In re Dill
In re Dill
Opinion of the Court
This is an original proceeding in discipline filed by the Office of the Disciplinary Administrator against Donna M. Dill, formerly of Overland Park but whose present address is Rohnert Park, California. Ms. Dill is an attorney admitted to the practice of law in Kansas. Two separate complaints were filed against respondent which were consolidated for hearing before the Kansas Board for Discipline of Attorneys (Board) and before us.
McNaughton complaint
In complaint No. B5516, the hearing panel found that John McNaughton retained respondent to perform legal services for him and, in connection therewith, left various legal documents with her. Without informing Mr. McNaughton, respondent moved to California. Mr. McNaughton then retained another attorney, J. Patrick Flanigan, to represent him. Despite multiple requests by Mr. Flanigan to respondent seeking return of the client’s file, the file was not returned. Respondent also ignored the Disciplinary Administrator’s efforts to obtain the return of the file, and respondent has not responded to inquiries from that office.
LOVEALL COMPLAINT
In complaint No. B5515, the hearing panel found that Mary Karen Loveall of Warsaw, Missouri, was seeking an attorney to represent her relative to obtaining disability benefits. A friend gave her respondent’s name. Ms. Loveall had a telephone con
From these facts the hearing panel concluded respondent had violated the following:
“X. MRPC X.3 [X992 Kan. Ct. R. Annot. 248]—in that Respondent has failed to act with reasonable diligence and promptness in representing clients.
“2. MRPC X.4 [X992 Kan. Ct. R. Annot. 25X]—in that Respondent has failed to keep clients reasonably informed about the status of a legal matter and has failed to promptly comply with reasonable requests for information from a legal client.
“3. MRPC X.X6 [X992 Kan. Ct. R. Annot. 286]—in that (X) the Respondent has failed to terminate or withdraw from the representation of a client where the lawyer was discharged; or (2) the lawyer’s conduct materially impaired the lawyer’s ability to represent the clients.
“4. Supreme Court Rule 207 [X992 Kan. Ct. R. Annot. X60]—in that the Respondent has failed to cooperate with the Disciplinary Administrator’s investigation of both of these cases.”
We adopt the hearing panel’s findings of fact and conclusions of law.
Respondent had previously received the discipline of informal admonition from the Board in a complaint dated November 1, 1990. Further, on January 22, 1993, respondent was suspended from the practice of law for one year for conduct similar to that shown herein. In re Dill, 252 Kan. 486, 845 P.2d 699 (1993). After noting these prior complaints, the hearing panel expressed its concern over respondent’s failure to respond to client inquiries and to the complaints herein. No evidence of mitigating circumstances was presented. The hearing panel then recommended
It Is Therefore Ordered that Donna M. Dill be and she is hereby disbarred from the practice of law in the State of Kansas, and her license and privilege to practice law are hereby revoked.
It Is Further Ordered that the Clerk of the Appellate Courts strike the name of Donna M. Dill from the roll of attorneys licensed to practice law in the State of Kansas.
It Is Further Ordered that this order shall be published in the Kansas Reports, that the costs herein be assessed to respondent, and that respondent forthwith comply with Supreme Court Rule 218 (1992 Kan. Ct. R. Annot. 176).
Reference
- Full Case Name
- In the Matter of Donna M. Dill
- Cited By
- 1 case
- Status
- Published