Case Title: STATE ex rel. OKLAHOMA BAR ASSOCIATION v. GODLOVE

Citation: 

Docket Number: SCBD-5939

State: oklahoma

Court: Oklahoma Supreme Court

Date: 2013-06-11T00:00:00Z

Document:
STATE ex rel. OKLAHOMA BAR ASSOCIATION v. GODLOVE  STATE ex rel. OKLAHOMA BAR ASSOCIATION v. GODLOVE 2013 OK 38 Case Number: SCBD-5939 Decided: 06/11/2013 THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA NOTICE: THIS OPINION HAS NOT BEEN RELEASED FOR PUBLICATION IN THE PERMANENT LAW REPORTS. UNTIL RELEASED, IT IS SUBJECT TO REVISION OR WITHDRAWAL. STATE OF OKLAHOMA ex rel. OKLAHOMA BAR ASSOCIATION, Complainant, v. JOAN GODLOVE, Respondent. ORIGINAL PROCEEDING FOR BAR DISCIPLINE ¶0 The Oklahoma Bar Association filed a complaint charging respondent, Joan Godlove, with misconduct in violation of rules governing professional conduct for multiplicative, frivolous filings, among other things. Godlove did not respond to the grievance, did not answer the complaint, did not respond to the motion to deem the allegations admitted, did not appear at the hearing before the Professional Responsibility Tribunal, and did not file a brief with this Court. After a hearing, the Professional Responsibility Tribunal found misconduct and recommended a suspension of two years and one day. We find Godlove violated the rules governing attorney conduct, should be disbarred, and should pay the costs of these proceedings. RESPONDENT DISBARRED FROM THE PRACTICE OF LAW AND ORDERED TO PAY COSTS. Gina Hendryx and Tina Izadi, Oklahoma Bar Association, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, for Complainant. TAYLOR, J. ¶1 The Oklahoma Bar Association (OBA) initiated this proceeding under Rule 6 of the Rules Governing Disciplinary Proceedings (RGDP), 5 O.S.2011, ch. 1, app. 1-A, against Joan Godlove (Godlove) by filing a one-count complaint on October 22, 2012.1 The Professional Responsibility Tribunal (PRT) deemed the allegations admitted but did not specify which rules of the Oklahoma Rules of Professional Conduct (ORPC), 5 O.S.2001 & Supp. 2008, ch. 1, app. 3-A, that it found Godlove had violated.2 The PRT recommended a suspension of two years and a day. The OBA asks this Court to impose a minimum suspension of two years and a day and to impose costs. I. STANDARD OF REVIEW ¶2 Our review in bar disciplinary proceedings is de novo. State ex rel. Okla. Bar Ass'n v. Taylor, 2003 OK 56, ¶ 2, 71 P.3d 18 , 21. The ultimate responsibility for deciding whether misconduct has occurred and what discipline is warranted if misconduct is found rests with us in the exercise of our exclusive original jurisdiction in bar disciplinary matters." State ex rel. Okla. Bar Ass'n v. Todd, 1992 OK 81, ¶ 2, 833 P.2d 260 , 262. This Court's duty can only be discharged if the record is sufficient to allow an independent determination of the facts and the crafting of an appropriate discipline. State ex rel. Okla. Bar Ass'n v. Giger, 2001 OK 96, ¶ 6, 37 P.3d 856 , 860-861. An attorney's failure to respond to requests for information or the complaint or failure to appear at the hearing does not prevent this Court from crafting an appropriate discipline. Having carefully perused the record, we conclude it is adequate for de novo consideration of the alleged misconduct. II. BURDEN OF PROOF ¶3 In bar disciplinary proceedings, the OBA, as the complainant, has the burden of establishing by clear and convincing evidence that a lawyer has violated the rules governing lawyers' conduct. State ex rel. Okla. Bar Ass'n v. Tweedy, 2000 OK 37, ¶ 7, 52 P.3d 1003 , 1006, cert. denied, 531 U.S. 1145 (2001). Clear and convincing evidence is sufficient evidence, both in quality and quantity, so as to produce a firm conviction of the truth of the allegations. See State ex rel. Okla. Bar Ass'n v. Wilcox, 2009 OK 81, ¶ 2, 227 P.3d 642 , 647. III. GODLOVE'S FAILURE TO ANSWER OR APPEAR ¶4 The OBA received a grievance against Godlove from an opposing counsel on September 22, 2011, complaining of Godlove's frivolous litigation tactics. On October 6, 2011, the OBA sent Godlove a letter, enclosing a copy of the grievance and informing her that Rule 5.2 of the RGDP required her to respond within twenty days. The letter and enclosures were mailed to 3179 S. Madison Ave., Tulsa, OK 74105, her official OBA address. The OBA did not receive a response from Godlove. On October 27, 2011, the OBA received a letter supporting the grievance from an opposing litigant. On November 18, 2011, the OBA received a letter from another opposing counsel complaining of Godlove using different inactive addresses on her pleadings. ¶5 On September 28, 