Title: KENTUCKY BAR ASSOCIATION V. DAVID O . WELCH
Citation: N/A
Docket Number: 2004-SC-000166-KB
State: Kentucky
Issuer: Kentucky Supreme Court
Date: May 20, 2004

,Sixyrrmr Courf of V . IN SUPREME COURT OPINION AND ORDER TO BE PUBLISHED _~AMENDED :_ulAY f2R, 2q4 of6 2004-SC-0166-KB DQ s KENTUCKY BAR ASSOCIATION COMPLAINANT DAVID O . WELCH RESPONDENT Complainant, the Kentucky Bar Association (KBA), asks this Court to issue a public reprimand against Respondent, David O . Welch, of Ashland, Kentucky, for violating SCR 3.130-1 .3 . Welch has not filed a notice for review . After careful review of the record, we grant the KBA's motion and issue the reprimand . Charge On January 11, 1991, Larry Conley contacted Welch about representing his mother, Martha Conley, who had been injured when she slipped and fell at a Hill's Department Store in Russell, Kentucky . After meeting with Mrs . Conley and her husband, Welch agreed to the representation . After preparing a complaint in the case, Welch learned that Hill's had filed for bankruptcy protection . He was thus stayed from pursing the claim in court . On February 4, 1991, Welch, however, did file a copy of the complaint in the bankruptcy court in connection with filing a proof of claim against Hill's . Hill's plan of reorganization was confirmed on September 10, 1993, and the automatic stay was lifted on October 4, 1993 . Welch was notified by letter on November 8, 1993, that the stay had been lifted and that he could now pursue the Conleys' claim against Hill's . The last contact Welch had with the Hill's attorney assigned to the case was sometime in 1996 . At some time during 1998, the Conleys contacted the KBA's Client Assistance Program . About a year later, Welch met with the Conleys and discussed settling the case for around $38,000.00 . The Conleys rejected the settlement proposal . Apparently no more was done on the case and Mrs . Conley filed a bar complaint with the KBA . The case was referred to the Client Assistance Program . As a result, a meeting was scheduled between Welch and the Conleys, but the meeting was never held due to Respondent's wife's medical condition . Welch answered Mrs. Conley's bar complaint on July 27, 2000 . The Inquiry Commission filed a one-count charge against Welch on December 4, 2001, which Welch answered on January 2, 2002 . Welch's defense to the charge was that he did not file a complaint in circuit court for the Conleys because his clients never authorized this action . But the defense was not relevant to the Board of Governors' finding that Welch failed to advise the Conleys about the running of the statute of limitations on their claim . On that basis, the Board found that Welch failed to proceed with reasonable diligence and promptness in representing the Conleys in violation of SCR 3.130-1 .3 . The above facts support the Board's finding that Welch violated SCR 3 .130-1 .3 . Therefore, we order that : 1 . Respondent, David O . Welch, be and hereby is publicly reprimanded for his violation of SCR 3.130-1 .3 ; and 4 2. Welch, in accordance with SCR 3 .450, is directed to pay all costs associated with these disciplinary proceedings against him, said sum being $752.34, and for which execution may issue from this Court upon finality of this Opinion and Order . All concur . Entered : April 22, 2004 . 'Suprtmt Caurf of ~irufurhv 2004-SC-0166-KB KENTUCKY BAR ASSOCIATION COMPLAINANT V . IN SUPREME COURT DAVID O . WELCH RESPONDENT ORDER The Opinion and Order in the above styled case entered April 22, 2004, is hereby amended to correct typographical errors on pages 2 and 3. This amendment does not change the holding of the Opinion and Order. ENTERED : May ,& , 2004 .