Title: In re Leavitt

State: kansas

Issuer: Kansas Supreme Court

Document:

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IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF KANSAS 
 
No. 125,417 
 
In the Matter of TROY J. LEAVITT, 
Respondent. 
 
ORIGINAL PROCEEDING IN DISCIPLINE 
 
Original proceeding in discipline. Opinion filed December 9, 2022. One-year suspension, stayed 
pending successful participation and completion of probation period of one year. 
 
Kathleen J. Selzer Lippert, Deputy Disciplinary Administrator, argued the cause, and Gayle B. Larkin, 
Disciplinary Administrator, was with her on the formal complaint for the petitioner. 
 
Peggy A. Wilson, of Morrow Willnauer Church, LLC, of Kansas City, Missouri, argued the cause, 
and Troy J. Leavitt, respondent, argued the cause pro se. 
 
PER CURIAM:  This is an attorney discipline proceeding against Troy J. Leavitt, of 
Blue Springs, Missouri. Leavitt was admitted to practice law in Kansas on April 25, 
1997. Leavitt also is a licensed attorney in Missouri, admitted in 1996.  
 
On February 23, 2022, the Disciplinary Administrator's office filed a formal 
complaint against Leavitt alleging violations of the Kansas Rules of Professional Conduct 
(KRPC). This complaint stemmed from discipline imposed on him from Missouri for the 
representation of a client in a paternity matter involving custody and child support. The 
Missouri Supreme Court's decision stemmed from the Missouri disciplinary hearing 
panel's finding that Leavitt violated Missouri Rules of Professional Conduct 4-1.3 
(diligence), 4-1.4 (communication), 4-8.2 (judicial and legal officials), and 4-8.4(d) 
(misconduct prejudicial to the administration of justice).  
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On March 9, 2021, the Missouri Supreme Court suspended Leavitt's license to 
practice law for one year. The court stayed the suspension and placed Leavitt on 
probation. After Leavitt was placed on probation, the Missouri disciplinary counsel 
reported to the Office of the Disciplinary Administrator that Leavitt had been informally 
admonished in 2017 by the Missouri disciplinary counsel for violating Missouri Rules of 
Professional Conduct 4-1.15 (safekeeping property) and 4-1.16 (terminating 
representation). The respondent failed to report this prior informal admonishment to the 
Disciplinary Administrator's office as required by Rule 207 (2017 Kan. S. Ct. R. 246).  
 
On July 11, 2022, the parties entered into a summary submission agreement under 
Supreme Court Rule 223 (2022 Kan. S. Ct. R. at 278) (summary submission is "[a]n 
agreement between the disciplinary administrator and the respondent," which includes "a 
statement by the parties that no exceptions to the findings of fact or conclusions of law 
will be taken").  
 
In the summary submission agreement, the Disciplinary Administrator and Leavitt 
stipulate and agree that Leavitt violated the following Kansas Rules of Professional 
Conduct and Supreme Court Rules: 
  
• KRPC 1.3 (2022 Kan. S. Ct. R. at 331) (diligence);  
• KRPC 1.4 (2022 Kan. S. Ct. R. at 332) (communication);  
• KRPC 8.2 (2022 Kan. S. Ct. R. at 432) (judicial and legal officials); and 
• KRPC 8.3 (2022 Kan. S. Ct. R. at 433) (reporting professional misconduct). 
 
Before us, the parties jointly recommend Leavitt's license to practice law be 
suspended for one year, with the suspension stayed pending successful participation and 
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completion of a one year probation period, and which would begin upon the filing date of 
this opinion. 
 
FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND 
 
We quote the relevant portions of the parties' summary submission below.  
 
 
"Findings of Fact: Petitioner and the respondent stipulate and agree that the 
respondent engaged in the following misconduct as follows: 
 
 . . . . 
 
"5. 
In November 2020, the respondent and the Missouri disciplinary counsel filed a 
joint stipulation of facts, conclusions of law, and recommendation for discipline. The 
respondent stipulated to the following facts: 
 
'8. In or about January 2018, [client/father] hired respondent to file a 
proceeding to modify a paternity judgment involving custody and child 
support.  
 
'9. In February 2018, respondent filed a Motion to Modify on 
[client/father]'s behalf in the Circuit Court of Jackson County, Missouri, 
and it was captioned as [Father, Petitioner v. Mother, respondent], the 
Honorable S. Margene Burnett presiding.  
 
