Opinion ID: 2542040
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: analysis

Text: Movant admits that his conduct as described in KBA File 17793 violated SCR 3.130-3.4(c) and SCR 3.130-8.1(b). Therefore, Movant requests that he receive a public reprimand and be required to attend the next Ethics and Professionalism Enhancement Program. The KBA does not object to Movant's proposed discipline. SCR 3.480(2) (the KBA may object[ ] to the terms proposed....). In support of the negotiated sanction, the KBA cites several cases which disciplined an attorney with a public reprimand for similar misconduct. Kentucky Bar Association v. Quesinberry, 203 S.W.3d 137 (Ky.2006), (attorney given a public reprimand and a probated thirty day suspension for failing to respond to a motion to dismiss from the Court of Appeals and for being found in contempt of court); Moloney v. Kentucky Bar Association, 152 S.W.3d 866 (Ky.2005) (attorney disciplined by a public reprimand for failing to respond to three show cause orders and misleading his client that his appeal was active). After reviewing the authorities cited by the KBA and the record, we conclude that the discipline proposed by Movant is adequate. While we strongly disapprove and condemn any attorney's failure to respond to a court order, we note that during the time period Movant committed the misconduct, he was dealing with several family matters including his wife undergoing bypass heart surgery and his father's death. Because of these mitigating factors, we grant Movant's motion. ACCORDINGLY, IT IS ORDERED THAT: 1) Movant, Clyde F. Johnson, KBA Member Number 84172, is found guilty of violating SCR 3.130-3.4(c) and SCR 3.130-8.1(b) and is publicly reprimanded for the above-described and admitted violations; 2) Movant, must at his expense, attend the next scheduled Ethics and Professionalism Enhancement Program offered by the Office of Bar Counsel, separate and apart from his fulfillment of any other continuing education requirement, within one year after entry of the Court order approving this motion. Movant will provide documentation to the Office of Bar Counsel that he did attend the program. Movant will additionally not apply for CLE credit of any kind for attending the ethics program and will provide a waiver to allow the Office of Bar Counsel to review his CLE records to ensure he did not claim any credit; 3) In accordance with SCR 3.450, Respondent must pay all costs associated with these disciplinary proceedings against him, the sum being $39.82, for which execution may issue from this Court upon finality of this Opinion and Order. All sitting. All concur. ENTERED: April 26, 2012. /s/ John D. Minton, Jr. Chief Justice