Opinion ID: 2542071
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 9

Heading: Trial Commissioner's Report and Recommendation

Text: All of the charges against Ellis were consolidated on February 9, 2010. The parties began to prepare for a hearing before a trial commissioner but prior to the hearing Ellis and the KBA agreed to enter a joint stipulation of facts and Ellis admitted he violated the Rules as charged. The only issue left to the trial commissioner was determining the appropriate sanction. The trial commissioner thoughtfully considered the joint stipulation, the pertinent legal authority, and the aggravating and mitigating factors in reaching his recommendation that Ellis be suspended for thirty-seven months, which should run concurrently with his prior ninety-day suspension, and that he be required to return his clients' files and pay the costs of this proceeding. When the proposed sanction is viewed in conjunction with Ellis's previous suspensions, Ellis will have been suspended from January 2008 to May 2015, approximately seven years and four months. Thus, should Ellis seek reinstatement at the conclusion of his suspensions, he will have to comply with the requirements of SCR 3.500, 3.505, 3.510 and 3.675, which includes applying for reinstatement, being reviewed and recommended by both the Character and Fitness Committee and the Board of Governors, passing the reinstatement exam, fulfilling all CLE requirements, and being approved by this Court. The trial commissioner's recommended sanction is consistent with discipline this Court has imposed in similar cases. Kentucky Bar Association v. Burlew, 281 S.W.3d 768 (Ky.2009) (attorney with a history of four private admonitions, suspension for failure to pay dues and CLE noncompliance and an 181-day suspension for misconduct was suspended for three years for numerous rule violations in three disciplinary files); Kentucky Bar Association v. Hammond, 241 S.W.3d 310 (Ky.2007) (attorney with three prior private admonitions suspended for five years for misconduct in seven files, including charges of misappropriating client funds); Kentucky Bar Association v. Wade, 172 S.W.3d 399 (Ky.2005) (attorney with prior two-year suspension received concurrent five-year suspension for misconduct in seven files); Kentucky Bar Association v. Devers, 936 S.W.2d 89 (Ky.1996) (three-year suspension for sixteen counts of misconduct in eight files). The trial commissioner thoroughly considered the facts of the case, including the aggravating and mitigating factors, and his recommendation is supported by law. Accordingly, the Court adopts the trial commissioner's recommendation and hereby ORDERS: 1. Darren Burton Ellis, KBA Member Number 86419, is suspended from the practice of law in this Commonwealth for thirty-seven (37) months, effective on the tenth day following entry of this Order, pursuant to SCR 3.390(a). This suspension shall run concurrently with the ninety-day suspension entered by this Court against Ellis on January 21, 2010; 2. Pursuant to SCR 3.390, Ellis shall promptly take all reasonable steps to protect the interests of his clients, including, within ten days after the issuance of this order, notifying by letter all clients of his inability to represent them and of the necessity and urgency of promptly retaining new counsel and notifying all courts or other tribunals in which he has matters pending. Ellis shall simultaneously provide a copy of all such letters of notification to the Office of Bar Counsel; 3. Pursuant to SCR 3.390, Ellis shall immediately cancel any pending advertisements, shall terminate any advertising activity for the duration of the term of suspension, and shall not allow his name to be used by a law firm in any manner until he is reinstated; 4. Pursuant to 3.390, Ellis shall not, during the term of suspension, accept new clients or collect unearned fees; 5. Pursuant to SCR 3.450, Ellis is directed to pay all costs associated with these disciplinary proceedings, in the amount of $2,101.70, for which execution may issue from this Court upon finality of this Opinion and Order; and 6. Ellis shall promptly return to his clients or former clients any requested files or materials he has in his possession. All sitting. All concur. ENTERED: May 24, 2012. /s/ John D. Minton, Jr. CHIEF JUSTICE