'10. On November 13, 2018, [mother] through her counsel, filed a 
Motion to Dismiss the modification proceeding, essentially requesting 
dismissal as a sanction for procedural issues involving an uncorrected 
discrepancy between the amended pleadings and the content of the 
proposed parenting plan. In addition to seeking a dismissal [mother] 
sought to recover her attorney fees from [client/father]. 
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'11. A proposed Judgment accompanied the Motion to Dismiss. . . . 
'12. Upon receipt of the Motion to Dismiss respondent contacted 
[client/father] and set up an appointment for Saturday, November 17, 
2018. [Client/father] cancelled the appointment due to work constraints, 
so they met on November 20, 2018. [R]espondent advised [client/father] 
of the Motion to Dismiss and that he believed the Court dismissing the 
action with prejudice and awarding attorneys' fees for not filling [sic] an 
amended parenting plan when the matter was three months out from trial 
was highly unlikely.  
'13. Also, at the November 20, 2018, meeting, respondent advised 
[client/father] of the attorneys' fees, but not the exact amount, only that 
opposing counsel's fees were significantly higher than those being 
charged respondent. 
'14. Additionally, at the November 20, 2018 meeting, respondent 
referenced that the motion contained [client/father]'s failure to appear for 
case management, not filing a parenting plan, and not attending co-
parenting classes. 
'15. On behalf of [client/father], respondent did not want to admit to the 
Court that [client/father] failed to attend co-parenting classes required by 
the Court and Counsel believed filing a parenting plan and not answering 
the motion would be the best way to proceed with the least amount of 
damage to [client/father]'s case. 
'16. A response to the motion to dismiss on behalf of [client/father] was 
due on Friday, November 23, 2018 (the day after the Thanksgiving 
holiday). [R]espondent did file a Parenting Plan signed by [client/father] 
on November 21, 2018, but did not file a specific Memorandum in 
Opposition to the Motion to Dismiss or seek additional time for a 
response. [R]espondent claims he thought the Motion to Dismiss would 
be moot based on the filing of the Amended Parenting Plan. Further, 
respondent also thought that by filing the parenting plan three months 
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prior to trial, there would be no prejudice to the opposing party and that 
dismissal with prejudice and attorney's fees would be far to [sic] harsh of 
a remedy for the Court to consider. 
'17. Because respondent believed the Motion to Dismiss was moot after 
the Parenting Plan was filed, Respondent and opposing counsel were in 
the process of setting up depositions when the case was dismissed.  
'18. On November 29, 2018, Judge Burnett entered a Judgment 
dismissing the modification proceeding. . . . Significantly, the entire 
motion to modify proceeding brought by [client/father] was dismissed 
with prejudice. 
'19. On November 30, 2018, [mother], through her counsel, filed an 
application with the court seeking $4,386.50 in attorney fees to be 
assessed against [client/father] pursuant to R.S.Mo. § 452.355(1). 
'20. Respondent did not file any specific opposition to the application for 
attorney fees, but he did file a motion to reconsider the merits of the 
dismissal. 
'21. A subsequent amendment to the Judgment awarded $4,891.93 in 
attorney fees against [client/father].  
'22. [R]espondent claims to have been "personally outraged" by the 
Judgment. 
'23. [R]espondent did not promptly advise [client/father] of the Judgment 
nor of the attorney fee application.  
'24. Without advising the client of the adverse result, respondent filed a 
motion for reconsideration on November 30, 2018. [Mother], through her 
counsel, filed an opposition to the motion for reconsideration on 
December 4, 2018.  
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'25. On Saturday, December 8, 2018, respondent realized he did not 
advise [client/father] of the Court's ruling and called [client/father]. 
Respondent received a call back from [client/father]'s girlfriend. 
Respondent then sent a text to [client/father] that said "Emergency text 
me immediately." 
'26. [Client/father] was not aware that the case had been dismissed with 
prejudice at the time of the "emergency." 
'27. The Respondent and [client/father] exchanged a few more texts on 
Saturday, December 8, 2018. None of the text messages mention a 
dismissal or judgment or attorney fees.  
'28. In between text messages on that Saturday, respondent and 
[client/father] had a series of phone calls during which respondent lost 
his temper and made profane and disrespectful statements directed 
towards [client/father], such as "When I tell you to fucking jump, you 
better fucking jump." 
 
