Opinion ID: 2716724
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: past misconduct and discipline

Text: ¶7 On June 12, 2014, this Court ordered the OBA to inquire into and file a report, with relevant documents attached, on past disciplinary action taken against Knight in any jurisdiction and whether Knight had reported the disciplinary action to the OBA. The order allowed Knight to respond by June 30, 2014. The OBA filed its report on June 19, 2014. Knight failed to respond. ¶8 The OBA reported that 1) on December 15, 2009, the State Bar of Texas issued a Judgment of Partially Probated Suspension (the 2009 Texas Judgment) against Knight based on neglect and failing to communicate with his client; 2) Knight did not appeal the 2009 Texas Judgment, and it became a final order of discipline; 3) Knight failed to report the disciplinary action to the OBA pursuant to Rule 7.7(a) of the RGDP; 4) the OBA received notice of the disciplinary action from the State Bar of Texas, conducted a formal investigation, and presented the matter to the Professional Responsibility Commission (PRC); and 5) the PRC issued a private reprimand to Knight based on the Texas suspension and his failure to report. ¶9 Knight's private reprimand was based on the 2009 Texas Judgment in which the State Bar of Texas found that 1) Knight neglected a legal matter that was entrusted to him, 2) Knight failed to keep [his client] reasonably informed about the status of the legal matter and failed to comply with her reasonable requests for information regarding the matter, 3) Knight communicated about the subject of the representation with an organization [Knight] knew to be represented by another lawyer regarding that subject without the consent of the other lawyer or legal authorization to do so, and 4) Knight owed $7,302.00 in restitution to the Estate of Ruth M. Wilson. The State Bar of Texas ordered that Knight be placed on a one-year partially probated suspension from the practice of law, from January 15, 2010 to January 14, 2011. The first three months of the sentence consisted of an active suspension. The remaining nine months consisted of a probated suspension subject to similar terms as in the 2013 Texas Judgment, with the addition of 12 hours of Ethics CLE and 100 hours of community service. ¶10 The State Bar of Texas concluded in the 2009 Texas Judgment that Knight had violated Rules 1.01(b)(1), 1.03(a), and 4.02(a) 9 of the TDRPC. On July 22, 2011, the PRC found that Knight had violated Rules 1.1 (competence), 1.3 (diligence), and 1.4 (communication) of the ORPC and Rule 7.7 of the RGDP.