Opinion ID: 4285827
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: facts

Text: ¶3 Knight's disbarment in Texas was based on his misconduct related to representation of clients in five separate matters. The Response of the Chief Disciplinary Counsel identified each of the five separate matters as follows: 1. Rachel Lowery : In March 2016, Lowery hired Knight for representation in a divorce matter. Lowery paid a $4,000.00 fee. Knight neglected Lowery's case and failed to adequately communicate with her. In June 2016, Knight's license to practice law in the State of Texas was suspended for one year. Knight failed to notify Lowery of the suspension and in fact, engaged in the practice of law while suspended. When Knight closed his practice, he failed to notify Lowery of the same. Knight also failed to respond to Lowery's grievance with the State Bar of Texas. Knight's actions were in violation of Rules 1.01(b)(1), 1.03(a), 8.04(a)(7), 8.04(a)(8), 8.04(a)(10) and 8.04(a)(11) of the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct (TDRPC). 2. Elmer Hayes : In January 2016, Hayes hired Knight for representation in a family law matter and paid Respondent a $1,000.00 fee. Knight neglected Hayes' case and failed to communicate with him. Knight also failed to notify Hayes of his June 2016 suspension and engaged in the practice of law while suspended. Knight also failed to notify Hayes that his office was closed. Knight failed to respond to Hayes' grievance with the State Bar of Texas. Knight's actions were in violation of Rules 1.01 (b)(1), 1.03(a), 8.04(a)(7), 8.04(a)(8), 8.04(a)(10) and 8.04(a)(11) of the TDRPC. 3. Jason and Ann Griffin : In February 2016, the Griffins hired Knight to represent them in an interstate child custody matter that they wanted transferred to Texas. The Griffins paid Knight $2,500.00 for this matter. Knight neglected their matter and failed to communicate with his clients. Knight failed to respond to the Griffins' request for a return of any unearned fees. Knight also failed to notify the Griffins of his June 2016 suspension and engaged in the practice of law while suspended. Knight also failed to notify the Griffins that his office was closed. Knight failed to respond to the Griffins' grievance with the State Bar of Texas. Knight's actions were in violation of Rules 1.01(b)(1), 1.03(a), 1.15(d), 8.04(a)(7), 8.04(a)(8), 8.04(a)(10) and 8.04(a)(11) of the TDRPC. 4. Ashley Langioni : In February 2016, Langioni hired Knight for representation in a family law matter and paid him a $1,600.00 fee. Knight neglected Langioni's case and failed to communicate with her. Knight failed to respond to Langioni's request to return any unearned portion of his fee to her. Knight also failed to notify Langioni of his June 2016 suspension and engaged in the practice of law while suspended. Knight also failed to notify Langioni that his office was closed. Knight failed to respond to Langioni's grievance with the State Bar of Texas. Knight's actions were in violation of Rules 1.01 (b)(1), 1.03(a), 1.15(d), 8.04(a)(7), 8.04(a)(8), 8.04(a)(10) and 8.04(a)(11) of the TDRPC. 5. Kelley Marie Johnson : In September 2015, Johnson hired Knight for representation in a family law matter. Johnson paid Knight a $1,200.00 fee. Knight neglected Johnson's case and failed to communicate with her. Knight failed to respond to Johnson's request that he return any unearned portion of the fee to her. Knight also failed to notify Johnson of his June 2016 suspension and engaged in the practice of law while suspended. Knight also failed to notify Johnson that his office was closed. Knight failed to respond to Johnson's grievance with the State Bar of Texas. Knight's actions were in violation of Rules 1.01(b)(1), 1.03(a), 1.15(d), 8.04(a)(7), 8.04(a)(8) and 8.04(a)(11) of the TDRPC. The Supreme Court of Texas held the professional misconduct detailed in the response was conclusively established for all purposes and Knight would have to pay restitution to each of these clients as an absolute condition precedent for reinstatement. ¶4 The pertinent Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct (TDRPC) Knight was held to have violated are as follows: 1. Rule 1.01 (b) (1): (b) In representing a client, a lawyer shall not: (1) neglect a legal matter entrusted to the lawyer; or 2. Rule 1.03 (a): (a) A lawyer shall keep a client reasonable informed about the status of a matter and promptly comply with reasonable requests for information. 3. Rule 1.15 (d): (d) Upon termination of representation, a lawyer shall take steps to the extent reasonably practicable to protect a client's interests, such as giving reasonable notice to the client, allowing time for employment of other counsel, surrendering papers and property to which the client is entitled and refunding any advance payments of fee that has not been earned. The lawyer may retain papers relating to the client to the extent permitted by other law only if such retention will not prejudice the client in the subject matter of the representation. 4. Rule 8.04: (a) A lawyer shall not: .... (7) violate any disciplinary or disability order or judgment; (8) fail to timely furnish to the Chief Disciplinary Counsel's office or a district grievance committee a response or other information as required by the Texas Rules of Disciplinary Procedure, unless he or she in good faith timely asserts a privilege or other legal ground for failure to do so; (10) fail to comply with section 13.01 of the Texas Rules of Disciplinary Procedure relating to notification of an attorney's cessation of practice; (11) engage in the practice of law when the lawyer is on inactive status or when the lawyer's right to practice has been suspended or terminated including but not limited to situations where a lawyer's right to practice has been administratively suspended for failure to timely pay required fees or assessments or for failure to comply with Article XII of the State Bar Rules relating to Mandatory Continuing Legal Education; or The OBA asserts these rules are substantially similar to the following Rules Governing Disciplinary Proceedings (RGDP), 5 O.S. 2011, Ch. 1, App. 1-A, (RGDP) and the Oklahoma Rules of Professional Conduct, (ORPC) 5 O.S. 2011, Ch. 1, App. 3-A in Oklahoma:
A lawyer shall act with reasonable diligence and promptness in representing a client.
