Opinion ID: 2036955
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: formal charge: count vi

Text: Count VI alleges violations of Jensen's oath of office as an attorney, rule 16, and DR 1-102(A)(1), DR 6-101(A)(3), and DR 9-102(A) and (B)(4). On October 21, 1997, on behalf of Ruth Lutz, Jensen filed a petition for appointment of guardian for Joyce J. Randall in the county court for Douglas County, Nebraska. The petition named Jensen as the individual to be appointed as Randall's guardian. Following a hearing, on November 19, the county court appointed Jensen as Randall's guardian. On December 30, the county court issued a show cause order, requiring Jensen to file his acceptance of appointment as guardian on or before January 13, 1998. On January 13, Jensen filed his acceptance. On January 14, 1998, the county court issued to Jensen letters of guardianship. The letters provided, inter alia, that Jensen was to report annually regarding Randall's condition and the condition of her estate. The letters further provided that Jensen was not to pay himself compensation as Randall's guardian except as approved by order of the court. Shortly after he was appointed Randall's guardian, Jensen became the designated payee of Randall's periodic Social Security checks. Jensen failed to deposit the checks into his lawyer trust account or into a separate account for Randall's benefit. Instead, Jensen deposited the check into his personal or business account, paid Randall's rent, provided Randall with $60 per month as her needs allowance, and retained the balance as his fee. Jensen did not have court permission to pay himself these fees. Jensen failed to file an annual report regarding the condition of Randall and her estate. On December 14, 1999, Randall filed a complaint with the Office of Counsel for Discipline alleging that Jensen was her guardian and that he had failed to communicate with her and make timely payments on her behalf. On or about December 15, Jensen received a copy of Randall's complaint, together with a letter from the Office of Counsel for Discipline instructing Jensen to file a written response to Randall's complaint within 15 working days. Jensen did not respond, and on January 20, 2000, the Office of Counsel for Discipline sent a second letter to Jensen instructing him to respond to Randall's complaint. On March 7, 2000, Jensen responded to Randall's complaint by explaining that during his recent illness, checks for Randall's rent and for her allowance were not always sent on a regular basis. Jensen stated that Randall's rent account was current. On May 2, the county court accepted Jensen's resignation as Randall's guardian and approved his final accounting. In the stipulation filed June 21, Jensen admitted the allegations of count VI.