Opinion ID: 3175989
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: analysis and discipline to be imposed

Text: ¶18 In disciplinary proceedings, the responsibility of this Court is not to punish, but instead to inquire into and gauge a lawyer's continued fitness to practice law, with a view to safeguarding the interest of the public, of the courts, and of the legal profession. State ex rel. Okla. Bar Ass'n v. Friesen , 2015 OK 34, ¶18, 350 P.3d 1269; State ex rel. Okla. Bar Ass'n v. Layton , 2014 OK 21, ¶34, 324 P.3d 1244. Discipline should always be administered fairly (i.e. evenhandedly), but this Court recognizes that the extent of discipline must be decided on a case-by-case basis because each situation will usually involve different transgressions and different mitigating circumstances. State ex rel. Okla. Bar Ass'n v. Wintory , 2015 OK 25, ¶15, 350 P.3d 131; State ex rel. Okla. Bar Ass'n v. Wilcox , 2014 OK 1, ¶54, 318 P.3d 1114; State ex rel. Okla. Bar Ass'n v. Doris , 1999 OK 94, ¶38, 991 P.2d 1015. ¶19 To arrive at appropriate discipline, one fit factor to consider is the deterrent effect upon both the offending respondent and other attorneys who might contemplate similar conduct in the future. Doris , 1999 OK 94, ¶37; State ex rel. Okla. Bar Ass'n v. McMillian , 1989 OK 16, ¶24, 770 P.2d 892; State ex rel. Okla. Bar Ass'n v. Hall , 1977 OK 117, ¶12, 567 P.2d 975. Other factors properly considered include comparing the circumstances in the matter at hand with previous disciplinary matters, and examining an attorney's past record of professional behavior. Taylor , 2003 OK 56, ¶22; Doris,1999 OK 94, ¶38; State ex rel. Okla. Bar Ass'n v. Meek,1994 OK 118, ¶14, 895 P.2d 692. Mitigating circumstances may also be considered in gauging the proper measure of discipline. Taylor , 2003 OK 56, ¶22; State ex rel. Okla. Bar Ass'n v. Thomas , 1995 OK 145, ¶17, 911 P.2d 907.
¶20 Respondent has come to display a disturbing pattern of failing to communicate with clients and neglecting their cases. Respondent has already received two prior private reprimands for similar problems to those arising in this matter. On July 22, 2010, Respondent was issued a Private Reprimand by the Professional Responsibility Commission (PRC) in OBAD #1825 for neglecting a client's lawsuit which resulted in the case being dismissed for failure to prosecute. Ex. 14. ¶21 Respondent received a second private reprimand from the PRC on May 24, 2013, in OBAD #1957, for failure to properly communicate with a client throughout her divorce proceedings and also failing to respond to the Office of the General Counsel. Ex. 15. Respondent's private reprimand in that matter was issued after he successfully completed the Attorney Diversion Program wherein he participated in educational courses designed to address client neglect and communication issues and improve law office management skills. Complainant raised both these prior disciplinary matters and their surrounding circumstances in its Complaint, and Respondent admitted to the same.
¶22 Respondent called witnesses to testify at his hearing before the PRT in the interest of mitigation. The Honorable Charles Gray, Associate District Judge in McClain County, testified he has known Respondent since the 1990s. Tr. 6. Respondent has appeared before Judge Gray on multiple occasions, and Judge Gray testified that he has always been prepared and impeccable. Tr. 7. Judge Gray testified that he does not know the details of the complaint, but cannot conceive of Respondent attempting to sabotage a client. Tr. 9 & 13. While Judge Gray testified that Respondent has never failed to appear or been unprepared in front of him, he did testify that he is not familiar with the manner in which Respondent operates his office. Tr. 14. ¶23 Respondent also called Tim Kuykendall (Kuykendall) as a witness at his PRT hearing. He served as District Attorney for Cleveland County and Respondent worked for him as an Assistant District Attorney from 1995 to 2006. He testified that he believes Respondent is a competent attorney and never had any complaints or problems with Respondent while he was Respondent's employer. Tr. 65. However, Kuykendall did testify that he believes Respondent has two significant weaknesses he needs to address: docketing and failure to retain competent support staff. Tr. 67-68. Kuykendall is now in private practice and has office space nearby to Respondent, and testified that he has observed clients come to Respondent's office to meet with him when he is not there, for appointments he does not know are set. Tr. 69-70. ¶24 The parties stipulated to the testimony of the OBA's investigator, Tanner Condley, who was not present at the hearing. The parties agreed he would testify that Respondent was fully cooperative with the investigation, was remorseful, and accepted responsibility for his client neglect. Tr. 138-39. Respondent himself testified to his remorse, offered to make restitution to Posey, and asserted that during the time the violations occurred his wife was recovering from a car accident and he spent much of his time caring for her. Tr. 112-13.