2012, the OBA sent Godlove a letter, along with a copy of the complaint, by certified mail, return receipt requested, restricted delivery to her official OBA address. A copy of the United States Postal Service tracking page shows that notice of the letter was left on October 1, 2012, and that the letter was returned to the OBA on October 27. On October 12, 2012, the OBA procured a private process server to obtain personal service on Godlove. The process server's Affidavit of Service stated that she had personally delivered the OBA letter, the complaint, the OBA's entry of appearance, the appointment of the trial panel, and notice of hearing to "Joan Godlove, Attorney at Law, 1611 S. Utica Ave., Tulsa, OK 74104 on October 16, 2012 at 5:53 pm." Thereafter, the OBA's investigator attempted to contact Godlove two or three times but did not reach her. He then contacted her brother, a Lawton attorney, who explained that he spoke with Godlove once or twice a month and that he had no concerns about Godlove's health. Except for one message left on the investigator's voice mail saying that she would call back later in the week, Godlove has had no communication, written or otherwise, with the OBA. Godlove did not file an answer to the complaint, did not appear at the hearing, and has not filed any documents in this proceeding. IV. BACKGROUND FACTS ¶6 Lorice T. Wallace, who died on May 31, 2003, and her husband, Franklin Wallace, who died on July 19, 1990, had four children: Patricia Hastings, Roma Jage, Stephen P. Wallace, and a daughter L.W., who is in her fifties, has Down's Syndrome, has the beginning stages of dementia, and has a court appointed guardian. ¶7 The underlying litigation primarily involves two trusts established by Lorice Wallace (together trusts): the Lorice T. Wallace Revocable Trust dated December 26, 1974, as restated effective October 5, 1993, and as amended on February 12, 1998; and the Lorice T. Wallace Irrevocable Trust dated February 8, 1996.3 These trusts had a corpus of an approximate value of thirty million dollars. Lorice Wallace was the trustee, and Trust Company of Oklahoma (Trust Company) and Ronald Saffa (Saffa), an attorney and nephew of Lorice Wallace, were named as substitute co-trustees of the revocable trust.4 The Wallace's children were the beneficiaries of the trust. ¶8 In 1999, Patricia Hastings filed for a guardianship of Lorice Wallace. Shortly before the guardianship was filed, Lorice resigned as trustee and Trust Company and Saffa took on the trustee responsibilities. At a hearing on March 13, 2000, the judge commented that he had not yet determined Lorice Wallace's capacity or incapacity, so she still had legal authority to make her own decisions. That same day, Lorice Wallace, at the suggestion of Stephen Wallace and his attorney, executed amendments to her revocable trust that removed Trust Company and Saffa as trustees and named Stephen Wallace, Mary Roma, and Bank One as successor co-trustees. Lorice Wallace also executed a power of attorney in favor of Stephen Wallace.5 On March 25, 2002, the court determined the original instruments and the some of the first amendments controlled the revocable trust, making the last amendment invalid and confirming Trust Company and Saffa as the successor co-trustees of the revocable trust. No successful appeal was filed from this order, and the order became final. This order is the basis of most of Godlove's alleged improper pleadings and misconduct.6 V. TULSA DISTRICT COURT CASES, APPEALS, ORIGINAL JURISDICTION APPLICATIONS ¶9 Tulsa District Court case number PT-2002-56, filed on September 11, 2002, by Saffa seeking instruction regarding the trusts' administration, was the first of the trust-related cases filed.7 A second petition in Tulsa County District Court was filed in PT-2003-46, and many of the hearings were held and pleadings were filed in both cases. Additionally the following cases were filed involving the trusts and in which Godlove's conduct is challenged as unprofessional by the OBA: Hutchinson v. Hahn, 402 Fed. App'x. 391, 2010 WL 4780694 (10th Cir. 2010); Jage v. Trust Co. of Okla., No. 06CV-249 (N. Dist. Okla. May 9, 2006) (opinion at 2009 WL 3241659); Wallacev. Trust Co. of Okla., No. 102,346 (Okla. July 21, 2005); Lorice T. Wallace Trust v. Saffa, No. 102,521 (Okla. Sept. 7, 2005); Wallace ex rel. L.F.W. v. Hon. Frizzell, No. 102,813 (Okla. Nov. 28, 2005); Trust Co. of Okla. v. Jage, No. 104,036 (Okla. Nov. 28, 2006); JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A. v. Jage, No. 106,217 (Okla. Aug. 22, 2008); Franklin A. Wallace Revocable Trust