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MICHAEL STEPHEN WADE MOVANT 

V. IN SUPREME COURT 

KENTUCKY BAR ASSOCIATION RESPONDENT 

OPINION AND ORDER 

Michael S. Wade, Kentucky Bar Association (KBA) Member No. 91281, 

bar roster address 676 Pinetop Road, Russell Springs, Kentucky, 42642, was 

admitted to the practice of law in the Commonwealth of Kentucky on May 1, 

2006. He has been under temporary suspension from the practice of law since 

October 2012. 

Wade received two. Charges of professional misconduct stemming from 

separate criminal proceedings in Jefferson and Bullitt counties. The Jefferson 

County case related to Wade's representation of Samantha McAllister and was 

resolved by Alford plea and felony Pretrial Diversion. The Bullitt County case 

related to Wade's drug offenses was resolved by guilty plea and felony Pretrial 

Diversion. The two KBA Charges accuse Wade of violating SCR 3.130(1.4)(a), 

3.130(1.15)(a), 3.130(1.15)(b), 3.130(8.4)(b), and 3.130(8.4)(c). In face of these 

Charges, Wade moves this Court to enter an order accepting his Motion for 

Consensual Discipline. The KBA makes no objection to the motion. 

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KBA File No. 19610 

This Charge relates to representation Wade provided to McAllister in a 

personal-injury case arising from a December 16, 2009, motor vehicle accident. 

After a brief time pursuing the claim, the insurance company agreed to settle 

McAllister's claim for $5,500. In December 2010; the insurer mailed a 

settlement check payable to McAllister and Wade. In attempts to facilitate the 

distribution of settlement funds, Wade endorsed the check with his name and 

McAllister's: 

Wade then made efforts to arrange a meeting with McAllist_er and her 

father to sign release documentation and make the net distribution from the 

settlement recovery. An appointment was set up several days after he deposited 

the check to make the distributions, but McAllister missed the appointment 

and the distribution did not occur. Over the ensuing three months, Wade made 

attempts to communicate with McAllister to come to the office, and McAllister 

also apparently tried, and failed, to set up the appointment with Wade. 

Years before his representation of McAllister, Wade suffered from anxiety 

and depression and an active drug and alcohol addiction. In June 2011, Wade 

was arrested in Bullitt County on drug-related offenses, the subject of the other 

KBA Charge filed against him. He ultimately spent five months in an inpatient 

rehabilitation facility. 

After his release, he made arrangements to finally distribute to McAllister 

her settlement recovery. On December 13, 2011, through assistance of counsel, 

he submitted release documentation and a check to McAllister for $4,000-

payment in full for the net amount she was entitled. 

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Soon after, Wade was indicted in Jefferson Circuit Court for matters 

arising out of his representation of McAllister. He was charged with seconddegree criminal,possession of a forged instrument and theft by failure to make 

required disposition of property. The forged-instrument charge related to his 

endorsement of the December 2010 check, while the theft offense related to his 

belated distribution of settlement funds to McAllister. 

In March 2014, Wade entered an Alford guilty plea as part of an 

agreement to receive felony pretrial diversion for four years. 

KBA File No. 19610 contains a five-count Charge against Wade for 

viola ting ( 1) SCR 3 .130( 1.4 )( a) for failure to keep a client reasonably informed 

and promptly complying with reasonable requests for information, (2) 

3.130(1.15)(a) for failure to keep client property in a separate bank account, (3) 

· 3.130(1.15)(b) for not promptly delivering to the client funds or property she 

was entitled to receive, (4) 3.130(8.4)(b) for committing a criminal act that 

reflects adversely on the lawyer's honesty, trustworthiness, or fitness as a 

lawyer, and (5) 3.130(8.4)(c) for engaging in conduct involving dishonesty, 

fraud, deceit, or misrepresentation. Wade admits his conduct fell below that 

required of an attorney in Kentucky and admits his violation of the abovestated rules of professional conduct. 

KBA File No. 19.905 

This Charge concerns the Bullitt Circuit Court criminal case relating to 

Wade's drug offenses. This case was resolved by a guilty plea subject to 

receiving felony Pretrial Diversion. In the time since his conviction he has taken 

a number of steps to treat his drug and alcohol addiction, including extensive 

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inpatient treatment, entering a supervision with KYLAP, and regularly 

attending twelve-step support meetings. 

Wade readily admits that his pattern of drug and alcohol abuse, as well 

as his criminal proceedings, subjects him to disciplinary sanction from this 

Court. Sure enough, this Charge includes one charge for violation of SCR 

3.130(8.4)(b), asserting that his criminal acts reflected adversely on his 

honesty, trustworthiness, or fitness as a lawyer. Wade admits that his actions 

fell below conduct expected of a licensed attorney in Kentucky. 

ANALYSIS 

Wade moves this Court to accept his motion for consensual discipline for 

these violations of the Kentucky Rules of Professional Conduct. He urges us to 

enter an Order suspending his license to practice law in Kentucky for a period 

of four years and six months (until April 26, 2017), retroactive from October 

26, 2012, or until such time as he has satisfied the full terms and conditions of 

pretrial diversion in the Jefferson and Bullitt Circuit Court proceedings, 

whichever event last occurs. The KBA, after a thorough review of his motion 

and analogous case law, has no objection to Wade's proposed discipline. We too 

are satisfied with the negotiated sanction, and agree to grant the motion. 

For the foregoing reasons, the Court ORDERS that: 

1. Michael Stephen Wade, KBA Member No. 91281, is guilty of all charges 

alleged in KBA File Nos. 19610 and 19905. 

2. Wade's Motion for Consensual Discipline is granted. 

3. Wade is hereby suspended from the practice of law for four years and six 

months, retroactive from October 26, 2012. The suspension shall last 

until April 26, 2017, or until he has satisfied the full terms and 

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conditions of the criminal proceedings in 11-CR-00238, Bullitt Circuit 

Court, and 12-CR-001889, Jefferson Circuit Court, whichever event last 

occurs. His reinstatement is also subject to approval from the Character 

& Fitness Committee under SCR 3.505. 

4. This discipline is conditioned on Wade's continued participation with 

KYLAP, on such terms and conditions as KYLAP may determine. Wade 

shall execute a release in favor of the Office of Bar Counsel so that Bar 

Counsel may obtain status-report information concerning Wade's 

participation in KYLAP. 

5. In accordance with SCR 3.450, Wade is directed to pay all costs 

associated with these disciplinary proceedings, for which execution may 

issue from this Court upon finality of this Opinion and Order. 

All sitting. All concur. 

ENTERED: September 22, 2016. 

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