Court Opinion

ID: 9685859
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-24 15:07:39.266542+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:18:11.188757
License: Public Domain

TO BE PUBLISHED

                Supreme Court of Kentucky
                               2023-SC-0165-KB

KENTUCKY BAR ASSOCIATION                                                MOVANT

V.                           IN SUPREME COURT

LEILA LOUISE HALE                                                 RESPONDENT

                             OPINION AND ORDER

      Leila Louise Hale (Hale) was admitted to the practice of law in the

Commonwealth of Kentucky on October 30, 2013, and her Kentucky Bar

Association (KBA) number is 95811. Her bar roster address is 1661 West

Horizon Ridge Parkway, Ste. 200 Henderson, NV 89012. On February 17,

2023, the Nevada Supreme Court issued an order publicly reprimanding Hale.

The KBA filed a petition for reciprocal discipline pursuant to SCR1 3.435. For

the following reasons, we impose identical reciprocal discipline as required by

SCR 3.435(4).

      Hale was found guilty by the Nevada Supreme Court of violating Nevada

Rule of Professional Conduct 1.15 (safekeeping property). She prematurely

took attorney fees from client funds that were being held in trust and failed to

      1 Kentucky Rule of the Supreme Court.
promptly disburse the remaining funds held in trust after negotiating all the

relevant medical liens.

      Hale was also found guilty of violating Nevada Rule of Professional

Conduct 1.16 (terminating or declining representation). Hale did not disburse

the remaining settlement funds after her client terminated her.

      Kentucky’s SCR 3.130(1.15) and SCR 3.130(1.16) are comparable to

Nevada’s Rules of Professional Conduct 1.15 and 1.16.

      An order for Hale to show cause why a reciprocal order should not be

entered against her was entered on April 14, 2023. Hale did not respond to the

show cause.

      Therefore, a reciprocal discipline order shall be entered under this

jurisdiction pursuant to SCR 3.435(4), the Court Orders:

      1.) A public reprimand shall be entered against Hale;

      2.) In accordance with SCR 3.450, Hale shall pay all costs associated

         with these disciplinary proceedings against her, and for which

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

         Order.

      All sitting. All concur.

      ENTERED: August 24, 2023.

                                     ______________________________________
                                     CHIEF JUSTICE

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