- 253 -

Nebraska Supreme Court Advance Sheets

308 Nebraska Reports

STATE EX REL. COUNSEL FOR DIS. v. PALAGI

Cite as 308 Neb. 253

State of Nebraska ex rel. Counsel for Discipline 

of the Nebraska Supreme Court, relator, 

v. Ronald J. Palagi, respondent.

___ N.W.2d ___

Filed January 22, 2021. No. S-20-762.

Original action. Judgment of public reprimand.

Heavican, C.J., Miller-Lerman, Cassel, Stacy, Funke, 

and Freudenberg, JJ.

Per Curiam.

INTRODUCTION

This case is before the court on the conditional admission 

filed by Ronald J. Palagi, the respondent, on December 11, 

2020. The court accepts the respondent’s conditional admission 

and enters an order of public reprimand.

FACTS

The respondent was admitted to the practice of law in the 

State of Nebraska on January 28, 1975. At all times relevant to 

these proceedings, the respondent was engaged in the practice 

of law in Omaha, Nebraska.

On October 22, 2020, the Counsel for Discipline of the 

Nebraska Supreme Court, the relator, filed formal charges 

against the respondent. The formal charges consisted of one 

count. Pursuant to Neb. Ct. R. § 3-302, the respondent is under 

the jurisdiction of the Committee on Inquiry of the Fourth 

Judicial District (Committee).

Nebraska Supreme Court Online Library

www.nebraska.gov/apps-courts-epub/

01/29/2021 09:08 AM CST
- 254 -

Nebraska Supreme Court Advance Sheets

308 Nebraska Reports

STATE EX REL. COUNSEL FOR DIS. v. PALAGI

Cite as 308 Neb. 253

The matters alleged in the formal charges were reviewed 

by the Committee pursuant to Neb. Ct. R. § 3-309(H) (rev. 

2011). The Committee determined that there are reasonable 

grounds for discipline of the respondent and that a public interest would be served by the filing of formal charges.

The formal charges generally allege violations stemming 

from the respondent’s failure to challenge an arbitration award 

within the required timeframe, which ultimately cost his client 

$46,240. The respondent also had a personal conflict of interest 

in this case but proceeded to represent the client without first 

obtaining written consent from the client.

The formal charges allege that by his actions, the respondent 

violated his oath of office as an attorney licensed to practice 

law in the State of Nebraska as provided by Neb. Rev. Stat. 

§ 7-104 (Reissue 2012) and violated Neb. Ct. R. of Prof. Cond. 

§§ 3-501.1 (rev. 2017) (competence), 3-501.3 (diligence), 

3-501.7(a)(2) (rev. 2019) (conflict of interest: current clients), 

and 3-508.4(a) (rev. 2016) (misconduct).

On December 11, 2020, the respondent filed a conditional 

admission pursuant to Neb. Ct. R. § 3-313(B) of the disciplinary rules, in which he conditionally admitted that he violated 

his oath of office as an attorney and §§ 3-501.1 (competence), 

3-501.3 (diligence), 3-501.7(a)(2) (conflict of interest: current clients), and 3-508.4(a) (misconduct) of the professional 

conduct rules. In the conditional admission, the respondent 

admits that his conduct violated the identified rules of professional conduct. The respondent knowingly does not challenge 

or contest the truth of the matters conditionally asserted and 

waived all proceedings against him in exchange for a public reprimand.

The proposed conditional admission included a declaration by the Counsel for Discipline, stating that the respondent’s proposed discipline is appropriate under the facts of 

this case.
- 255 -

Nebraska Supreme Court Advance Sheets

308 Nebraska Reports

STATE EX REL. COUNSEL FOR DIS. v. PALAGI

Cite as 308 Neb. 253

ANALYSIS

Section 3-313, which is a component of our rules governing 

procedures regarding attorney discipline, provides in pertinent part:

(B) At any time after the Clerk has entered a Formal 

Charge against a Respondent on the docket of the Court, 

the Respondent may file with the Clerk a conditional 

admission of the Formal Charge in exchange for a stated 

form of consent judgment of discipline as to all or part of 

the Formal Charge pending against him or her as determined to be appropriate by the Counsel for Discipline 

or any member appointed to prosecute on behalf of the 

Counsel for Discipline; such conditional admission is 

subject to approval by the Court. The conditional admission shall include a written statement that the Respondent 

knowingly admits or knowingly does not challenge or 

contest the truth of the matter or matters conditionally admitted and waives all proceedings against him or 

her in connection therewith. If a tendered conditional 

admission is not finally approved as above provided, it 

may not be used as evidence against the Respondent in 

any way.

Pursuant to § 3-313, and given the conditional admission, 

we find that the respondent knowingly does not challenge or 

contest the matters conditionally admitted. We further determine that by his conduct, the respondent violated §§ 3-501.1 

(competence), 3-501.3 (diligence), 3-501.7(a)(2) (conflict 

of interest: current clients), and 3-508.4(a) (misconduct) of 

the professional rules and his oath of office as an attorney licensed to practice law in the State of Nebraska. The 

respondent has waived all additional proceedings against him 

in connection herewith. Upon due consideration, the court 

approves the conditional admission and enters the orders as 

indicated below.
- 256 -

Nebraska Supreme Court Advance Sheets

308 Nebraska Reports

STATE EX REL. COUNSEL FOR DIS. v. PALAGI

Cite as 308 Neb. 253

CONCLUSION

The respondent is publicly reprimanded. If the respondent 

applies to appear pro hac vice, he must disclose this discipline. 

The respondent is directed to pay costs and expenses in accordance with Neb. Ct. R. §§ 3-310(P) (rev. 2019) and 3-323 of the 

disciplinary rules within 60 days after an order imposing costs 

and expenses, if any, is entered by the court.

Judgment of public reprimand.

Papik, J., not participating.