Opinion ID: 2637589
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Arrangement with William White d/b/a White Professional Associates

Text: ¶ 4 On June 30, 1997, the United States Bankruptcy Trustee filed an adversary proceeding against William White, a non-lawyer and proprietor of White Professional Associates, (hereinafter WPA), in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Arizona, Adversary No. 97-420. WPA prepared documents to be filed in bankruptcy court. Respondent represented White therein. ¶ 5 In February 1998, the Respondent filed pleadings in the Superior Court of Arizona, Maricopa County in Bonney v. Bedore, et al., CV-98-01771. Again Respondent identified himself as Attorney for the Plaintiff, but failed to indicate he was not licensed to practice law in Arizona. The pleadings indicated Respondent's State Bar Number was 006472, but did not state that this was his Oklahoma Bar Number. Respondent's stationary displayed an Arizona address and Attorney at Law but did not specify he was licensed to practice law in Oklahoma, not in Arizona. ¶ 6 On March 6, 1998, the bankruptcy court entered an order that permanently enjoined Respondent's client, White, from preparing bankruptcy petitions and other documents. This order also enjoined White from receiving, collecting or charging fees for such document preparation and from consulting or giving advice as to bankruptcy laws, forms or procedure. This order provided no avenue for White to prepare documents or collect fees if he worked under the supervision of an attorney. ¶ 7 However, following the issuance of the above-mentioned order, Respondent entered into an arrangement with White pursuant to which White prepared documents for Respondent to file in bankruptcy court, and Respondent compensated White at the rate of fifty dollars per hour, in violation of the March 6, 1998, order. Respondent had not represented debtors in the Arizona bankruptcy court, but began to do so with White's referrals to him. Debtors received solicitation letters from WPA, met with White, received advice and referrals to Respondent. Of the 106 bankruptcy cases filed by Respondent, 102 were referred to him by White. ¶ 8 When the U.S. Trustee became aware of Respondent's conduct, the Trustee initiated adversarial proceedings that resulted in the bankruptcy court's Order of April 26, 2000. Pursuant to this order, Respondent was directed to transfer his files to another attorney or withdraw from his representation of debtors, notify his clients and provide them a copy of the order. Although the bankruptcy court found cause to issue a temporary restraining order against Respondent, it declined to do so because Respondent assured the court he no longer accepted bankruptcy clients. During the hearing before the trial tribunal, the Petitioner presented four witnesses who were Respondent's clients in the Arizona bankruptcy court, to-wit: Roger Wood, Michelle Altherr, Joy Griggs, and Richard and Sybilla Augustine.