Lawyer Disciplinary Actions Randle on the appeal. On September 13, 2007, the Arkansas Supreme Court granted Mr. Nichols’ Motion to File Belated Appeal, and directed Nichols to file Randle’s brief by September 28, 2007. The Court referred the matter to the Office of Professional Conduct. Mr. Nichols filed his client’s brief on September 27, 2007. On November 1, 2007, Mr. Nichols was served with a Committee complaint. He failed to file a response, which failure to timely respond, pursuant to Section 9.C(4) of the Procedures, constituted an admission of the factual allegations of the formal complaint and extinguished his right to a public hearing. Following issuance of the Committee’s Findings & Order, Mr. Nichols filed a Petition for Reconsideration. Panel B of the Committee on Professional Conduct denied the Petition for Reconsideration. MORRIS W. THOMPSON, Bar No. 80145, of Little Rock, Arkansas, was reprimanded and fined $500 in Committee case No. CPC 2007-019 by Findings & Order filed February 29, 2008, on a complaint by Joshua Karriem, for violation of Rules 1.3, 1.4(a)(3), 1.4(a)(4), and 8.4(d). Mr. Karriem was a Little Rock firefighter who was subjected to a disciplinary action. On August 14, 2006, Karriem consulted with Thompson about his legal situation and paid Thompson $150. On August 22, 2006, Karriem was notified by the Little Rock Fire Department that he was suspended for a period of ten shifts without pay, beginning August 25, 2006, and was scheduled to return on September 24, 2006. On September 8, 2006, Mr. Karriem was involved in a motor vehicle accident and was arrested. According to Karriem, he then employed Mr. Thompson to represent him in the criminal charges. Karriem signed a contract agreeing to pay $1,500, with $500 being paid on September 22, 2006, and the $1,000 balance being paid $250 each month for a period of four months. Karriem timely made the first payment of $500. On September 22, 2006, Mr. Karriem received a letter notice advising him that there was an administrative hearing scheduled for September 25, 2006, concerning his arrest following a motor vehicle accident. The letter stated that Karriem could waive the hearing by notifying the fire chief by 4:30 p.m, September 22, 2006. Karriem then 32
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employed Mr. Thompson on September 22, On September 27, 2006, Mr. Karriem was 2006, to represent him in a matter relating to provided with a Pre-Termination Hearing the insubordination suspension. Thompson Notice. The hearing was scheduled for stated that he was not employed to represent September 29, 2006, and Karriem and Mr. Karriem at the September 25, 2006, hearing, Thompson appeared before the civil service as that was a separate matter from the matter commission on that date. On October 3, set for October 29, 2006. Thompson did not 2006, Karriem was placed on Administrative For consultation contact: appear at the September 25, 2006, hearing. Leave as ‹–‹‰ƒ–‹‘Â? ‘Â?•—Ž–‹Â?‰ ƒÂ?† š’‡”– a result of his arrest, as he was found Dan Wojcik, AVA The fee Mr. Thompson quoted Mr. Karriem to have ‡•–‹Â?‘Â?› ˆ‘” ˆ‹Â?ƒÂ?…‹ƒŽ Žƒ™•—‹–• violated fire department regulations. ™‹–Š ƒ •’‡…‹ƒŽ ‡Â?’Šƒ•‹• ‘Â? „ƒÂ?Â?‹Â?‰Ǥ Č‹ÍˇÍ˛ÍłČŒ ͡͝ͲnjͳͲ͝Ͳ for the civil service commission matter was On November 3, Karriem was notified that †ƒÂ?Â™ĚˇÂ„ÂˆÇŚÂƒÂ†Â˜Â‹Â•Â‘Â”Â•Ç¤Â…Â‘Â? $2,500, with $500 paid on September 22, his employment was terminated. Karriem 2006, and the remaining $2,000 due $250 Business Valuations for was advised of his right to appeal the decision x ‹ˆ–‹Â?‰ ‘ˆ •Šƒ”‡• x ƒ‹”Â?॥ ‘’‹Â?‹‘Â?• each month beginning on February 15, 2007. to the Civil Service Commission and that x …‘Â?‘Â?‹… Ž‘•• x ‹˜‘”…‡ x ‘Â?Â?‡”…‹ƒŽ †ƒÂ?ƒ‰‡•
ELECTRICAL ACCIDENTS Paul D. Mixon, Ph.D., P.E. Engineering Consultant P.O. Box 3338 State University, AR 72467 (870) 972-2088 (870) 972-3948 FAX pmixon@astate.edu paul_mixon@yahoo.com
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