'29. Another text from respondent to [client/father] indicated that 99% of 
the blame was on [client/father] for failing to appear for the case 
management conference or attend counseling, without discussing 
respondent's lack of response to the motion or that respondent had 
"mistakenly failed to file" an Amended Parenting Plan. Respondent's 
communications on that day not only attempted to shift the blame away 
from himself, but also suggested that [client/father] did not care about his 
children and also unfairly suggested that [client/father] was acting like he 
was too important to be bothered with the situation while working from 
out-of-town. Another text message from respondent to [client/father] on 
December 8, 2018, stated: "I will fire you." 
 
'30. One text from respondent on December 8, 2018, said: "Well we have 
a rogue judge and an attorney filing motions." Respondent's text was 
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misleading because it omitted the fact that there was actually a Judgment 
in place rather than just a motion.'  
 
 
"6. 
In addition, the respondent stipulated in the Missouri joint stipulation that he 
violated MRPC 4-1.3 (diligence), MRPC 4-1.4 (communication), MRPC 4-8.2 (judicial 
and legal officials), and MPRC 8.4(d) (misconduct prejudicial to the administration of 
justice). The respondent stipulated to the following violations: 
 
'31. As to Count I, respondent violated Missouri Supreme Court Rule 4-
1.3 by failing to exercise the required level of diligence in that he failed 
to promptly respond to the motion to dismiss and the application for 
attorney fees and instead filed a parenting plan. 
 
'32. As to Count II, respondent violated Missouri Supreme Court Rule 4-
1.4 by failing to adequately and promptly communicate the status of the 
case and the judge's adverse ruling during the critical period of 
November 21, 2018 to December 10, 2018.  
 
'33. As to Count III, by his profane, unprofessional and disrespectful 
communications with the client on December 8, 2018, respondent 
violated Missouri Supreme Court Rule 4-8.4(d). 
 
'34. As to Count IV, by his comments to his client stating that Judge 
Burnett was a "rogue judge" based on ordering the case dismissed when 
he believed the motion was moot, and, respondent violated Missouri 
Supreme Court Rule 4-8.4(d) and Rule 4-8.2.'   
 
"7. 
On January 12, 2021, the Missouri hearing panel issued its decision, accepting 
the parties' stipulation and joint recommendation for discipline. The Missouri hearing 
panel acknowledged the respondent took full responsibility for his actions. 
 
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"8. 
On March 9, 2021, the Missouri Supreme Court suspended the respondent's 
license to practice law for one year for violating Missouri Rules of Professional Conduct 
Rule 4-1.3 (diligence), Rule 4-1.4 (communication), Rule 4-8.2 (judicial and legal 
officials), and Rule 4-8.4(d) (misconduct prejudicial to the administration of justice). The 
Court stayed the suspension and placed the respondent on probation.  
 
"9. 
Previously, in 2017, the Missouri disciplinary counsel informally admonished the 
respondent for violations of Missouri Rules 4-1.15 (safekeeping property) and 4-1.16 
(terminating representation). The respondent, however, failed to report the informal 
admonishment to the disciplinary administrator's office as required by former Rule 207 
(2017 Kan. Sup. Ct. R. 246).   
 
"10. 
After the Missouri Supreme Court placed the respondent on probation, on March 
9, 2021, the Missouri disciplinary counsel reported the respondent's 2021 misconduct to 
the disciplinary administrator's office.  
 
"11. 
On April 8, 2021, the respondent provided a written response to the disciplinary 
administrator's office.  
 
 
"Conclusions of Law: Petitioner and the respondent stipulate and agree there is 
clear and convincing evidence that the respondent violated the following Supreme Court 
Rules and Kansas Rules of Professional Conduct, the respondent engaged in misconduct 
as follows: 
 
"12. 
KRPC 1.3 (diligence): The respondent failed to exercise the required level of 
diligence in that he failed to promptly respond to the motion to dismiss, the motion for 
attorney fees, and only filed an amended parenting plan, believing that filing the amended 
parenting plan, would render the Motion to Dismiss moot. Additionally, there was actual 
injury to his client when the client's action was dismissed due to the respondent's lack of 
diligence. 
 