¶25 Complainant originally recommended that Respondent receive a thirty-day suspension and a six-month probationary period, during which Respondent might be subject to further suspension if he failed to meet expectations. In its Report, the PRT noted it was convinced Respondent was remorseful, had acknowledged his mistakes, and taken steps to remedy problems with the management of his office. However, the PRT also noted it would like to see Respondent's commitment implemented successfully and recommended a suspension of thirty days followed by a probationary period of eleven months. The PRT recommended Respondent should be assigned a supervising attorney during his probation, with whom he should be required to meet on a regular basis and not less than once a month. Finally, the PRT recommended Respondent make the following payments: 1) $8,856 to resolve Posey's medical bills; 2) an additional $5,000 for Posey's pain and suffering; and 3) the costs of the disciplinary action. ¶26 The PRT's findings regarding the Posey grievance (Count I) are supported independently by clear and convincing evidence, in addition to Respondent's admissions. However, while this Court agrees that discipline is warranted, it cannot accept the disciplinary recommendation of the PRT. Prior decisions of this Court indicate a varying range of discipline possibilities for conduct like Respondent's, almost all of which involve a longer suspension than that recommended by the PRT. ¶27 In State ex rel. Okla. Bar Ass'n v. McCormick , 2013 OK 110, 315 P.3d 1015, this Court suspended an attorney for eighteen months and imposed costs for abandoning a personal injury client--allowing the statute of limitations to run--and failing to respond to the OBA's allegations of misconduct. Much as in this cause, the client suffered physical bodily injury as a result of an auto accident and hired the respondent attorney after the accident to handle her personal injury claim for medical bills. McCormick , 2013 OK 110, ¶8. After the respondent attorney rejected a settlement offer at his client's request, the client was unable to communicate with him further despite trying to call him, per her testimony, at least 100 times. McCormick , 2013 OK 110, ¶8. This Court determined the appropriate range of discipline to be between a sixty-day suspension and disbarment, but imposed the eighteen-month suspension because the respondent attorney had failed to cooperate with the investigation and offer mitigating factors. McCormick , 2013 OK 110, ¶23-27. ¶28 By way of contrast, in State ex rel. Okla. Bar Ass'n v. Loeliger , 2005 OK 79, 127 P.3d 591, this Court imposed a sixty-day suspension and costs upon an attorney who failed to file a case on behalf of a client before the action became barred by time. The respondent attorney then misled the client, insisting that settlement negotiations were ongoing, in order to conceal the negligence. The charade extended to the lawyer drafting fake pleadings and offering a settlement check to the client out of his own funds. Loeliger , 2005 OK 79, ¶¶17-18. This Court noted it had imposed suspensions of up two years in previous cases for similar conduct, but found the respondent attorney's lack of prior discipline, payment of restitution, and the death of the attorney's father to be strong mitigating factors. Loeliger , 2005 OK 79, ¶23. ¶29 In State ex rel. Okla. Bar Ass'n v. Giessmann , 1997 OK 146, 948 P.2d 1227, this Court disciplined an attorney for failure to diligently represent a client, resulting in a delay of several years in the client's case, and for failure to keep the client informed. Though the PRT and attorney had agreed on a private reprimand, this Court found the appropriate discipline to be a ninety day suspension and the payment of costs. Giessmann , 1997 OK 146, ¶13. This Court based its decision in part on the fact that the respondent attorney had been disciplined twice previously. Giessmann , 1997 OK 146, ¶13. ¶30 In State ex rel. Okla. Bar Ass'n v. Busch , 1993 OK 72, 853 P.2d 194, this Court disciplined an attorney for failing to file a client's claim but allowing the client to believe that he had, amongst other rule violations. The respondent attorney also failed to timely respond to the OBA. Busch , 1993 OK 72, ¶5. This Court imposed a ninety day suspension and costs, with an additional year of probation, taking into account the fact that the attorney had previously been censured and placed under the supervision of another attorney. Busch , 1993 OK 72, ¶17. ¶31 Respondent's prior conduct illustrates that another reprimand or a very brief suspension will not be sufficient to convince Respondent of the need to get his practice in order to prevent future harm to clients. Respondent's issues with deadlines and client communication continued even after he completed a diversion program designed to help him overcome these issues after receiving a private reprimand for similar conduct. Testimony offered in mitigation on behalf of Respondent indicates that while he is not intentionally setting out to harm his clients, he has ongoing issues with his practice that thus far he has failed to adequately address. ¶32 As stated previously, the goal of discipline is not to punish, but to ensure competency to practice law and protect the public. Given Respondent's prior warnings and continuing problems with addressing the underlying reasons for his misconduct, this Court must go beyond the PRT's disciplinary recommendation in order to ensure the above-stated goals are met. ¶33 It is the determination of this Court that Respondent shall be suspended from the practice of law for a period of six (6) months. Additionally, this Court agrees that supervision is necessary to maintain order in Respondent's practice and to ensure that his clients' cases are monitored. 11 Upon the conclusion of Respondent's suspension, Respondent shall be required to meet once a month with an OBA lawyer-member of the General Counsel's choice who shall serve as a supervising attorney for Respondent for a period of twelve (12) months. This supervising attorney will review Respondent's office procedures and help address issues and concerns. Any concerns of neglect or other misconduct on the part of Respondent shall be immediately reported to the OBA. This Court declines to mandate any form of monetary compensation between Respondent and Posey. 12 ¶34 Complainant filed an application to assess costs in the amount of $1,614.89, pursuant to Rules 6.13 and 6.16, RGDP, 5 O.S. 2011, Ch. 1, App. 1-A. 13 Complainant's application is granted and Respondent is ordered to pay costs in the amount of $1,614.89 within ninety (90) days of the effective date of this opinion. RESPONDENT IS SUSPENDED FROM THE PRACTICE OF LAW FOR SIX (6) MONTHS; SUPERVISION IMPOSED; ORDERED TO PAY COSTS