v. Wallace, No. 106,738 (Okla. Jan. 21, 2009); Wallace v. Hon. Cantrell, No. 107,300 July 8, 2009); Jage ex rel. L.F. W. v. Tulsa County District Court, No 109,643 (Okla. July 6, 2011); Jage v. Hon. Morrissey, No. 110,210 (Okla. Dec. 16, 2011); Jage v. JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A., No. PT-2009-37 (Tulsa County Dist. Court, July 16, 2009) (consolidated with PT-2003-46); Jage v. JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A., No. PT-2009-38 (Tulsa County Dist. Court, July 17, 2009) (consolidated with PT 2003-46); Yorktown Holding, LLC v. Wallace, No. CJ-2009-247 (Tulsa County Dist. Court, Jan. 13, 2009); Jage v. JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A., No. PT-2009-5476 (Tulsa County Dist. Court, July 24, 2009); Jage v. JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A., No. PT-2010-7077 (Tulsa County Dist. Court, Nov. 4, 2010); Jage v. Trust Co. of Okla. No. PT-2011-2181 (Tulsa County Dist. Court, April 15, 2011).8 ¶10 Even though the issue of the proper trustees of the Lorice T. Wallace revocable trust was resolved by a final order issued on March 25, 2002, in the guardianship proceeding, Godlove filed at least six cases and at least twenty-four pleadings collaterally attacking the order. In the pleadings, Godlove contended the Trust Company and/or Saffa were not the trustees and lacked standing to seek instructions regarding the trust's administration. Further she argued that the trust required Trust Company and Saffa to act jointly, and, because Saffa acted alone in filing at least one of the petitions, the court was without jurisdiction. ¶11 In In re Wallace Revocable Trust, 2009 OK 34, ¶ 11, 219 P.3d 536 , 539, this Court recognized the finality of the March 25, 2002 order naming the Trustee Company and Saffa as trustees. Even so, Godlove filed at least five more documents making the argument that Trust Company and Saffa lacked standing because they were not the trustees, framing this argument as "jurisdictional fraud." Additionally thereafter, Godlove made the jurisdictional fraud argument at least three times when objecting to the cancellation of notice of lis pendens filed by Stephen Wallace, Roma Jage, or Godlove on behalf of one of her clients. ¶12 Godlove brought at least three cases against the Trust Company, the Trust Company's officers, Saffa, and opposing counsel in the trust cases seeking damages for fraud based on her "jurisdictional fraud" theory. One such case was brought in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma. Jage v. Trust Co. of Okla., No. 06-CV-249, 2009 WL 3241659 (N.D. Okla. Sept. 30, 2009), in which Godlove filed counts for breach of fiduciary duty, fraud and collusion, negligent supervision, and attorney deceit and collusion. The court dismissed the action upon the defendant's motion and allowed the defendants to recover costs from Godlove's clients. Godlove filed Jage v. JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A., No. CJ-2001-2181 (Tulsa County Dist. Court, Nov. 9, 2012), and Jage v. Trust Co., No. CJ-2009-5476 (Tulsa County Dist. Court, July 24, 2009) (dismissed for failure to timely serve summons), in which she alleged the defendants had committed fraud by assuming the role of trustees. ¶13 On at least seventeen occasions, Godlove sought the recusal of the assigned judge after an adverse ruling. Each time, she would send a letter to the judge asking for an in camera hearing on her motion to recuse. When the judge denied her motion, Godlove did not follow the procedures set out in Rule 15 of the Rules for the District Courts, 12 O.S.2011, ch. 2, app., which provides for a recusal motion to be presented to the Chief Judge of the district or to the Presiding Judge of the administrative district if the Chief Judge's disqualification is sought. Instead, Godlove unremittingly argued that the assigned judge had no jurisdiction to continue the proceedings while the disqualification motion was pending. ¶14 Godlove pursued this line of argument, even filing an application for this Court to assume jurisdiction. In this proceeding, Godlove filed a motion for leave to file an affidavit regarding standing.9 In the proceeding, Godlove objected to the Court using its staff in the proceeding and sought access to this Court's internal communications. Her motion was denied based on judicial privilege. Even so, Godlove undertook this same position in a subsequent original proceeding before this Court.10 ¶15 On October 25, 2006, in separate orders, the district court found that Stephen Wallace and Roma Jage had violated the no-contest provisions of