Resignation Accepted

The Oklahoma Supreme Court has accepted an attorney's resignation in the face of pending allegations

The complaint was based upon the Respondent's representation of Dawn Fambrough. The Respondent was hired to represent Fambrough in a class action lawsuit. Upon settlement of the lawsuit, Respondent was accused of not paying the correct amount to the client. He was also accused of not properly safeguarding funds, providing false and misleading documents regarding his case, dishonesty in his representation of his client, making misrepresentations to the Oklahoma Bar Association, and failure to communicate properly with his client. The Respondent was licensed to practice law in both Oklahoma and Texas. A complaint had also been filed in Texas concerning the same client and issues. A hearing in SCBD 6960 was stayed pending the Texas disciplinary proceedings. The Respondent was ultimately suspended from the practice of law in Texas for ten years, beginning on June 24, 2021 (Commission for Lawyer Discipline v. Kenneth Shane Walker, Case No. 201803859, District 6 Grievance Committee of the State Bar of Texas). The Respondent appealed the suspension on August 20, 2021. On October 4, 2021, the Respondent's name was stricken from the roll of attorneys in Oklahoma due to failure to pay bar dues. His Texas appeal was later dismissed on August 24, 2022. The Respondent did not notify the Complainant about his Texas suspension as required by Rule 7.7, RGDP. Thereafter, on September 23, 2022, the Complainant filed a Notice of Disciplinary Action in Another Jurisdiction, case number SCBD 7327, pursuant to Rule 7.7, RGDP. The two disciplinary matters, SCBD 6960 and SCBD 7327, were consolidated into SCBD 6960 on October 26, 2022, by order of this Court. On November 17, 2022, this Court ordered the Professional Responsibility Tribunal to hold a combined hearing and to issue a single report. Prior to any hearing, the Respondent executed an affidavit regarding resignation pending disciplinary proceedings on January 10, 2023. The Complainant filed the affidavit along with its Application for Order Approving Resignation Pending Disciplinary Proceedings on January 17, 2023, pursuant to Rule 8.2, RGDP.

He may apply for reinstatement after five years. (Mike Frisch)