Court Opinion

ID: 6351887
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-06-21 21:08:19.768067+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:34:55.030590
License: Public Domain

06/21/2022

 1   Pamela D. Bucy                                                              Case Number: PR 22-0328
     Chief Disciplinary Counsel
2    P.O. Box 1099
     Helena, MT 59620-1099
3    (406)442-1648
     pbucy(a montanaodc.org
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     Office of Disciplinary Counsel
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                    BEFORE THE COMMISSION ON PRACTICE OF THE
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9                    SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF MONTANA
                                  * * *** ** ******
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11   IN THE MATTER OF                              Supreme Court Cause No. PR 21-0187
12   MARIBETH HANSON,                              ODC File No. 22-010

13   A Suspended Attorney,                         COMPLAINT

14   Respondent.                                   Rules 8.1(b), MRPC
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16          By leave of the Commission on Practice (Commission) granted on April 20,
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     2022,the Office of Disciplinary Counsel for the State of Montana("ODC"), hereby
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     charges Maribeth Hanson with professional misconduct as follows:
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20                                    General Allegations

21          1. Maribeth Hanson, hereinafter referred to as Respondent, was admitted to
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     the practice of law in the State of Montana in September 2014, at which time she
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     took the oath required for admission, wherein she agreed to abide by the Rules of

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     Complaint - Page 1
     Professional Conduct,the Disciplinary Rules adopted by the Supreme Court, and the
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2    highest standards of honesty,justice and morality, including but not limited to,
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     those outlined in parts 3 and 4 of Chapter 61, Title 37, Montana Code Annotated.
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            2. The Montana Supreme Court has approved and adopted the Montana Rules
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     of Professional Conduct ("MRPC"), governing the ethical conduct of attorneys

7    licensed to practice in the State of Montana, which Rules were in effect at all times
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     mentioned in this Complaint.
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                                         Count One
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11          3.       ODC realleges and incorporates paragraphs 1 through 2ofthe General

12   Allegations as if fully restated in this Count One.
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            4.       On February 12, 2021,ODC received a grievance from Respondent's
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     client, Judith Ransom ("Ransom"). Ransom generally alleged she paid Respondent
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16   a retainer and Respondent failed to adequately communicate with her or take

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     appropriate action on her matter.
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            5.       By letter dated April 9, 2021, ODC requested Respondent provide a
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     response to Ransom's grievance. Respondent was to respond on or before April 30,
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21   2021; the mailing was not returned, and Respondent failed to respond.
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            6.       By letter dated May 6,2021, ODC again sent, via regular first-class
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     USPS mail and Return Receipt/Certified Mail, a second letter to Hanson,
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     instructing her to provide her response within ten(10)days,or by May 16,2021.

     Complaint - Page 2
     The regular mail was not returned. The return receipt card was returned to ODC
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2    as having been signed by "Ashley Roberts". Respondent failed to respond.
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            7.       ODC emailed Respondent on June 2, 2021, describing multiple
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     attempts to contact her and asking Respondent to contact ODC as soon as
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     possible. Respondent did not respond, nor did she provide a response to the

7    grievance.
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            8. ODC made telephonic contact with Respondent on June 14, 2021, and
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     she verified her contact information, discussed ODC's multiple attempts to
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11   contact her and elicit her response to' Ransom's grievance. Following the

12   conversation, ODC again provided a copy of Ransom's grievance to Respondent
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     at the email address she requested. Respondent was to provide her response on
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     or before, June 30, 2021; Respondent failed to respond.
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16          9.      As a result of her failure to respond or cooperate with lawful demands

17   from ODC, a Rule 24 Show Cause hearing was set. Respondent acknowledged
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     service and was provided a copy of the Rule 24 Order for Show Cause. The hearing
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     was held October 27,2021; Respondent failed to appear or provide a response to the
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21   grievance filed against her.
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            10.    By Order dated November 9, 2021, Respondent was suspended for 30-
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     days for her failure to respond, cooperate, and appear.
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     /1

     Complaint - Page 3
            11.     Despite being sanctioned in November, Respondent has not been
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2    compelled to participate and has avoided the attorney disciplinary process and to
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     date, Respondent has failed to provide any response as demanded.
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            12.     Respondent's failure to respond to ODC and the Commission's lawful
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     demands concerning Ransom's grievance violated Rule 8.1(b), MRPC, and Rule

7    8A(6), resulting in grounds for discipline.
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                WHEREFORE,the Office of Disciplinary Counsel prays:
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                1. That a Citation be issued to the Respondent, to which shall be attached
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11   a copy of the complaint, requiring Respondent, within twenty-one (21) days after

12   service thereof, to file a written answer to the Complaint;
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                2. That a formal hearing be had on the allegations ofthis complaint before
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     an Adjudicatory Panel ofthe Commission;
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16              3. That the Adjudicatory Panel of the Commission make a report of its

17   findings and recommendations after a formal hearing to the Montana Supreme
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     Court, and, in the event the Adjudicatory Panel finds the facts warrant disciplinary
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     action and recommends discipline, that the Commission also recommend the nature
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21   and extent of appropriate disciplinary action, including an award of costs and
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     expenses incurred in investigating and prosecuting this matter; and,
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     //
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     //

     Complaint - Page 4
 1              4. For such other and further relief as deemed necessary and proper.
2               DATED this 20th day of June 2022.
3                                           OFFICE OF DISCIPLINARY COUNSEL
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5                                           By:       le6voLdet
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                                                  Pamela D. Bucy
                                                  Chief Disciplinary Counsel    0-
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     Complaint - Page 5
                               CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

I, Pamela D. Bucy, hereby certify that I have served true and accurate copies of the foregoing
Complaint - Formal Complaint and Citation to Appear to the following on 06-21-2022:

Maribeth Hanson (Other)
1312 N. Monroe Street, Suite 252
Spokane WA 99201
Representing: Self-Represented
Service Method: Conventional

Shelly Smith (Court Reporter)
Office Administrator
Supreme Court Boards and Commissions
P.O. Box 203002
301 S. Park Ave., Ste. 328
Helena MT 59624
Service Method: eService
E-mail Address: shellysmith@mt.gov

                                   Electronically signed by Sandy Jacke on behalf of Pamela D. Bucy
                                                                                  Dated: 06-21-2022