Lawyer Disciplinal'y Actions The Lawyer Disciplinary ACliolls are ",rillen mid provided by 'he Supreme COlin ofArkansas' Commillee Oft Professional emldllel. ORDER OF DISBARMENT GEORGE R. WADLEY Jonesboro
May 29.2001 Now on this 29th day of May, 2001, the date scheduled for the sanctions hearing, the plaintiff, Stark Ligon, in his capacity as the Director of the Supreme Coun Commincc: on Professional Conduce appears through his scaff counst:1, Lynn Williams. The defendant. Grorge R. Wadley. does not appear. After consideration of the pleadings, me evidence: offered, statements of counsd and orner manc:rs before: the Coun, the: Coun doth find that: I. By order of this Coun filed on May 2. 200 1. this Coun found defc:ndam in defauh for failing to respond to the Executive: Director's Complaint. The dury of this Coun is to decide: the: appropriate sanction for the violations SCI out in the Executive Direct,or's Complaint by using the guidelines as set out by the decisions of the Arkansas Supreme Court, particularly, Neal v. Hollingsworth, 338 Ark.
me:
251.992 S.W. 2d 771. A. Mr. Wadley has had four previous public sanctions by the Supreme Court Committee on Professional Conducl. In order of the filing date with the Arkansas Supreme Court Clerk, they are: a.) July 15, 1997. a ~primand for biling to serve opposing parry with a petition and notice and then ming a verified petition with the Court that he had served the opposing parry with the petition and notice. b.) February 22. 200 I, a one year suspension for failing to perform any work in ~half of hjs client. Donald Bar~r after being retained for $1.500.00. Mr. Wadley also refused to refund any of the unearned retainer to Mr. Barber. c.) February 22. 200 I. a one year suspension for his failure ro respond t'O a contempt citation filed against his client Donnie Ault after being ~tained by Mr. Ault to ~present him in a child visitation maner. Additionally, Mr. Wadley falsdy stated to his client that he had scheduled hearings in the ClSI= when it actuality he had nO[ Clusing unnecessary delay in Mr. Auh's case; d). February 22, 200 1. a one year suspension for F.dsely ~presenting to a parole hearing judge that his law license was in good standing. when in fact. his license was suspended due to Mr. Wadley's fajlu~ to complete his CLE requirements. B. The defendant's misconduct resulted in a loss and damage to his client. Ms. Coleman. The misconduct involved his failure to represent his client, Ms. Coleman. The misconduct is a pan of a pattern of similar misconduct. The lawyer's prior record of public sanctions demonstrates a substanrial disregard of the lawyer's professional duties and responsibilities. The misconduct was serious and has damaged the legal profession. 4. The appropriate sanction for the misconduct should be the disbarment George R.
l2
The Arkansas I,awler
www.arkhar.rom
Wadley with his mtme ~ing removed from the registry of licensed anornc:ys mainrained by the Clerk of thc Arkansas Supreme Coun Clerk. 5. The authority to grant and revoke the pnvilege to pr.tctice law lies exclusivdy within the jurisdiction and authority of the Arkansas Supreme Coun. This Coun finds that it cannot revoke the law license of George R. Wadley, but the Court affirmatively finds that disbarment is the appropriatt: sanction. 7. George R. Wadley. should ~ and he~by is, prohibited and barred from engaging in me pr.tcticc: of law within the jurisdiction of the State of Arbnsas pending an appropriate petition to the Supreme Court for the disbarment of the defendant by the Supreme Coun.
IT IS THEREFORE CO SIDERED. ORDERED. ADJUDGED AND DECREED ,hal the defendant's misconduct alleged in the Complaint is found to Ix in violation of Rules 1.1. 1.3. 1.4(a). I. I6(d). 8.4(c) and 8.4(d) of ,he Arkansas Model Rules of Professional Conduct; that the appropriate sanction for such violation is the disbarment of George R. Wadley; and that, pending :1 petition to the Arkansas Supreme Coun seeking such disbarment. George R. Wadley should be, and hereby is, prohibited and barred from engaging in the practice of law within the jurisdiction of the Stale of Arkansas. (Petition to disbar grantcd on June 21, 2001.)
