Court Opinion

ID: 9371527
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-02-16 16:04:57.711606+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:16:28.105994
License: Public Domain

TO BE PUBLISHED

                Supreme Court of Kentucky
                                 2022-SC-0430-KB

KENTUCKY BAR ASSOCIATION                                                 MOVANT

                               IN SUPREME COURT
V.

ARTHUR JOSEPH MORBURGER                                             RESPONDENT

                              OPINION AND ORDER

      On September 28, 2022, the Kentucky Bar Association (KBA) moved this

Court to enter an order directing Arthur Joseph Morburger, whose KBA

member number is 49880 and whose bar roster address is 19 West Flagler

Street, Suite 404, Miami, Florida 33130, to show cause why he should not be

subject to reciprocal discipline after being permanently disbarred by the

Supreme Court of Florida. The KBA also requested this Court enter an order

imposing identical discipline were we to find such cause lacking.

      On October 19, 2022, pursuant to SCR1 3.435(2), this Court granted the

KBA’s request and ordered Morburger to show cause why he should not be

subject to reciprocal discipline. Morburger failed to file a response.

Accordingly, pursuant to SCR 3.435(4), this Court grants the KBA’s motion and

      1   Rules of the Supreme Court.
orders that Morburger be permanently disbarred in this Commonwealth

consistent with the order of the Supreme Court of Florida.

      Morburger was admitted to the practice of law in Kentucky on November

17, 1961. He was temporarily suspended by order of this Court on January

20, 2022, pending the outcome of the Florida disciplinary proceedings.2 On

August 25, 2022, the Supreme Court of Florida entered an order of disbarment

for violating Rules Regulating the Florida Bar Rule 4-1.15 (regarding

compliance with rules regulating attorney trust accounts), Rule 5-1.1

(regarding attorney trust accounts, which is substantively similar to SCR

3.130(1.15)), and Rule 4-8.4(c) (prohibiting a lawyer from engaging in conduct

involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit, or misrepresentation, which is

substantively the same as SCR 3.130(8.4)(c)). The violations arose from

Morburger’s mishandling and misappropriation of client funds. More

specifically, Morburger’s client was awarded approximately $37,000 in

attorney’s fees which were to be held in Morburger’s attorney escrow account

pending the outcome of an appeal. No other monies were held in the escrow

account. When the appeal was resolved in his client’s favor, Morburger was

ordered to pay over the funds, but he failed to do so. Instead, two checks

presented to the client were returned for insufficient funds and Morburger

insisted someone had stolen his escrow account checks and forged his

signature.

      2   Kentucky Bar Ass’n v. Morburger, 638 S.W.3d 431 (Ky. 2022).

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      An ensuing investigation uncovered no third-party fraud had been

committed but instead revealed the funds had been converted by Morburger for

the benefit of a former client and prospective business partner. Despite

substantial evidence to the contrary, Morburger continued insisting he was an

innocent victim and took no responsibility for his clear wrongdoings. He made

multiple misrepresentations in sworn depositions, in written responses to the

Florida Bar, and in his testimony before the Referee at his final hearing in the

disciplinary process. Based on these facts, including Morburger’s intentional

failure to appropriately protect client funds and the existence of multiple

aggravating factors, the Supreme Court of Florida disbarred Morburger.

      If an attorney licensed to practice law in this Commonwealth receives

discipline in another jurisdiction, SCR 3.435(4) requires this Court to impose

identical discipline “unless Respondent proves by substantial evidence: (a) a

lack of jurisdiction or fraud in the out-of-state disciplinary proceeding, or (b)

that misconduct established warrants substantially different discipline in this

State.” Without such “substantial evidence,” “a final adjudication in another

jurisdiction that an attorney has been guilty of misconduct shall establish

conclusively the misconduct for purposes of a disciplinary proceeding in this

State.” SCR 3.435(4)(c). Morburger has failed to provide any response or

evidence showing a lack of jurisdiction or fraud in the Florida proceedings or

any reason our Court should impose a lesser discipline upon him. As such, we

impose identical reciprocal discipline.

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      Therefore, it is hereby ORDERED:

      1. Arthur Joseph Morburger is permanently disbarred from the practice

of law in the Commonwealth of Kentucky, effective from the entry of this

Opinion and Order;

      2. Pursuant to SCR 3.390, Morburger shall, if he has not already done

so, within ten (20) days from the entry of this Opinion and Order, notify all

clients, in writing, of his inability to represent them; notify, in writing, all

courts in which he has matters pending of his permanent disbarment from the

practice of law; and furnish copies of all letters of notice to the Office of Bar

Counsel. Furthermore, to the extent possible, Respondent shall immediately

cancel and cease any advertising activities in which he is engaged; and

      3. In accordance with SCR 3.450, Morburger shall pay all costs

associated with these disciplinary proceedings against him and for which

execution may issue from this Court upon finality of this Opinion and Order.

      All sitting. All concur.

      ENTERED: February 16, 2023.

                                        ______________________________________
                                        CHIEF JUSTICE

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