Case Title: RUSSELL L. CROLEY V. KENTUCKY BAR ASSOCIATION

Citation: 

Docket Number: 2005-SC-000826-KB

State: kentucky

Court: Kentucky Supreme Court

Date: 2005-11-23T00:00:00Z

Document:
,Supremr Courf of rufurhV V . IN SUPREME COURT OPINION AND ORDER TO BE PUBLISHED 2005-SC-0826-KB _ UU- ~c~h RUSSELL L . CROLEY MOVANT KBA NO . 15853 KENTUCKY BAR ASSOCIATION RESPONDENT Russell L . Croley, KBA Member No . 15853, whose last bar roster address is Oak Tree Plaza, Suite 1 A, 1601 W. Everly Brothers Blvd, Central City, KY 42330, was admitted to the practice of law in 1976 . Croley moves this Court, through counsel and through agreement with the Kentucky Bar Association, to sanction him with public reprimand for violations of SCR 3.130-1 .3, SCR 3 .130-1 .4(a), SCR 3 .130-1 .8(h), and SCR 3 .130-5.3 . On September 22, 1998, a husband and wife retained Croley to represent them in a personal injury case arising out of an automobile accident that occurred on September 10, 1998 . Croley collected and obtained documentary evidence to support the case, including medical records, bills, and photographs. In May 1999, the husband's medical treatment was completed . By that time, however, Croley failed to either effectuate a settlement or timely file the lawsuit . In September 2002, after many unanswered telephone calls to Croley, the wife called the circuit clerk's office and discovered that Croley had failed to file the lawsuit on the husband's behalf . She then contacted the insurance company and discovered that the time for filing the claim had passed . On September 21, 2002, they sent a letter to Croley demanding to know the status of the case . Two meetings ensued . At the first, Croley informed the clients that he failed to file the lawsuit in a timely manner because his office staff had not entered the deadline on the calendaring system . At the second meeting, Croley attempted a settlement for $25,000 . He did not advise them in writing that they should seek the advice of another attorney . Rather, he delivered a $5,000 check to them, which was not cashed . The clients sought other counsel and eventually filed a professional negligence lawsuit against Croley. This case was settled between the parties in the amount of $141,000 . Croley admits violating all four Charges from the Inquiry Commission : SCR 3.130-1 .3 by failing to diligently pursue a settlement in his client's case, and by failing to file a lawsuit prior to the expiration of the statute of limitations ; SCR 3.130-1 .4(a) by failing to adequately communicate with his clients in failing to return phone calls or otherwise respond and by failing to respond to the clients' requests for information; SCR 3.130-1 .8(h) by attempting to settle a professional negligence claim with his client without first advising them in writing that independent representation is appropriate ; and, SCR 3.130-5 .3 by failing to properly supervise his nonlawyer staff by alleging that his secretary failed to properly calendar the filing deadlines . In its brief to this Court, the KBA urges a public reprimand as the appropriate sanction . It cites several cases that have issued public reprimand for failure to file a lawsuit on the client's behalf prior to the running of the statute of limitations . In addition to the failure to file timely this lawsuit, Croley offered a $25,000 settlement for a $141,000 case to unrepresented clients . Furthermore, he blamed his secretary for the calendaring mistake when the clients had repeatedly called for the previous four years . Croley, with nearly 30 years of practice, has acknowledged his misconduct and states that he has implemented more effective office procedures for calendaring deadlines . This incident marks the first time lawyer discipline will be imposed upon Croley . He has settled the matter with these clients and he claims that he will not have a similar calendaring mistake in the future . He also admits the violations listed above . THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED : 1 . Russell L . Croley is publicly reprimanded for violations of SCR 3 .130- 1 .3, SCR 3.130-1 .4(a), SCR 3 .130-1 .8(h), and SCR 3.130-5 .3 . 2 . Pursuant to SCR 3.450, Croley is directed to pay all costs associated with these disciplinary proceedings in the amount of $8 .15, for which execution may issue from this Court upon finality of this Order. All concur. ENTERED : November 23, 2005 . ATTORNEY FOR MOVANT : Douglas W . Gott Bell, Orr, Ayers and Moore 1010 College Street P .O . Box 738 Bowling Green, KY 42102-0738 ATTORNEY FOR RESPONDENT : Bruce K . Davis Executive Director Dana Cox Nickles Deputy Bar Counsel Kentucky Bar Association 514 West Main Street Frankfort, KY 40601