Opinion ID: 1199603
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: respondent's failure to respond to the oklahoma bar association

Text: ¶ 13 In October, 1996, the Office of the General Counsel received a grievance from Carlos Graham. In accordance with Rule 5.2, Rules Governing Disciplinary Procedure, on November 21, 1996, the Office of the General Counsel mailed a letter to respondent requesting a written response to the allegations set forth in Graham's grievance letter. Respondent failed to respond to the November 21, 1996 request. On December 12, 1996, the Office of the General Counsel mailed respondent a certified letter advising her that if she failed to contact the General Counsel's office within five (5) days, a subpoena requiring her sworn testimony would be issued. The record reflects that respondent received, accepted, and signed for the letter. ¶ 14 On November 4, 1996, the Office of the General Counsel received a grievance from Attorney Robert W. Cole against respondent. In accordance with Rule 5.2, Rules Governing Disciplinary Procedure, on December 2, 1996, the Office of the General Counsel mailed a letter to Respondent requesting a written response pertaining to the alleged misconduct set out in Cole's grievance letter. The letter advised respondent to respond within twenty (20) days after service. Respondent neglected to respond to the December 2, 1996, letter. On January 3, 1997, a certified letter was mailed to respondent requesting a response within five (5) days and that if she did not respond, a subpoena would be served upon her. The record reflects that this certified letter was marked unclaimed and returned to the Office of the General Counsel. The post office attempted delivery of this letter on three (3) separate occasions without success. ¶ 15 Thereafter, several subpoenas were issued for respondent's appearance. According to the testimony of Tony Blasier, an investigator with the Office of the General Counsel, a private process server failed on at least two (2) occasions to secure service on respondent. For that reason, a subpoena was obtained by the General Counsel's office on May 7, 1998, and it was personally served upon respondent by Mr. Blasier and Robert D. Hanks, also an investigator for the General Counsel's office. ¶ 16 On May 14, 1997, the day of the scheduled deposition, respondent failed to respond to the Subpoena Duces Tecum as ordered. Respondent neglected to contact the General Counsel's office and seek a continuance. Furthermore, respondent did not file a request with this Court for a postponement of the same. On that same day, an unidentified person hand-delivered to the receptionist at the Oklahoma Bar Center, a note handwritten by respondent stating that she was unable to appear due to prior commitments and the limited amount of time that she could be available. ¶ 17 The following is the testimony of Investigator Blasier at the September 11, 1997, hearing before the PRT: Q: Can you briefly relate what transpired upon service of the subpoena to Ms. Patmon? A: Ms. Patmon was served in the office outside of Judge Carol Hubbard's chambers at the Oklahoma County Courthouse by Robert Hanks and myself. The way the service occurred was that Mr. Hanks and I approached Ms. Patmon, Mr. Hanks handed Ms. Patmon the subpoena, identified himself, told her that that was a subpoena for her deposition and handed the subpoena to her. Q: What was her response? A: Without even looking at the subpoena, her response was, I can't be there. ¶ 18 Respondent's failure to either appear at the hearing or respond to these proceedings establish by clear and convincing evidence that respondent's behavior constituted wilful and deliberate disregard of the authority of the Professional Responsibility Tribunal and of this Court. Considering respondent's failure to cooperate with the Oklahoma Bar Association and the Trial Panel, the timing of the delivery of the May 14, 1997, handwritten note along with the testimony of Investigator Blasier at the September 11, 1997, hearing, this Court finds respondent's behavior clearly violated the Oklahoma Rules of Professional Conduct. Rule 8.1(b) states in pertinent part that a lawyer in connection with a disciplinary matter shall not knowingly fail to respond to a lawful demand for information from [a] ... disciplinary authority ... and Rule 5.2, Rules Governing Disciplinary Procedure. We concur in the Trial Panel's conclusion that respondent never intended to obey the subpoena or otherwise recognize the lawful authority of this Court.