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"13. 
KRPC 1.4 (communication): The respondent failed to adequately and promptly 
communicate the status of the case and the judge's adverse ruling during the critical 
period of November 21, 2018 to December 10, 2018.  
 
"14. 
KRPC 8.2 (judicial and legal officials): The respondent's statements to his client 
describing the judge as 'rogue' were false or made with reckless disregard as to its truth or 
falsity concerning the qualifications or integrity of a judge.  
 
"15. 
KRPC 8.3 (reporting professional misconduct) and Rule 207 (2017 Kan. Sup. Ct. 
R. 246): The respondent failed to report that he had engaged in conduct that constituted 
misconduct when he did not report his 2017 informal admonition in Missouri.   
 
"Applicable Aggravating and Mitigating Circumstances: 
 
"16. 
Aggravating circumstances include:  
 
a. Multiple offenses: The respondent's conduct violated multiple 
professional rules of conduct; Rule 1.6 (diligence), Rule 1.4 
(communication), Rule 8.2 (judicial and legal officials), and Rule 8.3 
(reporting).  
 
 
 
b. Substantial experience in the practice of law: The respondent has 
been licensed to practice law in Missouri since 1996 and in Kansas 
since 1997. 
 
"17. 
Mitigating circumstances include:  
 
a. Absence of a dishonest or selfish motive: There was no intent for the 
respondent to obtain a significant benefit to himself. 
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b. Personal or emotional problems if such misfortunes have contributed 
to violation: The respondent suffered from anger issues as 
demonstrated with his client communication in this case, but he 
continues to seek treatment for it . . . .  
 
c. Timely good faith effort to make restitution or to rectify 
consequences of misconduct: The respondent has made full and 
timely restitution. The respondent sent letters of apology to the 
judge, the Honorable S. Marlene Burnett, and to his client. The 
respondent reimbursed his client attorneys' fees paid in the amount of 
$2,850. The respondent paid opposing counsel's attorney's fees that 
the respondent was assessed by the court in the amount of $4,891.83. 
 
d. The present and past attitude of the attorney as shown by their 
cooperation during the proceeding and his full and free 
acknowledgment of the transgressions:  
 
e. Previous good character and reputation in the community: The 
respondent submits admissible evidence of good character and 
reputation . . . .  
 
f. 
Imposition of other penalties or sanctions: The respondent's Missouri 
license was suspended for twelve months but the suspension was 
stayed pending successful participation and completion of a 
probation plan for twenty-four months beginning with the Order of 
Discipline entered by the Missouri Supreme Court on March 8, 2021 
[sic]. 
 
g. Remorse: The respondent expressed deep remorse that he is deeply 
troubled by his own conduct. The respondent desires to improve his 
practice and professionalism in the future by:  
 
i. 
The respondent is currently seeking counseling for anger 
management issues.  
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ii. The respondent refunded $2,850 for attorneys' fees paid by 
his client with a letter of apology concerning his conduct.  
 
 
 
 
iii. The respondent paid the opposing counsel's attorney's fees 
assessed his client in the amount of $4,891.83. 
 
 
 
 
iv. The respondent sent a letter of apology to the judge 
concerning his conduct and misjudgment.  
 
"Recommendations for Discipline: 
 
"18. 
Petitioner and the respondent jointly recommend the respondent's license be 
suspended for twelve months with the suspension stayed pending successful participation 
and completion of probation. Probation shall be for twelve months with the terms set 
forth in the proposed plan of probation . . . . The probation period shall begin to run upon 
the entry of an Order of Discipline entered by the Kansas Supreme Court. 
 
 . . . . 
 
"Additional Stipulations by the Parties: 
 
"23. 
The respondent waives his right to a hearing on the formal complaint as provided 
in Supreme Court Rule 222(c).  
 
"24. 
The parties agree that no exceptions to the findings of fact and conclusions of law 
will be taken. 
 
"25. 
The complainant in this matter is the Missouri Deputy Chief Disciplinary 
Counsel for the Missouri Office of Disciplinary Counsel. Notice of the Summary 
Submission will be provided to the complainant and given 21 days to provide the 
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disciplinary administrator with their position regarding the agreement as provided in 
Supreme Court Rule 223(d). 
 
