Opinion ID: 3175989
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Count II - Failure to Timely Respond to the Office of the General Counsel

Text: ¶9 Complainant asserts Respondent violated Rule 8.1(b), 7 ORPC, 5 O.S. 2011, Ch. 1, App. 3-A, and Rules 1.3 8 and 5.2, 9 RGDP, 5 O.S. 2011, Ch. 1, App. 1-A, by failing to timely respond to the OBA Office of the General Counsel. On April 16, 2015, the OBA received a written grievance from Posey detailing Respondent's neglect in the personal injury case. Ex. 7. In a letter dated April 27, 2015, and mailed to Respondent's official roster address via regular mail, Complainant notified Respondent it was opening Posey's grievance for formal investigation and he was required to respond within twenty (20) days pursuant to Rule 5.2, RGDP, 5 O.S., Ch. 1, App. 1-A. Ex. 8. ¶10 While Respondent admits in his Answer that he did not respond to this letter within twenty (20) days as required by the rule, he testified at the hearing before the PRT that this was because he never saw the letter, stating: I did not see the letter. I could not find the letter in - - in the office. I could not find it. It wasn't in the file. Tr. 103. Respondent's Answer reflects this, as receipt of this letter is one of the few things he does not admit to. During the hearing before the PRT, Complainant's attorney testified that the April 27, 2015, letter to Respondent was sent regular mail, with no return receipt requested. Tr. 125. She testified it was the bar's position that he received this letter and failed to respond, his claims to the contrary notwithstanding. Tr. 125-126. ¶11 Having not received a response from Respondent, on May 21, 2015, Complainant sent a second letter via certified mail to Respondent's roster address. Ex. 9. This letter requested a written response from Respondent within five (5) days. On May 26, 2015, Complainant received the return receipt from the United States Postal Service indicating that the May 21, 2015, letter sent via certified mail was received and signed for at Respondent's official roster address by Sherry Rodman on or about May 22, 2015. ¶12 Respondent did respond to this second mailing from Complainant. In a letter dated May 27, 2015, and received by Complainant on June 1, 2015, Respondent admitted to filing Posey's lawsuit outside of the statute of limitations. By way of explanation, Respondent stated: [i]n preparing this response I realized that my note on the statute of limitations was incorrect. I had noted that May 1 was the last date that the case could be filed rather than April 30th and had docketed it that way. Since 2012, with the assistance of Mr. Callaway, I have changed procedures and checklist to insure issues like this do not occur in the future. Letter from Respondent, May 27, 2015, Ex. 11. ¶13 This Court is troubled by Complainant's mechanical application of the rules in this instance. While Respondent stipulated to Complainant's allegations of rule violations stemming from his failure to respond, he also claims he did not receive the original letter upon which Complainant's failure to respond allegations are based. Because this original letter was not sent via certified mail, there is no evidence in the record that Respondent did in fact receive and then ignore the April 27, 2015, letter. It is Complainant's position that this letter was received by Respondent, though there is no confirmation in the record before this Court. Respondent responded quickly to the second communication from the OBA, sent via certified mail, which the record indicates he did receive. ¶14 This Court has previously stated that the provisions of Rule 5.2, RGDP, 5. O.S. 2011, Ch. 1, App. 1-A, are mandatory. Taylor , 2000 OK 35, n. 35; State ex rel. Okla. Bar Ass'n v. Perry , 1997 OK 29, ¶33, 936 P.2d 897. However, in applying Rule 5.2 this Court stated: [a] knowing failure to respond fully and timely to the Bar's demand for information in a disciplinary proceeding is itself grounds for discipline. Taylor , 2000 OK 35, ¶24. Similarly, Rule 8.1, ORPC, 5 O.S. 2011, Ch. 1, App. 3-A, requires an attorney not knowingly fail to respond to a lawful demand for information from an admissions or disciplinary authority. ¶15 Complainant's assertion is that given Respondent's office organizational troubles, its original notice, sent regular mail, should be considered received by Respondent even though there is no evidence in the record that it was, and Respondent denies ever having seen the letter. Tr. 125. We disagree. Consistently in prior cases this Court has imposed discipline for failure to respond to a grievance under circumstances involving numerous notification attempts where attorneys were given ample opportunity to respond. 10 ¶16 Rule 5.2, RGDP, 5 O.S.2011, Ch. 1, App. 1-A, does not specify the method by which a respondent attorney must be served with a copy of the grievance. However, if, as here, the OBA wishes this Court to impose discipline when an attorney fails to respond to its first attempt at communication the evidence must be clear and convincing. Such evidence is lacking in this matter. Rather the evidence is clear Mr. Boone fully cooperated as soon as there was clear and convincing evidence he received actual notice. Perhaps the OBA should begin utilizing certified mail for its initial communication under Rule 5.2. ¶17 Respondent stipulated to the rules violations alleged by Complainant as part of Count II. However, Respondent's stipulations do not absolve Complainant of its duty to demonstrate alleged misconduct by clear and convincing evidence. Conrady , 2012 OK 29, ¶6; Kinsey , 2009 OK 31, ¶12; Taylor , 2003 OK 56, ¶2. The record before this Court does not contain clear and convincing evidence that Respondent committed the alleged violations of Rule 8.1(b), ORPC, 5 O.S. 2011, Ch. 1, App. 3-A, and Rules 1.3 and 5.2, RGDP, 5 O.S. 2011, Ch. 1, App. 1-A, constituting Count II of the Complaint.