RENDERED: SEPfEMBER 28, 2017 

TO BE PUBLISHED 

KENTUCKY BAR ASSOCIATION MOVANT 

v. IN SUPREME COURT 

DELBERT KEITH PRUITT RESPONDENT 

OPINION AND ORDER 

Delbert Keith Pruitt, Kentucky Bar Association (KBA) Number 87872, 

was admitted to the practice of law in the Commonwealth of Kentucky on 

. October 29, 1999, and his bar roster address is listed as 321 Ferry St., 

Metropolis, IL 62960. The Board of q.overnors found Pruitt guilty of violating 

SCR 3.130-l.4(a)(3) (two counts), -1.4(~)(4), -3.4(c), and -8.l(b~. For.these 

violations, the Board unanimously recommends Pruitt: 1) be suspended from 

the practice of law for 181 days, to run concurrent with any current \_ 

suspension; 2) be referred to the Kentucky Lawyer Assistance Program 

(KYLAP); and 3) pay all associated costs. For the following reasons, we adopt 

the Board's recommendation. 
· I. BACKGROUND 

This case concerns two separate complaints to the KBA. Pruitt failed to 

respond to either of the charges, and they reached the Board as default cases 

pursuant-to SCR 3.210. In addition to the matters currently before the Court, 

Pruitt was privately admonished in 2006 and was suspended (or sixty-one days 

in 2016. 

A. KBA File 22631 

. On February 20, 2014, Michael Orendoff filed a bar complaint against 

Pruitt.· Orendoff alleged he hired Pruitt to defend him in a matter, but Pruitt 

failed ~o file an answer in his case. Pruitt filed a response.to Orendofrs 

complaint, indicating that he had drafted' the answer, and believed he had 

mailed it. Pruitt asserted he returned Orendofrs retainer when he learned the 

court had not received the document he thought he had mailed. During that 

time period, Pruitt's wife had suffered a stroke and 1ater died. Pruitt asserted 

that he suffered from depression. 

. The Inquicy Commission determined a private admonition was the proper 

discipline, conditioned-,upon Pruitt's participation in KYLAP. As a result, the 

terms of the admonition required Pruitt to send Bar Counsel quarterly updates 

confirming his participation in the program. Pruitt did not submit the KYLAP 

reports, and KYLAP indicated he had not participated in the pr.ogrfi.II1. · · 

Given Pruitt's failure to follow through with the condition of his 

discipline, the Inquiry Commission issued a two-count charge against him. 

Count I asserted Pruitt violated SCR 3.130-1.4(a)(3) when he failed to keep 

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Orendoff reasonably informed concerning the status of his case. Count II r 

asserted Pruitt violated SCR 3.130-3.4(c) when he "knowingly disobey[ed] an 

obligation under the. rules of a tribunal ..... " Pruitt did not answer the charge. 

B. KBA File 16-DIS-24372 

Clayton Kennedy had hired Pruitt to represent him in a divorce action. 

On March 24, 2016, Kennedy filed a bar complaint against Pruitt, alleging 

Pruitt had failed to promptly and adequately communicate with Kennedy 

· during the pendency of the divorce. Pruitt did not file a response to the 

·complaint. 

The Inquiry Commission charged Pruitt in a two-count charge. Count I 

asserted Pruitt violated SCR 3.130-1.4(a)(3), (4) when he failed to keep Kennedy. 

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reasonably informed about the status of his divorce and when .he failed to 

"promptly comply with reasonable requests for information." Count II asserted 

Pruitt violated SCR 3.130-8. l(b). when he.failed "to respond to a lawful demand 

for information from an admissions or disciplinary authority . . .. " Pruitt did 

. not answer the charge. 

II. BOARD'S RECOMMENDATION I . 

In.KBA File 22631, the Board voted 17 to 0 to find Pruitt guilty of both 

charges. In KBA File 16-DIS-24372, the Board voted 16 to 1 to find Pruitt 

guilty of Count I, and voted 17 to 0 to find him guilty of Count II. Thereafter, 

th.e s~venteen members of the Board unanimously recommended that Pruitt: 1) 

be suspended from the practice of law for 181 days, to be served concurrently 

with any other suspensions; 2) be referred to KYLAP for evaluation and 

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assistance as necessary; and 3) pay all costs associated with these disciplinary . ' . 

proceedings. 

III. ADOPTION OF BOARD'S RECOMMENDATION 

·Pursuant to SCR 3.370(9), 1 this Court adopts the unanimous 

recommendation of the Board given: 1) the significance of Pruitt's viola?ons, ~) 

the fact that aside from filing an initial response in one of the cases; he has 

failed to respond to any correspondence, and 3) his disciplinary history·. Our 

precedent supports the Board's recommendation. For example, in Kentucky 

Bar Ass'n v. Quesinberry, 260 S.W.3d 786, 788 (Ky. 2008), we suspended 

Quesinberry for 181 days for violating SCR 3.130-1.3, SCR 3.130-1.4, and SCR 

3.130-8.J(b). In that case (much like Pruitt's), Quesinberry failed to file a_, 

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divorce decree for her client and failed to respond to the KBA charges brought 

against her. Agreeing that the Board's recommended sanction is appropriate, it . 

is ORDERED that: 

1. Pruitt is found guilty of the above-described and admitted violations of 

the. Rules of Professional Conduct and thus suspended from the 

practic;e of law for 181 days; and 

2. Pruitt is hereby referred to KYLAP for evaluation and assistance as 

necessary; and 

~ SCR 3.370(9) provides that "[i]f no notice of review is filed by either of the 

parties, or the Court under paragraph eight (8) of this rule, the Court shall enter an 

order adopting the decision of the· Board or the Trial Commissioner, whichever the 

case m~y be, relating to all matters." · 

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3. In accordance with SCR 3.450, Pruitt is directed to pay all costs 

associated with these disciplinary proceedings against him, said sum 

being $484.88, for which execution may issue from this Court upon 

finality of this Opinion and Order; and 

4. Pursuant to SCR 3.390, Pruitt shall, within ten days from the entry of 

this Opinion and Order, notify all.Kentucky clients, in writing, of his 

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inability to represent them; notify, in writing, all Kentucky courts in 

which he has matters pending of his suspension from the practicf? of 

law; and furnish copies of all letters of notice to the. Office of Bar 

Counsel of the KBA. Furthermore, to the extent possible, Pruitt shall. 

immediately cancel and cease any advertising activities in which he is 

engaged. 

Minton, C.J.; Hughes, Keller, VanMeter, Venters, and Wright; JJ., 

concur. Cunningham, J., not sitting. 

ENTERED: September 28, 2017. 

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