Judicial Disciplinary Actions & Attorney Disciplinary Actions The Judicial Discipline and Disability Commission issued the following Final Actions. Full text documents are available on-line at http://www.state.ar.us/jddc/ press_releases.html. Letter of Reprimand, Case #11-207 and Letter of Censure, Case #11-204 to Judge Ken Harper, Drew County District Court. Public Dismissal Letter, Cases #10-326, #10-329 and #11-231, Judge Mary Ann Gunn of Fayetteville. Final actions from October 1, 2011, through December 31, 2011, by the Committee on Professional Conduct. Summaries prepared by the Office of Professional Conduct (OPC). Full text documents are available online at http:// courts.arkansas.gov and by entering the attorney’s name in the attorney locater feature under the “Attorney” link on the home page. [The “Model” Rules of Professional Conduct are prior to May 1, 2005. The “Arkansas” Rules are in effect from May 1, 2005.]
DISBARMENT PROCEEDINGS DIRECTED TO BE INITIATED: BRUCE J. BENNETT, Bar No. 92140, of Bentonville, Arkansas is the Respondent/ Defendant in a petition for disbarment filed December 15, 2011, as an original action in the Supreme Court of Arkansas, in Case No. 11-1259. A Committee Panel voted to initiate disbarment proceedings as a result of grievances filed by Attorney Harry McDermott and the Honorable Judge Robert H. Wyatt, Jr., as a result of a case filed against Bennett by Bennett’s former client, Darrell Cavanagh, in Committee Case No. CPC 2011-062, involving unreasonable fees, misappropriation of fees, misuse of client funds, false statements to a tribunal, conduct involving fraud, deceit, dishonesty, or misrepresentation, and other matters. In reaching this result, the Committee Panel found Bennett’s prior disciplinary record was a factor in consideration of its sanction in the matter. Bennett, who was already on license suspension from other Committee matters, was placed on interim suspension during the disbarment proceeding. NEWTON DONALD JENKINS, JR., Bar No. 94231, of Van Buren, Arkansas, is the Respondent/Defendant in a petition
for disbarment filed December 15, 2011, as an original action in the Supreme Court of Arkansas, in Case No. 11-1260. A Committee panel voted to initiate disbarment proceedings as a result of a grievance filed by Kenneth Hixson, Esq., for his client Mike Cormack, in Committee Case No. CPC 2011-043, involving unreasonable fees, making a false statement to a tribunal, falsifying evidence, engaging in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit, or misrepresentation, and other matters. In reaching this result, the panel found Jenkins’ prior disciplinary record was a factor. On September 8, 2011, in Case No. CPC 2010054, Jenkins had been placed on license suspension for 24 months. SURRENDER: ROBERT L. RICKARD, Bar No. 2001065, of Rogers, Arkansas, petitioned to surrender his Arkansas law license, which was accepted and ordered by the Supreme Court on November 17, 2011, at 2011 Ark. 495, in lieu of facing disciplinary proceedings arising out of several grievances and a Complaint against him before the Committee on Professional Conduct having to do with funds he received in a client’s settlement that were subject to a claim for subrogation.
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