Title: The Unauthorized Practice of Law Committee, Wyoming State Bar v. Josephine K. Walton, President of Wyoming Credit Association, a Wyoming Corporation

State: wyoming

Issuer: Wyoming Supreme Court

Document:

IN THE SUPREME COURT, STATE OF WYOMING
2018 WY 68
April Term, A.D. 2018

June 20,2018

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

Petitioner,
v. 1-18-0004

JOSEPHINE K. WALTON, President
of Wyoming Credit Association, a
Wyoming corporation, |

Respondent, |
ORDER APPROVING CONSENT AGREEMENT

[SI] This matter came before the Court upon a “Report and Recommendation for
Approval of Consent Agreement,” filed herein June 4, 2018, by the Unauthorized Practice
of Law Committee of the Wyoming State Bar (the Committee). Afler a careful review of
the Committee's Report and Recommendation, the attached “Consent Agreement,” the
materials attached thereto, and the file, this Court finds that the Report. and
Recommendation should be approved, confirmed and adopted by the Cour, and that the
parties’ Consent Agreement should be approved, pursuant to Rule 7(e) of the Rules of
Procedure Governing Unauthorized Practice of Law. Its, therefore,

 

 

—2] ADJUDGED AND ORDERED that the Unauthorized Practice of Law
Committee's “Report and Recommendation for Approval of Consent Agreement.” which
is attached hereto and incorporated herein, shall be, and the same hereby is, approved.
confirmed, and adopted by this Court; and itis further

[*3] | ADJUDGED AND ORDERED that the parties’ “Consent Agreement” be, and
hereby is, accepted by this Court and the terms of the Consent Agreement are hereby
adopted,
DATED this 20* day of June, 2018.

BY THE COURT:
bs

E. JAMES BURKE
Chief Justice
D-18-0004

BEFORE THE SUPREME COURT
STATE OF WYOMING
Discos
Inthe mater of ) =i,
)
JOSEPHINE K. WALTON, ) JUN 04 2018
ce
ee PRS
‘
ss
REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION

FOR APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGREEMENT

‘THIS MATTER having come before the Unauthorized Practice of Law Committee (the
“Committee”) upon the motion of Bar Counsel for approval of a Consent Agreement in the
sbove-captioned mater, and the Committee having considered the matter and being fully advised
in the premises, finds, concludes and recommends:

1. The investigation in the above-captioned matter was initiated by Bar Counsel fol-
‘owing receipt of a report from the Honorable Joseph B. Bluemel, Third Judicial Distict Court
Judge, that Respondent, the president of Wyoming Credit Associaton, a Wyoming corporation
wea"

  

collection agency located in Evanson, Wyoming, may have engaged inthe unau-
thorized practice of law by represeting WC in a collection ation in Judge Bluemel's coun.

2. Rule 7, Rules Governing the Wyoming State Bar andthe Authorized Prtce of
Law, provides in relevant pat

Rule 7. Authorization to practice law.
(a) The following persons are authorized to practice law in Wyoming:
(1) Members ofthe Wyoming State Bar, as more fully delineated and subject.
tothe limitations set fort inthe Bylaws of the Wyoming State Bar;
(@) Attomeys who have been granted pro hac vice admission as provided in
Rule 8, subject to the limitations set forth in thet eu,
{G) Law school clinic supervising attorneys meeting the qualifications of Rule
‘9, subject tothe limitations set forth in that rule:
(4) Law students meeting the qualifications of Rule 9, subject to the limita
‘tions set forth in that rule; and
(8) Altomeys meeting the qualifications of Rule 5.5(d) ofthe Wyoming Rules
‘of Professional Conduct, subject tothe limitations set forth in that rule
(&) “Practice law” means providing any legal service for any other person, firm
‘or corporation, with or without compensation, or providing professional legal
advice or services where there is a client relationship of trast or reliance, in-
cluding appearing as an advocate in a representative capacity; drafting plead-
ings or other documents; or performing any actin a representative capacity in
‘connection with a prospective or pending proceeding before any tribunal.