the Lorice T. Wallace Revocable Trust and the Lorice T. Wallace Irrevocable Trust. As a result, the district court ordered their beneficial interest in the trusts forfeited. Godlove filed an appeal on behalf of Roma Jage. This Court affirmed the district court's ruling, stating: We agree with that determination of the trial court. The record reveals that the litigation over these trusts includes numerous lawsuits, which have continued for years. Although Ms. Jage claims that the unappealed March 25, 2002, judgment was obtained by fraudulent representations to the trial court, the trial court was not persuaded by these arguments. Instead of raising this before the district court in Tulsa County, Ms. Jage chose to file a federal lawsuit contesting the findings made in the March 25, 2002, judgment. . . . . The transcript reveals that the issues in this case have been litigated and constant attempts made to re-litigate the same issues. . . . In re: Wallace Revocable Trust, 2009 OK 34, ¶11, 219 P.3d 536 , 539 (citations and footnotes omitted). When Roma Jage was asked during a hearing if she would like to withdraw her allegations of jurisdictional fraud because she was in danger of forfeiting her beneficial interest, she responded that she did not want to withdraw the allegations. However, the attorney for the Trust Company testified that he believed Jage's forfeiture of her beneficial interest was a result of Godlove's actions. ¶16 During the course of the proceedings, Godlove changed her address a number of times. One opposing counsel sent a letter to the OBA complaining that six mailings sent to the post office box address listed in Godlove's pleadings were returned on November 14, 2011, with the notation that the post office box had been closed on November 9, 2011, and the mailings could not be forwarded. Godlove changed her official OBA address on June 9, 2011, to the Madison Ave. address. The letter's author noted that on July 8, 2011, in Supreme Court filings, Godlove listed her address as 2121 S. Columbia, Suite 500, Tulsa, but as recently as November 10, 2011, she listed her address as P.O. Box 4400 in pleadings filed in a Tulsa County district court case. The author stated that according to the occupant of building at the S. Columbia address, it had not been Godlove's address for several months. Godlove continuously failed to use her correct address in her court filings. She did not always file a timely notice of change of address. Thus, many of the court documents were returned as undeliverable. ¶17 There are several other of Godlove's action that the OBA contends were improper and submitted evidence regarding, either through testimony or exhibits. Godlove filed lis pendens notices on behalf of Stephen Wallace or Roma Jage during a time when her client was specifically enjoined from filling such notices and after the property's sale had been confirmed by the court. When the trusts moved for cancellation of the notices, Godlove would then defend the lis pendens notices, arguing lack of jurisdiction. Godlove's actions obstructed the trustees attempts to sell the properties. There is testimony that Godlove would file motions, fail to appear at the hearing, and then ask that the orders against her or her client be vacated. Godlove abused discovery by proceeding as if there had been no final determination of the trustees. Godlove filed documents and, then, re-filed virtually the same documents a few days later. The OBA presented evidence that Godlove was sanctioned for her actions in the district court, and she has not paid the amount of the sanctions. VI. VIOLATIONS ¶18 The OBA alleges that Godlove's actions violate the Rules 1.1,11 1.3,12 3.1,13 3.2,14 3.3,15 3.4,16 8.1,17 and 8.4(a) and (d)18 of the ORPC and Rule 5.219 of the RGDP. We agree that Godlove has violated these ORPC and RGDP rules.20 The OBA has proven by clear-and-convincing evidence that Godlove's conduct violated the ORPC and RGDP. Godlove repeatedly failed to provide competent representation, failed to act with reasonable diligence, failed to act in good faith, asserted issues and claims which were frivolous, failed to make reasonable efforts to expedite litigation, was less than candid with the court when she continuously filed repeated actions regarding the same issue which had already been determined by a final order, not keeping her address current with the court and opposing counsel, and by failing to appear and prosecute motions that she had filed. Godlove knowingly disobeyed an order of the court by filing notices of lis pendens on behalf of a client who had been enjoined