Disbarred In Kansas

The Kansas Supreme Court disbarred an attorney who had defaulted on the bar charges and did not appear for oral argument before the cour.

From the hearing panel findings with respect to representation in a trust matter

the evidence clearly shows that the respondent abandoned her duties as trustee. The respondent failed to handle, track, or account for assets held under the Trust, failed to cancel bills being improperly charged to the Trust estate after J.C.'s death, such as the United Healthcare premiums and AT&T billings, and failed to keep R.C. and other beneficiaries of the Trust properly informed after J.C.'s death. Most concerning, the respondent failed to provide documentation and property of the Trust to R.C. or the subsequent trustee, despite being ordered by the Shawnee County District Court to do so.

Respondent also violated ethical obligations as counsel to the Topeka Bar Association

The respondent failed to diligently and promptly represent the TBA by failing to prepare and file the TBA's tax returns for the fiscal year ending in 2020. Despite having been provided all documents the respondent requested from TBA executive director, Amanda Kohlman, the respondent never filed the return and did not inform the TBA that she had not filed the return. In fact, the respondent told the TBA she did file the return, which was false.

The Respondent did not participate in the bar investigation; the evidence indicated she had relocated to Lincoln, Nebraska.

The court

Here, our consideration of the appropriate discipline begins with the panel's and the Disciplinary Administrator's recommendation of disbarment. But we also take into consideration Crow-Johnson's failure to appear at oral argument despite the requirement in Supreme Court Rule 228(i) (2024 Kan. S. Ct. R. at 286) that both the Disciplinary Administrator and the respondent attend the hearing. The Clerk of the Kansas Appellate Courts filed an affidavit establishing that Crow-Johnson had notice of the hearing, so we consider this violation along with the others found by the hearing panel.

Considering Crow-Johnson's violation of Rule 228(i) and the findings, conclusions, recommendations, and the American Bar Association Standards for Imposing Lawyer Sanctions, we conclude the severe sanction of disbarment is warranted.

(Mike Frisch)