 

3. Following receipt of Bar Counsel's eter of inquiry, Respondent's counsel con-

tacted Bar Counsel and advised that Respondent was willing to enter into a conseat agreement as
‘Provided in Rule 5(f) of the Rules of Procedure Governing Unauthorized Practice of Law Pro-
ceedings (the “UPL Rules”), which states:

(0 If, after conducting an investigation, Bar Counsel believes that the re-
spondent has engaged in the unauthorized practice of law, Bar Counsel may do
‘one or more of the followi
(1) commence civil injunction proceedings as provided in Rule 6;
(2) commence civil contempt proceedings as povided in Rule 8;
(G) enter into a consent agreement with the respondent in which the re=
spondent agrees to do one or more ofthe following:
(A) refrain from the conduct in question;
() refund any fees collected;
(C) make restitution;
(D) pay a fine that may range from one hundred dollars ($100) to two
hundred and fifty dollars ($250) per incident of unauthorized practice of
law.

 

 

4. Respondent concedes that she is not a member of the Wyoming State Bar and en-

‘gaged inthe unauthorized practice of law as reported by Judge Bluemel.

‘5. Respondent further concedes that her representation of WCA as reported by Judge

Bluemel constiuted the Unauthorized Practice of Law pursuant to Rule 7 ofthe Rules Governing
the Wyoming State Bar andthe Authorized Practice of Law.
6 Pursuant to UPL Rule 5(0(3), Respondent has agreed that she will refrain from
similar conduct inthe future,

7. Bar Counsel has agreed to forbear on other sanctions available under the Rules,
including assessment ofa fine; commencing civil injunction proceedings; and commencing civil
‘contempt proceedings. However, Bar Counsel expressly reserves the right to pursue all available
sanctions in the event Respondent commits conduct in violation with this Consent Agreement or
Rule 7 of the Rules Governing the Wyoming State Bar and the Authorized Practice of Law.

8. The parties have agreed that inthe event this Consent Agreement is approved, Bar
‘Counsel will provide a copy of the approved Consent Agreement to the Wyoming Collection
‘Agency Board,

9. UPL. Rule 3(¢) provides thatthe Committee has the authority to approve consent

‘The Committee shall have jurisdiction to conduct hearings on complaints alloging
the unauthorized practice of law submitted by any person, including Bar Counsel:
{0 approve or reject consent agreements; and to submit a report and recommenda
tion to the Supreme Court containing findings of fact and conclusions of law fol.
owing such hearings or approvals of consent agreements.

 

10. UPL Rute 6(4)(3\/A) provides:

11. Aquorum of the UPL Commies has reviewed Bar Counse!’s motion for approv-
‘al ofthe Consent Agreement and finds that said motion should be granted.
WHEREFORE, porsuant to Rule 7(c) of the UPL Procedural Rules, the Committee ree~
‘ommends thatthe Court epprove the Consent Agreement in the above-captioned matter.
DATED this, day of May, 2018,

Siickley, Chair
Unauthorized Practice of Law Committee
‘Wyoming State Bar

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

1 do hereby certify that a tre and correct copy of the foregoing was served upon Re-
spondent this_AJN~ day of May, 2018, by United States ‘mail, first class postage prepaid, and
by email cont addressed as follows:

James E, Phillips
Phillips Law, P.C.
822 Main Sireet
P.O. Box 70
Evanston, WY 82931-0770

Jimphillipslaw@amai.com
‘Counsel for Respondent
BEFORE THE UNAUTHORIZED PRACTICE OF LAW COMMITTEE

     

   

 

   

WYOMING STATE BAR
In the matter of ir
d ECEIVE
JOSEPHINE K. WALTON, d
president of Wyoming Credit Association, ) MAY 14 2018
‘@ Wyoming corporation, d
d WYOMING OFFice
Respondent, ) OF BAN COUNSEL

 

CONSENT AGREEMENT
‘THIS CONSENT AGREEMENT is entered into by and between Mark W. Gifford, Bar
Counsel forthe Wyoming State Bar (“Bar Counsel") and Josephine K. Walton (“Responds”),
WHEREAS, Walton is the president of Wyoming Credit Association, a Wyoming
corporation ("WCA"), collection agency located in Evanston, Uinta County, Wyoming; and
WHEREAS, by letter dated March 27, 2018, Bar Counsel received a report ffom the
Honorable Joseph B. Bluemel, Third Judicial District Cour Judge, that Respondent may have
engaged inthe unauthorized practice of law by representing WCA,

