Case Title: The Unauthorized Practice of Law Committee, Wyoming State Bar v. Courtney Leigh Osmon

Citation: 2019 WY 109

Docket Number: D-19-0006

State: wyoming

Court: Wyoming Supreme Court

Date: 2019-10-24T00:00:00Z

Document:
IN THE SUPREME COURT, STATE OF WYOMING
2019 WY 109

October Term, A.D. 2019

 

yer 24, 2019

THE UNAUTHORIZED PRACTICE |
OF LAW COMMITTEE, WYOMING
STATE BAR,

Petitioner,
D-19-0006

COURTNEY LEIGH OSMO}

 

Respondent.

ORDER APPROVING RECOMMENDED DISPOSITION

[61] This matter came before the Court upon the “Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law
and Recommended Disposition,” filed herein September 20, 2019, by the Unauthorized
Practice of Law Committee of the Wyoming State Bar (the Committee). After a careful
review of the Committee's recommendations and the file, this Court finds the
Recommended Disposition should be approved, confirmed, and adopted by the Court. It
is, therefore,

[2] ADJUDGED AND ORDERED that the Unauthorized Practice of Law
Committee's “Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law and Recommended Disposition,”
which is attached hereto and incorporated herein, shall be, and the same hereby
approved, confirmed, and adopted by this Court; and itis further

 

(S3]_ ADJUDGED AND ORDERED that Respondent Courtney Leigh Osmon is hereby
enjoined from the unauthorized practice of law; and it is further

[s4] ORDERED that on or before January 2, 2020, Respondent Courtney Leigh Osmon
shall remit a fine of $750 to the Wyoming State Bar. If Respondent fils to make payment
in the time allotted, execution may issue on the fine,
 

DATED this 24th day of October, 2019.

BY THE COURT:
hh

MICHAEL K. DAVIS
Chief Justice
‘BEFORE THE SUPREME COURT

STATE OF WYOMING
NI pup cour
Inthe matter of ) Fuss NS
COURTNEY LEIGH OSMON, No. D-19-0006 Sp 20am

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)
Unauthorized Practice of Law ) Fistor
ee }

FINDINGS OF FACT, CONCLUSIONS OF LAW
AND RECOMMENDED DISPOSITION

 

 

‘A quorum of the Committee on the Unauthorized Practice of Law (“Committee”)
convened by telephone conference call on the 3” day of September, 2019. Having de-
termined that Bar Counsel's Rule 6(4)(1) motion should be granted, the Committee pro-
‘ceeded to decide the case based upon the petition as provided in the rule. The Committee
finds, concludes and recommends as follows:

‘Findings of Fact

1, Respondent Courtney Leigh Osmon, a resident of Rozet, Wyoming (here-
inafter, “Respondent” is not currently nor has she ever been licensed to practice law in
the State of Wyoming or in any jurisdiction.

2. Bar Counsel's investigation of Respondent was initiated upon a report from
Gillete lawyer Nicholas Norris that in 2017 and 2018, Respondent held herself out as a
lawyer and undertook to provide legal representation to her husband, Brett Osmon, in a
title dispute which culminated in the initiation of litigation in the Sixth Judicial District
Court, Campbell County, Wyoming, styled Michele Bau, Plainif, vs. Brett Osmon and
Courtney Osmon, Defendants, Civil Action No. 37587. The lawsuit named Respondent,
‘who owned no interest in the property in dispute, as a defendant only as a result of her
role in negotiating and accepting a settlement agreement between Ms. Bau and Mr. Os-
‘mon. The settlement was not culminated and litigation ensued,

3. When Respondent filed an answer and counterclaims on behalf of her hus-
‘band and herself, Mr. Norris moved to strike the answer as it related to Mr. Osmon and
‘moved to dismiss the counterclaims. The Court struck any purported answer for Mr.
‘Osmon and default was entered against him. Respondent attempted to speak on her hus-
‘band’s behalf atthe default judgment hearing but was not allowed to do so by the Court.

4. Respondent did not respond to Bar Counsel's inquiries following initiation
ofan investigation of Mr. Norris's UPL report.

‘5. The petition in this matter was filed on May 20, 2019, pursuant to the Rules
of Procedure Governing Unauthorized Practice of Law Proceedings (hereinafter, the
“UPL Procedural Rules”). The petition was served upon Respondent via certified mail,
return receipt requested, on May 20, 2019.

6. On May 29, 2019, the Court issued an order referring the matter to the
Committee for proceedings pursuant to UPL Procedural Rule 6(4) through (h).

7. Respondent's agent signed the certified mailing retum receipt forthe peti-
‘ion on June 6,2019. Respondent did not answer or otherwise responded tothe petition,

8. On July 9, Bar Counsel filed a motion for a Rule 6(4) determination that
Respondent has admitted the fucts set forth in the petition. Bar counsel served a copy of
the motion on Respondent by mail. Respondent did not objector otherwise respond to
Bar Counsel's motion.