from such filings. Godlove also made numerous irrelevant and frivolous discovery requests. Godlove has completely ignored her obligations to respond to inquiries in this bar disciplinary proceeding. Godlove's conduct is prejudicial to the administration of justice and has caused both her client's and the trusts unnecessary expenditure of funds. ¶19 The United States District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma, in imposing sanctions against Godlove, recited Godlove's conduct in Hutchinson v. Hahn, No. 05-CV-453, which involved the ownership of a piece of art. This description could apply equally to Godlove's conduct here. This first case was dismissed after the court determined that plaintiffs' claims were barred by laches. Plaintiffs, through their attorney Joan Godlove . . . , have since filed more than thirty (30) lawsuits in various courts, including this one, all of which derive from the same facts at issue in the original case. . . . In sum and substance, the claims made in the instant case are the same claims that have been made by Plaintiffs for the past twenty-five (25) years. Each time Godlove and her clients lost a legal battle, they simply filed a new lawsuit naming, as additional defendants, those opposing parties, lawyers, and law firms that prevailed against them. Neither Godlove nor her clients have ever been successful in any of the numerous lawsuits and appeals which they have filed, and Godlove's tactics have previously been sanctioned by various courts. . . . Moreover, the Court observes that this is not the first time that Plaintiff Hutchinson, by and through attorney Godlove, has requested that a judge recuse himself after receiving an adverse ruling. Such behavior suggests a pattern of prohibited "judge shopping" . . . . . . . In spite of these previous rulings, Godlove filed yet another lawsuit, continuing to claim that the lawyers who had opposed Plaintiffs had committed fraud on the court and engaged in a RICO conspiracy. Indeed, it appears that attempting to assert "new claims" based on previous, rejected claims has become part and parcel of Godlove's practice. Godlove cannot breathe new life into non-viable claims by merely adding new defendants, and the Court cannot sit by and let this pattern continue. . . . Hutchinson v. Hahn, No. 05-CV-453, 2007 WL 2572224, at *1, 3, 7 (N.D. Okla. Sept. 4, 2007). VII. ENHANCEMENT ¶20 Rule 6.2 of the RGDP allows for evidence from a prior investigation to be relied upon to enhance discipline. In this case, the OBA relies on an order and judgment issued in Hutchinson v. Hahn, No. 09-5144, 2010 WL 4780694 (10th Cir. Nov. 24, 2010). We reject the OBA's use of this opinion for enhancement. The OBA states that in February of 2010, it conducted an investigation concerning Godlove's misconduct in DC10-48 without giving any hint as to what DC 10-48 refers. By the date on the Tenth Circuit's order, it also appears that the order and judgment relied on was issued after the investigation in the previous matter was concluded. ¶21 Rule 6.2 requires that evidence to be used as enhancement must have been relied on in the prior investigation. The order in Hutchinson could just as easily been put in the file after the investigation was concluded. The OBA has failed to show that it was relied on the opinion. Rather, the OBA merely states that it was found in the file. Therefore, this Court will not rely on the Hutchinson order for enhancement. VIII. APPROPRIATE DISCIPLINE ¶22 One purpose of attorney discipline is to preserve confidence in the bar rather than to punish attorney misconduct. State ex rel. Okla. Bar Ass'n v. Pacenza, 2006 OK 23, ¶ 18, 136 P.3d 616 , 625. A second purpose is to deter the attorney and other attorneys from similar future conduct. Id. A third purpose is to protect the public. State ex rel. Okla. Bar Ass'n v. Tweedy, 2000 OK 37, ¶ 44, 52 P.3d 1003 , 1012, cert. denied, 531 U.S. 1145 (2001). Although this Court strives to administer discipline in a uniform manner, each proceeding is unique, and, thus, discipline must be determined on a case-by case basis. Id. ¶23 In State ex rel. Okla. Bar Ass'n v. Tweedy, 2000 OK 37, 52 P.3d 1003 , the misconduct occurred between 1986 and 1993 and, although not as extensive, is similar to the misconduct here. After a court entered a final judgment against the attorney's client in federal district court, the attorney filed two more cases regarding the same claim. The federal district court sanctioned the attorney and enjoined him from relitigating issues decided in the first case. During the litigation, the attorney filed