Case Title: In Re Jones

Citation: 253 Kan. 836, 861 P.2d 1340

Docket Number: 

State: kansas

Court: Kansas Supreme Court

Date: 1993-10-29T00:00:00Z

Document:
253 Kan. 836 (1993)
861 P.2d 1340
In the Matter of STEPHEN J. JONES, Respondent.
No. 69,969

Supreme Court of Kansas.
Opinion filed October 29, 1993.
Stanton A. Hazlett, deputy disciplinary administrator, argued the cause, and Bruce E. Miller, disciplinary administrator, was with him on the formal complaint for petitioner.
Jack Focht, of Focht, Hughey & Calvert, of Wichita, argued the cause for respondent.
Per Curiam:
This is an original proceeding in discipline filed by the Office of the Disciplinary Administrator against Stephen J. Jones, an attorney admitted to the practice of law in Kansas. Two separate complaints were filed, Case No. B5308 and Case No. B5330, which were consolidated for hearing before the Kansas Board for Discipline of Attorneys (Board) and this court. The facts, as determined by the hearing panel of the Board (the panel), and the panel's recommended discipline are not disputed by respondent.
The following pertinent findings and recommendations were made by the panel:
....
....
The panel made conclusions and recommendations as follows:
"CONCLUSIONS OF LAW
"RECOMMENDATION
"The panel recommends that ...:
b. The efficacy of Mr. Jones docketing system;
c. Management of discovery;
d. Responses to client requests for information;
e. Mr. Jones' trust account.
Jones did not file exceptions to the findings, conclusions and recommendations as embodied in the final hearing report of the panel.
We find there is clear and convincing evidence establishing the violations found and enumerated by the panel as to each of the two counts. We agree with and adopt the panel's findings, conclusions, and recommendations, with one additional requirement:
Either Andrew E. Busch or another attorney approved by this court shall continue to supervise respondent until such time as respondent secures legal malpractice insurance coverage in an amount to be approved by this court. Respondent shall remain on probation during his supervision.
IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that Stephen J. Jones be suspended from the practice of law for a minimum period of 18 months in accordance with Supreme Court Rule 203(a)(2) (1992 Kan. Ct. R. Annot. 153), the discipline being probated in accordance with Supreme Court Rule 203(a)(5) on the terms and conditions recommended by the panel, as modified by this court.
*841 IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that, in the event respondent fails to abide by the conditions set out herein, a show cause order shall issue to the respondent, and this court shall take whatever disciplinary actions it deems just and proper, including disbarment, without further formal proceedings.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that this order be published in the official Kansas Reports and that the costs of the proceeding be assessed to the respondent.