NOTICE OF SURRENDER OF AlTORNEY'S PRIVILEGE TO PRACnCE LAW JAMES ODELl CLAWSON. JR . uule Rock. AR June 7. 2001 James Odell Clawson, Jr., an attorney formerly residing in Little Rock, and formerly pr.teticing law in Linle Rock. Pulaski County. Arkansas. wim Arkansas Bar 10 #90219 has been barred from engaging in the pr.tctice of law in this State for viol:uion of the Arkansas Mood Rules of Ptofessional Conduct. On the recommendation of the Arkansas Supreme Coun Committee on Professional Conduct, the Arkansas Supreme Court accepted the surrender of me law license of Jama Oddl Clawson, Jr. on June 7. 2001. Anomey Clawson's Petition to Surrender was based upon violation of Model Rult: 8A(b)of the Arkansas Model Rules of Professional Conduct. The Petition and anached exhibits on file with the Clerk of the Arkansas Supreme Coun demonstrate thaI Mr. Clawson was convicted in the State of Oklahoma of twO (2) felony counts of Uttering a Forged Insrrument, in violation of 21 0.5. 1592 and that, on April 9. 200 I, a jury convicted Mr. Clawson of six (6) COUntS of bankruptcy fraud in violation of 18 U.S.c. Section
152, in the United States District Coun for the Eastern District of Arkansas. Case No. 4:00cRI89. If you have any questions in this regard or, you have information evincing the attorney's continued practice COntr.try to the StatUS of his license. please contact this office.
KENNETH GERALD BRECKENRIDGE Hot Springs. AR On recommendation of the Sup~me Coun Comminee: on Professional Conduct. wc hereby accept the sur~nder of tht: licen~ of Kenneth Gen.ld Breckenridge. of Hot Springs. Garland Counry, Arkansas. to practice law in the State of Arkansas. Mr. Breckenridge's name shall be removed from the registry of licensed anorneys and he is barred from engaging in the practice of law in this State.
KENNETH GERALD BRECKENRIDGE Hot Springs, All. June 7. 2001 Kenneth Gerald Breckenridge, an attorney residing in Hot Springs, formerly practicing law in Garland and Montgomery Counties, Arkansas. with Arkansas Bar 10 #84015 has been barred from engaging in the practice of law in this Stare for Arkansas Model Rules of violation of the Professional Conduct. On the recommendation of the Arkansas Supreme Coun Committee on Professional Conduct. the Arkansas Supreme Coun accepted the surrender of the law license of Kenneth Ger.tld Breckenridge. on June 7, 200 I . Anomey Breckenridge's Petition to Sur~nder was b~ upon violation of Model Rules 1.3 and 3.4 (e) of the Arkansas Model Rules of Professional Conduct. The Petit'ion and attached. Exhibits on file with the Clerk of the Arkansas Suprt:me Court demonstr.tte that the Honor.tble F. Fussell. United Snnes Bankruptcy Robert Judge made a judicial referral to the Comminee: on Professional Conduct which resulted in a formal disciplinary complaint against Mr. Breckenridge based upon his condua in thltt bankruplCY matters pending befo~ Judge Fussell. Mr. Breckenridge admitted SpecifiCllly. th;1( he fajled to respond in a timely maner to various Motions and Coun Orders; fajJed to comply with a P~-Trial Order of the Court; failed to follow the directive ofJudge Fussell following various Show Cause Orders; failed to surrt:nder papers to a former client; failed to take action to protect the monies of rhe debtor's estate as directed; and fajled to follow specific directives of Judge Fussell in each bankruptcy maner. If you have: any question in this regard or you have information evincing the anorney's continued practice contrary to the status of his license. please contact lhis office.