 

action in fudge
Blueels cour (se Exhibit A hereto}; and

WHEREAS, the Wyoming Supreme Cour's Rule Governing the Wyoming State Bar
‘nd the Authorized Practice of Law provide in leva part:

Rule 7. Authorization to practice law.
() The following persons are authorized to practice law in Wyoming:
(1) Members ofthe Wyoming State Bar, as more fully delinenied and subject
‘o the limitations set forth inthe Bylaws ofthe Wyoming State Bar,
(@) Atiomeys who have been granted pro bac vice admission as provided in
Rule 8, subject othe limitation set forth in that rule
(@) Law schoo! clini supervising atiomeys meeting the qualifications of Rule
9, subject othe limitations set forth in that rules
(#) Law students meeting the qualifications of Rule 9, subject to the
limitations set forth in that rle; and
(5) Attorneys meeting the qualifications of Rule 5.5(d) ofthe Wyoming Rules
of Professional Conduct, subject tothe limitations set forth in that rule,

 

 
() “Practice taw"* means providing any legal sevice for any other person, fem
ot corporation, with or without compensation, or providing professional legal
‘vice or services where thee is a client reltionsip of rust or reliance,
including appearing as an advocate in a representative capacity, drafting
pleadings oF other documents; oF performing any act in a representative
‘apacity in connection with a prospective or pending proceeding before any
tribunal,

 

WHEREAS, Respondent concedes that she is not « member of the Wyoming State Bar
‘and engaged inthe unauthorized practice of aw as reported by Judge Bluemel; and

WHEREAS, following Bar Counsel's investigation ofthe matter pursuant tothe Rules of
Procedure Governing Unauthorized Practice of Law Proceedings (the “UPL Procedural Rules"),
the partis have come to terms on this Consent Agreement as provided in Rule 5(1(3) of said
ales.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the foregoing recitals, the
‘accuracy of which are hereby confirmed by the pares, it is agreed:

Respondent's representation of WCA as reported by Judge Blucmel constituted
the Unauthorized Practice of Law pursuant to Rule 7 ofthe Rules Governing the Wyoming State
Bar and the Authorized Practice of Law.

2 Pursuant to Rule $(0(3), Respondent agrees that she will refiain from similar
‘conduct inthe futur,

3 Bar Counsel has agreed to forbear on other sanctions available under the Rules,
including assessment ofa fine; commencing civil injunction proceedings; and commencing evi
‘contempt proceedings. However, Bar Counsel expressly reserves the right to pursue all available
sation in the event Respondent commits conduct in voltion with this Consent Agreement or
Rule 7 ofthe Rules Governing the Wyoming State Bar and the Authorized Practice of Law.
4. The parties agree that in the event this Consent Agreement is approved by the
Committee on the Unauthorized Practice of Law, Bar Counsel will provide 4 copy of the
‘approved Consent Agreement tothe Wyoming Collection Agency Bose,

SO STIPULATED:

 

STATE OF WYOMING d
des.
COUNTY OF UINTA )

Subscribed and swor to before me on this HA day of May, 2018, by Josephine K.

  

My Commission Expires:

 
 

 

 
  

      

ECEIVE
MAR 80 2018 )

 

 

 

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Semana March 27,2018 mp renee
ssrRic COURT
TE RCOUNTHS WYOMING
Unauthorized Practice of Law Committee a
Attention: Shannoa Howshar WAR
4124 Laramie Street ‘i
PO Box 109 Syecanne
Cheyenne, WY #2003 olmore
Re: Wyoming Credit Associaton, Ine.
Dear Ms. Howshar
Enclosed please find scopy ofthe decison that Ihave entered inthe mater of Houghton

 

 

Yen zming Credit Association, Inc. 1 am sending this decision to you for your review to

etermine whether or not Wyoming Credit Association, Ine. may be participating in the
‘unauthorized practice of law.

Ir 1 may be of any asistance to you or the Commitee, please contact me or my staff at

‘your convenience,
‘Sincerely, A

JgsePH/B. BLUEMEL
strict Court Judge

JBBidah
Enclosure

 
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ORDER AFFIRMING JUDGMENT BY
UINTA COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT

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