9. By order dated concurrently herewith, the Committe granted Bar Coun-
sel's motion, ruling that the facts st forth in the petition shall be deemed conclusively
‘established for purposes of this proceeding.

10. Respondent's conduct described above constitutes the unauthorized prac-
tice of law in Wyoming.

11. Respondent should be enjoined from engaging in the unauthorized practice
of law. Respondent should also be required to pay a fine as provided in the Rules, The
‘Committee finds thatthe appropriate fine, in consideration of Respondent's conduct as
set forth herein, isthe amount of $750.00

‘Conclusions of Law
12. UPL Procedural Rule 6 provides in pertinent part:

Rale 6. Civil injunction proceedings.

(a) If Bar Counsel determines that civil injunction proceedings should
be instituted against a respondent, including when seeking approval of a
‘Consent agreement entered into under subperagraph (3) of paragraph (8) of
Rule $, Bar Counsel may commence such proceedings in the name of the
Committee by filing a petition in the Supreme Court. The petition sball be
{in writing and shall set forth the facts and charges in plein language and
with sufficient particularity to inform the respondent of the acis that Bar
Counsel contends constitute the unauthorized practice of law. The petition
shall specify the requested relief, which may include, without limitation, in-
function, refund, restitution, a fine, and assessment of costs of the proceed
‘ing, oF the approval of a consent agreement. Bar Counsel shal, atthe time
of filing the petition, serve a copy upon the respondent by certified tail.

(©) Upon receipt of a petition filed by Bar Counsel in accordance with
paragraph (a) ofthis rule, the Court may issue an order referring the matter
{o the Committee for further proceedings in accordance with paragraphs (d)
through (b) ofthis rule.

3
(©) If the Court refers a case to the Committee under paragraph (b) of
‘this rule, the Court shall order the respondent to file with the Committee a
‘ritten answer admitting or denying the matter stated in the petition. Un-
‘ess otherwise ordered by the Cour, the answer shall be fled within twenty
(20) days after service of the Court's order on the respondent. If the Court
is notified at the time the petition is filed by Bar Counsel that the respond-
‘ent has entered into a consent agreement as provided for in subparagraph
G) of paragraph (f) of Rule 5, no answer need be filed by respondent unless

‘otherwise ordered by the Court.

(@ Disposition without hearing.

(1) Ifthe respondent fails to file an answer within the time permitted,
Bar Counsel may move the Commitize to conclude thatthe re-
spondent has admitted the facts set forth in the petition. If the
Committee grants such a motion, the Committee shall proceed to
decide the case based on the petition and shall report in writing to
the Supreme Cour its findings of fact, conclusions of law, and
recommended disposition ofthe case.

13.

(ti) Notice of findings, conclusions, and recommended disposition.

(1) Within thirty (30) days of receipt of the parties’ proposed findings of
fact, conclusions of law, and recommended disposition of the case, the
‘Committee shall submit to the Supreme Court the record of the hearing
and a written report setting forth the Committee's findings of fact, con-
clusions of law, and recommended final disposition ofthe case. A copy
of the written report shall be mailed to respondent and Bar Counsel.

(Q)If the Committee concludes in the report that the respondent has ea-
‘ged in the unauthorized practice of law, then the Committee may rec-
‘ommend that a fine be imposed for each incident of unauthorized prac-
tice of law; the minimum fine for each incident shall be not less than
‘wo hundred and fifty dollars ($250) and not more than one thousand
dollars ($1000).

Rule 7 of the Rules Governing the Wyoming State Bar and the Authorized

Practice of law provides in pertinent part:

Rule 7. Authorization to practice law.

@

‘The following persons are authorized to practice law in Wyoming:

(1) Members of the Wyoming State Bar, as more fully delineated and
subject to the limitations set forth in the Bylaws of the Wyoming
State Bar;

@)Attomeys who have been granted pro hac vice admission as provide
ed in Rule 8, subject to the limitations set forth in that rle;

4
(3) Law school clinic supervising attorneys meeting the qualifications of
Rule 9, subject to the limitations set fort in that rule
(4) Law students meeting the qualifications of Rul 9, subject tothe lim-
itations set forth in that rule; and
(5) Attomeys meeting the qualifications of Rule 5.5(d) of the Wyoming,
Rules of Professional Conduct, subject to the limitations set forth in
that rule,
(b) “Practice law” means providing any legal service for any other person,
firm or corporation, with or without compensation, or providing, profes”
sional legal advice or services where there is a client relationship of trust ot
reliance, including appearing as an advocate in a representative capacity;
drafting pleadings or other documents; or performing any act in a repre-
sentative capacity in connection with a prospective or pending proceeding
before any tribunal

 

‘Recommendation
‘The Committee recommends that the Court issue an order enjoining Respondent
from further conduct constituting the unauthorized practice of law, fining Respondent
the sum of $750.00 and providing such other and further relief as the Court deems ap-
propriate.
aren tis 4 sy osepenber 2018.

Gq tckley, Chair
‘Committee on the Unauthorized Practice of Law
‘Wyoming State Bar