 30 he developed an addiction to
opiates prescribed for pain, but stopped using pain pills at least five years ago. Psychological test
results do not reveal an addictive personality, and while substance abuse is possible, addiction is
unlikely.
Broader personality measures suggest a diagnostic profile of Dependent Personality Disorder
with Depressive Features. Mr. Cough|in is a man of very low self esteem and, despite his early
accolades and successes, an inept self image. He is impulsive, moody, and resentful, and can be
rigid, argumentative, suspicious, and brooding. He is largely passive-aggressive, but expresses
hostility as righteous indignation, blames others for his troubles, and resents authority. He is
often bored, feels empty, and is unable to profit form his own experience. He doubts his own

___________________________________________________________________

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Psychological Evaluation
Zachary B. Coughlin, Esq.
September 27,2014

judgement but mistrusts that of others, and rarely takes advice, He feels lonely and alienated
from others, but tends to isolate himself form social opportunity, remaining guarded and
superficial in his relationships. His approaches to self understanding and social awareness are
unconventional and immature. He is overwhelmed at times by his perception of Personal faults,
feeling socially awkward, out of place, useless, and rejected. He can be quick-tempered and
impatient, but does not experience actual rage attacks or intense overt hostility. His self esteem
problems lead to some masochistic (not sexual)feelings, and he even questions whether he
provokes the rejection he perceives. Much of his character is supported by paradox and
inconsistency: He feels entitled and unworthy at the same time; he wants understanding,
recognition, and support, but will not reciprocate; he can acknowledge many interpersonal errors
and slights but remains too grounded to apologize.
While Mr. Coughlin has a criminal record of increasingly serious infractions, he is not a
sociopath and does not have an antisocial personality disorder. He can be superficially charming,
but he is not pathologically manipulative or conning. He has some conscience development,
including capacities for guilt, remorse, and sympathy. His capacity for empathy is less welldeveloped. He is sufficiently defensive to mask his capacity for taking responsibility for personal
actions and behavior. He also knows others find him sarcastic, disrespectful, and annoying, but
lacks the personal insight to change without coercion.
CONCLUSIONS: Zach Coughlin is a 38-year old attorney in Reno who was evaluated at the
request of the Nevada Bar Association at the direction of the Nevada Supreme Court to identify
mental illness or emotional problems which might underlie his erratic behavior which lead to a
petition to disbar him.

Mr. Coughlin was raised in Reno by divorced parents. His father is a well-respected physician in
Reno, a recovering alcoholic from whom Mr. Coughlin feels largely estranged. His mother was
more supportive emotionally, but has set limits regarding financial support.
Mr. Coughlin was a capable student and fine athlete who went on to complete college, then
obtained his law degree at Boyd School of Law in Las Vegas. Although he passed the Nevada
Bar examination before graduation in 2002, his application was delayed until 2004.
In 2011 Mr. Coughlin stole a cell phone, then later a candy bar, both of which lead to criminal
convictions. In 2012 a screening panel was appointed to review and investigate his infractions.
During 2012, he had several more conflicts with law enforcement, but also received complaints
from sitting judges. In 2013 he was convicted of Resisting a Public Officer and was sentenced to
six months in jail. A previously suspended sentence was also revoked. He was in jail from
November, 2013 to April, 2014.

Psychological Evaluation
Zachary B. Coughlin, Esq.
September 27,2014

The Nevada Bar Association decided Mr. Coughlin should be disbarred, but the Nevada Supreme
Court returned the case to the Nevada Bar Association for further review.
Mr. Coughlin is not thought-disordered, psychotic, or schizophrenic. He has been diagnosed
with mild to moderate depression for 20 years, and has been responsive to medications.
He continues to suffer the symptoms of Persistent Depressive Disorder, mild to moderate, and
continued consultation with his physician is recommended. He was diagnosed with ADHD 10
years ago, but I cannot find diagnostic evidence to support it. The fact that he benefits from the
medication is not surprising, but is more likely treating an anxiety symptoms rather than actual
attention deficit. Diagnostic measures clearly identify symptoms consistent with an anxiety state,
although sorting that out from his depression is complicated.
I
Additional measures used to identify personality disorders confirm the diagnosis of Dependent
Personality Disorder associated with traits of Depressive and Masochistic Personality Styles.
The combination of social alienation, low self esteem, passive aggressive hostility, and conflict
with authority figures not only supports the behavioral components of depression and anxious
emotion, but also supports the consistently self defeating and cynical nature of an otherwise
capable young man. From a layman's (non-attomey) point of view, his violations seem petty and
innocuous, but he does demonstrate an inability to learn from his mistakes and a consistent
impulse to shoot himself in the foot.
DSM 5 DIAGNOSTIC SUMMARY:
300.4
Persistent Depressive Disorder, moderate
304.00
Opioid Use Disorder, in full remission
305.00
Alcohol Use Dirorder, mild, in full remission
301.6
Dependent Personality Disorder, with Depressive and Masochistic Traits
RECOMMDATIONS:
1. Mr. Coughlin is not formally mentally ill, but does suffer emotional disturbance with an
underlying personality disorder, My recommendation for Mr. Coughlin is that he seek
subsistence employment outside the legal profession while he engages in a rehabilitative course
to address his disrupted emotional state and his longer-term deficiencies in personality
functioning.
The greatest weakness in that recommendation is that Mr. Coughlin is nearly homeless, has few
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
resources,' and needs intensive out-patient
intervention,
While he Is eligible
through
^
.
G for services
..
the Northern Nevada Adult Mental Health Services, I cannot recommend that facility as a
sufficient resource for Mr. Coughlin's needs. He needs ongoing access to a quality psychiatrist

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Psychological Evaluation
Zachary B. Coughlin, Esq.
September 27,2014

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