Opinion ID: 1292831
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: introduction

Text: Respondent, Ronald J. Palagi, was admitted to the practice of law in the State of Nebraska on January 28, 1975, and at all times relevant hereto was engaged in the private practice of law in Omaha, Nebraska. On October 21, 2004, formal charges were filed against respondent. The formal charges set forth three counts that collectively included charges that the respondent violated the following provisions of the Code of Professional Responsibility: Canon 1, DR 1-102(A)(1) (violating disciplinary rule); Canon 2, DR 2-106(A) (charging excessive fee); Canon 5, DR 5-103(B) (improperly advancing or guaranteeing financial assistance to client); and Canon 9, DR 9-102(B)(4) (failing to return property of client), as well as his oath of office as an attorney, Neb. Rev. Stat. § 7-104 (Reissue 1997). On January 20, 2005, respondent filed a conditional admission under Neb. Ct. R. of Discipline 13 (rev. 2002), in which he knowingly admitted the truth of the allegations that he violated DR 1-102(A)(1), DR 2-106(A), DR 5-103(B), and DR 9-102(B)(4), as well as his oath of office as an attorney, and waived all proceedings against him in connection therewith in exchange for a stated form of consent judgment of a public reprimand. Upon due consideration, the court approves the conditional admission and orders that respondent be publicly reprimanded.