numerous post-trial motions to vacate, to reconsider, and to clarify. The attorney brought two appeals and two writs of mandamus in the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals. The Tenth Circuit sanctioned the attorney noting the plaintiff's numerous multiple and vexatious filings warranted the sanctions. The attorney believed that the federal district court and circuit court had been defrauded, and, thus, he was justified in the multiple filings to bring attention of the fraud to the courts. Although never wavering from this belief, the attorney cooperated fully with the investigation. Between the time that the compliant was filed in the office of the Clerk of the Supreme Court on December 22, 1992, and the time the PRT hearing was held in 1999, there was no allegation or evidence that the attorney had continued the misconduct in the intervening seven years. ¶24 Even though the attorney in Tweedy had previously received a private reprimand, this Court determined that a ninety-day suspension was the appropriate discipline. In determining the appropriate discipline, this Court relied heavily on the fact that the sanctions meted out by the federal courts had worked to stop the offending conduct. Thus, the sanctions had served the purpose of discipline: protecting the courts, protecting the public, and protecting confidence in the legal system. ¶25 The same cannot be said for Godlove. Even after receiving at least three monetary sanctions by Oklahoma state courts totaling more than $80,000, Godlove continued her frivolous filings. As yet, Godlove has not paid most of the sanction awards. Further, even after sanctions and this Court's opinion recognizing the March 25, 2002 order's finality and affirming the forfeiture of her client's beneficial interest, Godlove did not cease her frivolous filings. By failing to respond to the OBA's investigatory requests and failing to comply with this Court's rules and order, Godlove has shown a total lack of respect for this Court and the process and rules that protect the public from errant lawyers. By failing to use a current correct address and using more than one address, Godlove has shown a lack of respect for the judicial system, for her clients, and for fellow lawyers. She has evaded notice of orders and pleadings filed in her clients' cases and, temporarily, evaded notice of this proceeding. ¶26 We have not before been presented in an attorney disciplinary proceeding with facts in which a lawyer abused the judicial system to the extent that Godlove has done here. For the extensive violations of the rules governing lawyers' conduct and for ignoring these proceedings, we find that disbarment is necessary to stop the abuse of the system hailed on it by Godlove's frivolous, multiple, duplicate filings and to end the disservice to her clients, to opposing parties, to opposing counsel, and to judges presiding over cases in which she is involved. ¶27 There is a fine line between zealous advocacy and harassing, frivolous litigation. Godlove has not only overstepped the line, she has trampled it. We have a duty to protect against the type of frivolous litigation undertaken by Godlove. When a lawyer fails to recognize the authority of a court's final order, she must answer for her actions in continuing to relitigate the same issues again and again. IX. COSTS AND RULE 9.1 ¶28 The OBA has filed an application for costs in the amount of $1,994.76. Of this amount $1,661.40 is for transcription fees, and the remainder is for a process server, postage, and PRT member expenses. We note that none of the requested costs are for copying the large number of exhibits whose relevance is not apparent and is not explained. Should the OBA seek reimbursement of costs in the future, it is admonished to provide only exhibits to this Court for which it shows the relevance. Godlove is ordered to pay costs of $1,994.76 within ninety days of the date this opinion becomes final. RGDP, r. 6.16. ¶29 Godlove is further ordered to follow Rule 9.1 of the RGDP. Within twenty days from the date this opinion becomes final, Godlove is required to notify all clients via certified mail of her inability to represent them and the necessity for promptly retaining new counsel. Godlove is required to withdraw from all pending cases and file an affidavit of compliance attaching a list of notified clients with the Clerk of the Supreme Court and the Professional Responsibility Commission within twenty-five days after this opinion becomes final. RESPONDENT DISBARRED FROM THE PRACTICE OF LAW AND ORDERED TO PAY COSTS. ¶30 ALL JUSTICES CONCUR. FOOT