Case Name: In the Matter of Kevin Peter Shepherd, Respondent
Court: Kansas Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Kansas
Decision Date: 2012-02-29
Citations: 293 Kan. 927
Docket Number: No. 102,925
Parties: In the Matter of Kevin Peter Shepherd, Respondent.
Judges: 
Reporter: Kansas Reports
Volume: 293
Pages: 927–928

Head Matter:
No. 102,925
In the Matter of Kevin Peter Shepherd, Respondent.
(271 P.3d 731)

Opinion:
In an order dated May 2, 2011, this court granted the respondent's motion to suspend the imposition of the remaining 2 years of his 3-year suspension from the practice of law and ordered reinstatement of the respondent's license to practice law in Kansas. However, the respondent's reinstatement was subject to several terms and conditions of supervised probation induing the following condition, which was proposed by the respondent:
"Professional Liability Insurance. The respondent shall continue to maintain professional liability insurance."
On December 8, 2010, respondent filed a motion to modify the terms of his probation, specifically requesting that this court "lift the requirement that he carry professional liability insurance." In support of the motion, respondent attached an affidavit asserting that despite his good faith efforts to obtain professional liability insurance, he had been unable to do so and had resumed the practice of law without insurance in May 2011. Respondent further represented that he remains in compliance with all of the other conditions of his probation and that he continues practicing law under the supervision of his practice supervisor.
The Disciplinary Administrator responded to the motion, taking no position regarding the respondent's requested modification. Instead, the Disciplinary Administrator indicated he would "be prepared to continue monitoring the Respondent's compliance with the conditions as imposed by the Court."
In light of the stated neutrality of the office of the Disciplinary Administrator regarding disposition of the respondent's motion as well as that office's willingness to continue monitoring the respondent's probation, a majority of the members of this court grant the respondent's motion to modify the terms of his probation to re move the requirement that he carry professional liability insurance. However, a minority of the court would find that the respondent has been engaged in the unauthorized practice of law since May 2011 based upon his failure to first obtain relief from the requirement in the probation order that he maintain professional liability insurance prior to resuming the practice of law.
Effective this 29th day of February, 2012.
It Is Therefore Ordered that this order shall be published in the official Kansas reports.