"26. 
The respondent understands and agrees that pursuant to Supreme Court Rule 
223(f), this Summary Submission Agreement is advisory only and does not prevent the 
Supreme Court from making its own conclusions regarding rule violations or imposing 
discipline greater or lesser than the parties' recommendation.  
 
"27. 
The respondent also understands and agrees that after entering into this Summary 
Submission Agreement he will be required to appear before the Kansas Supreme Court 
for oral argument under Supreme Court Rule 228(i). 
 
"28. 
The parties agree that the exchange and execution of copies of this Agreement by 
electronic transmission shall constitute effective execution and delivery of the Agreement 
and that copies may be used in lieu of the original and the signatures shall be deemed to 
be original signatures. 
 
"29. 
A copy of the Summary Submission will be provided to the Board Chair as 
required by Supreme Court Rule 223(e)."  
 
DISCUSSION 
 
In a disciplinary proceeding, this court considers the evidence, the disciplinary 
panel's findings, and the parties' arguments to determine whether KRPC violations exist 
and, if they do, the appropriate discipline to impose. Attorney misconduct must be 
established by clear and convincing evidence. In re Foster, 292 Kan. 940, 945, 258 P.3d 
375 (2011); see also Supreme Court Rule 226(a)(1)(A) (2022 Kan. S. Ct. R. at 281) (a 
misconduct finding must be established by clear and convincing evidence). "Clear and 
convincing evidence is 'evidence that causes the factfinder to believe that "the truth of the 
facts asserted is highly probable."'" In re Lober, 288 Kan. 498, 505, 204 P.3d 610 (2009). 
 
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The Disciplinary Administrator provided Leavitt with adequate notice of the 
formal complaint. The Disciplinary Administrator also provided adequate notice of the 
hearing before the panel. The hearing on the formal complaint was cancelled after the 
parties agreed to enter into the Summary Submission Agreement. Under Rule 223(b), a 
summary submission agreement 
 
"must be in writing and contain the following: 
 
"(1) an admission that the respondent engaged in the misconduct; 
 
"(2) a stipulation as to the following: 
 
(A) the contents of the record; 
 
(B) findings of fact; 
 
(C) and conclusions of law, including each violation of the Kansas Rules  
      of Professional Conduct, the Rules Relating to Discipline of 
      Attorneys, or the attorney's oath of office; and 
 
(D) any applicable aggravating and mitigating factors; 
 
"(3) a recommendation for discipline; 
 
"(4) a waiver of the hearing on the formal complaint; and 
 
"(5) a statement by the parties that no exceptions to the findings of fact or 
       conclusions of law will be taken." Rule 223(b) (2022 Kan. S. Ct. R. at 278).  
 
The chair of the Kansas Board for Discipline of Attorneys ultimately approved the 
summary submission. Thus, the factual findings in the summary submission are deemed 
14 
 
 
 
admitted. See Supreme Court Rule 228(g)(1) (2022 Kan. S. Ct. R. at 288) ("If the 
respondent files a statement . . . that the respondent will not file an exception . . . , the 
findings of fact and conclusions of law in the final hearing report will be deemed 
admitted by the respondent."). 
 
The summary submission and the parties' stipulations before us establish by clear 
and convincing evidence the charged conduct violated KRPC 1.3, 1.4, 8.2, and 8.3. We 
adopt the findings and conclusions set forth by the parties in the summary submission. 
 
The remaining issue is deciding the appropriate discipline. The parties jointly 
recommend Leavitt's license to practice law be suspended for one year and the 
suspension be stayed pending successful participation and completion of a probation 
period of one year. An agreement to proceed by summary submission is advisory only 
and does not prevent us from imposing discipline greater or lesser than the parties' 
recommendation. Rule 223(f). After full consideration, however, we adopt the joint 
recommendation.  
 
CONCLUSION AND DISCIPLINE 
 
IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that Troy J. Leavitt is disciplined by a one-year 
suspension in accordance with Supreme Court Rule 225(a)(3) (2022 Kan. S. Ct. R. at 
281) and that his suspension is stayed pending successful participation and completion of 
a probation period of one year, which will begin upon the filing date of this opinion. 
Probation will be subject to the terms set out in the plan of probation referenced in the 
parties' Summary Submission Agreement. 
 
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the costs of these proceedings be assessed to Leavitt 
and that this opinion be published in the official Kansas Reports.