Case Name: In re Complaint as to the Conduct of KENNETH E. BROWN, Petitioner
Court: Oregon Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Oregon
Decision Date: 1968-05-01
Citations: 250 Or. 37
Docket Number: 
Parties: In re Complaint as to the Conduct of KENNETH E. BROWN, Petitioner.
Judges: Before Perry, Chief Justice, and McAllister, Sloan, O’Connell, Goodwin, Denecke and Holman, Justices.
Reporter: Oregon Reports
Volume: 250
Pages: 37–38

Head Matter:
Argued March 5,
attorney suspended for two years May 1, 1968
In re Complaint as to the Conduct of KENNETH E. BROWN, Petitioner.
440 P. 2d 370
Asa L. Lewellmg, Salem, argued the canse and filed a brief for petitioner.
William 0. Paulas, Salem, argued the cause for the Oregon State Bar. With him on the brief was Richard D. Barber, Salem.
Before Perry, Chief Justice, and McAllister, Sloan, O’Connell, Goodwin, Denecke and Holman, Justices.

Opinion:
PER CURIAM.
This is a disciplinary proceeding in which the Board of Governors of the Oregon State Bar has recommended that the license of the accused to practice law he suspended for a period of two years and thereafter until the accused shall apply for reinstate- meat as provided by Bale- 8.55 of the Buies for the Admission of Attorneys.
The accused was found guilty of repeatedly overdrawing a bank account which he had designated as a "clients trust account." The bar presented no evidence that any client suffered a loss of money. The record reveals, however, a pattern of incredibly careless bookkeeping. The overdrafts against the "client" account were numerous, and they were substantial. In addition to overdrafts that were paid, there were numerous checks returned unpaid. The conduct of which the accused was found- guilty was a discredit to the' accused as a member of the profession and was the type of conduct which could have resulted in serious financial loss to clients. The accused is fortunate that no such losses were proven. Had such losses been established, the accused would have been a candidate for permanent disbarment. In re Puckett, 248 Or 127, 432 P2d 511 (1967).
The record fully supports the recommendation of the Board of Governors.
Kenneth E. Brown is suspended as a member of the bar of this state for a period of two years.