(a) A lawyer shall: . . . . (3) keep the client reasonably informed about the status of the matter; (4) promptly comply with reasonable requests for information; and
(d) Upon receiving funds or other property in which a client or third person has an interest, a lawyer shall promptly notify the client or third person. Except as stated in this Rule or otherwise permitted by law or by agreement with the client, a lawyer shall promptly deliver to the client or third person any funds or other property that the client or third person is entitled to receive and, upon request by the client or third person, shall promptly render a full accounting regarding such property.
(d) Upon termination of representation, a lawyer shall take steps to the extent reasonably practicable to protect a client's interests, such as giving reasonable notice to the client, allowing time for employment of other counsel, surrendering papers and property to which the client is entitled and refunding any advance payment of fee or expenses that has not been earned or incurred. The lawyer may retain papers relating to the client to the extent permitted by other law.
A lawyer shall make reasonable efforts to expedite litigation consistent with the interests of the client.
(a) A lawyer shall not practice law in a jurisdiction in violation of the regulation of the legal profession in that jurisdiction, or assist another in doing so.
After making such preliminary investigation as the General Counsel may deem appropriate, the General Counsel shall either (1) notify the person filing the grievance and the lawyer that the allegations of the grievance are inadequate, incomplete' or insufficient to warrant the further attention of the Commission, provided that such action shall be reported to the Commission at its next meeting, or (2) file and serve a copy of the grievance (or, in the case of an investigation instituted on the part of the General Counsel or the Commission without the filing of a signed grievance, a recital of the relevant facts or allegations) upon the lawyer, who shall thereafter make a written response which contains a full and fair disclosure of all the facts and circumstances pertaining to the respondent lawyer's alleged misconduct unless the respondent's refusal to do so is predicated upon expressed constitutional grounds. Deliberate misrepresentation in such response shall itself be grounds for discipline. The failure of a lawyer to answer within twenty (20) days after service of the grievance (or recital of facts or allegations), or such further time as may be granted by the General Counsel, shall be grounds for discipline. The General Counsel shall make such further investigation of the grievance and response as the General Counsel may deem appropriate before taking any action. 2 In addition, Rule 9.1, RGDP is similar to the Texas Rules of Disciplinary Procedure Rule 13.01 3 mentioned in Rule 8.04 (a) (10), TDRPC that Knight was found to have violated. Rule 9.1, RGDP provides: When the action of the Supreme Court becomes final, a lawyer who is disbarred or suspended, or who has resigned membership pending disciplinary proceedings, must notify all of the lawyer's clients having legal business then pending within twenty (20) days, by certified mail, of the lawyer's inability to represent them and the necessity for promptly retaining new counsel. If such lawyer is a member of, or associated with, a law firm or professional corporation, such notice shall be given to all clients of the firm or professional corporation, which have legal business then pending with respect to which the disbarred, suspended or resigned lawyer had substantial responsibility. The lawyer shall also file a formal withdrawal as counsel in all cases pending in any tribunal. The lawyer must file, within twenty (20) days, an affidavit with the Commission and with the Clerk of the Supreme Court stating that the lawyer has complied with the provisions of this Rule, together with a list of the clients so notified and a list of all other State and Federal courts and administrative agencies before which the lawyer is admitted to practice. Proof of substantial compliance by the lawyer with this Rule 9.1 shall be a condition precedent to any petition for reinstatement.
¶5 Knight has a lengthy history of prior disciplinary actions in Oklahoma. In 2009, Knight received a partially probated suspension for one year by the State Bar of Texas. The suspension was based on allegations of improper communications and neglect of a legal matter in violation of Rules 1.01 (b) (1), 1.03 (a) and 4.02 (a) of the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct. Knight failed to inform the Oklahoma Bar Association of the suspension as required by Rule 7.7 (a), RGDP. The Complainant informed the Professional Responsibility Commission after receiving notice of the suspension from the State Bar of Texas. The Commission thereafter privately reprimanded Knight. On July 16, 2014, this Court suspended Knight's license to practice law for one year in a Rule 7, RGDP reciprocal disciplinary action; State ex rel. Oklahoma Bar Association v. David William Knight , 2014 OK 71, 330 P.3d 1216. One year later, Knight was again suspended for failure to pay his 2015 OBA membership dues; SCBD 6272, 2015 OK 46. On September 29, 2015, this Court suspended Knight for two years and one day in a Rule 6, RGDP, attorney discipline action; State Bar Association v. David William Knight , 2015 OK 59, 359 P.3d 1122. On June 27, 2016, Knight's name was stricken from the roll of attorneys for his failure to pay his 2015 OBA membership dues. SCBD 6272, 2016 OK 76. On June 7, 2016, Complainant initiated a Rule 7, RGDP action against Knight for discipline imposed in the State of Texas. On September 12, 2016, this Court noted Knight's name had been stricken from the Roll of Attorneys for nonpayment of dues and dismissed the Rule 7 matter without prejudice; State ex rel. Oklahoma Bar Association v. David William Knight, SCBD 6403. 4