Title: State v. Palagi
Citation: 269 Neb. 376, 269 Neb. 398, 693 N.W.2d 514
Docket Number: 1182, 1183, 1184, 618
State: Nebraska
Issuer: Nebraska Supreme Court
Date: February 25, 2005

269 Neb. 398 (2005) STATE OF NEBRASKA EX REL. COUNSEL FOR DISCIPLINE OF THE NEBRASKA SUPREME COURT, RELATOR, v. RONALD J. PALAGI, RESPONDENT. No. S-04-1182. Supreme Court of Nebraska. Filed February 25, 2005. WRIGHT, CONNOLLY, GERRARD, STEPHAN, McCORMACK, and MILLER-LERMAN, JJ. PER CURIAM. Respondent, Ronald J. Palagi, was admitted to the practice of law in the State of Nebraska on January 28, 1975, and at all times relevant hereto was engaged in the private practice of law in Omaha, Nebraska. On October 21, 2004, formal charges were filed against respondent. The formal charges set forth three counts that collectively included charges that the respondent violated the following provisions of the Code of Professional Responsibility: Canon 1, DR 1-102(A)(1) (violating disciplinary rule); Canon 2, DR 2-106(A) (charging excessive fee); Canon 5, DR 5-103(B) (improperly advancing or guaranteeing financial assistance to client); and Canon 9, DR 9-102(B)(4) (failing to return property of client), as well as his oath of office as an attorney, Neb. Rev. Stat. § 7-104 (Reissue 1997). On January 20, 2005, respondent filed a conditional admission under Neb. Ct. R. of Discipline 13 (rev. 2002), in which he knowingly admitted the truth of the allegations that he violated DR 1-102(A)(1), DR 2-106(A), DR 5-103(B), and DR 9-102(B)(4), as well as his oath of office as an attorney, and waived all proceedings against him in connection therewith in exchange for a stated form of consent judgment of a public reprimand. Upon due consideration, the court approves the conditional admission and orders that respondent be publicly reprimanded. In summary, the formal charges allege that respondent undertook the representation of Larry and Nancy Humphrey in a wrongful death case and that during the course of that representation, respondent charged the Humphreys separately for a "cost" that should have been treated and included in the agreed fee and, thus excessively charged the Humphreys. More specifically, the conditional admission states that The formal charges further allege that respondent failed to deliver to Herbert Tibbs and Robert Brodax, former clients of respondent, their client files after Tibbs and Brodax had each requested the same. Finally, the formal charges allege that respondent advanced certain living expenses to Brodax. Rule 13 provides in pertinent part: Pursuant to rule 13, we find that respondent knowingly admits the essential relevant facts outlined in the formal charges and knowingly admits that he violated DR 1-102(A)(1), DR 2-106(A), DR 5-103(B), and DR 9-102(B)(4), as well as his oath of office as an attorney. We further find that respondent waives all proceedings against him in connection herewith. Upon due consideration, the court approves the conditional admission and enters the orders as indicated below. Based on the conditional admission of respondent, the recommendation of the Counsel for Discipline, and our independent review of the record, we find by clear and convincing evidence that respondent has violated DR 1-102(A)(1), DR 2-106(A), DR 5-103(B), and DR 9-102(B)(4), as well as his oath of office as an attorney, and that respondent should be and hereby is publicly reprimanded. Respondent is directed to pay costs and expenses in accordance with Neb. Rev. Stat. §§ 7-114 and 7-115 (Reissue 1997) and Neb. Ct. R. of Discipline 10(P) (rev. 2003) and 23(B) (rev. 2001) within 60 days after an order imposing costs and expenses, if any, is entered by the court. JUDGMENT OF PUBLIC REPRIMAND. Hendry, C.J., not participating.