In re Moore

41 P.3d 831, 273 Kan. 154, 2002 Kan. LEXIS 86
CourtSupreme Court of Kansas
DecidedMarch 8, 2002
DocketNo. 87,895
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 41 P.3d 831 (In re Moore) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of Kansas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
In re Moore, 41 P.3d 831, 273 Kan. 154, 2002 Kan. LEXIS 86 (kan 2002).

Opinion

Per Curiam:

This is an original proceeding in discipline filed by the Disciplinary Administrator against respondent Byron J. Moore, of Wichita, an attorney admitted to the practice of law in the state of Kansas.

The formal complaint filed against the respondent alleges violations of KRPC 1.3 (2001 Kan. Ct. R. Annot. 323) (diligence and promptness); KRPC 1.4 (2001 Kan. Ct. R. Annot. 334) (communication); KRPC 1.15 (2001 Kan. Ct. R. Annot. 376) (safekeeping property); KRPC 1.16 (2001 Kan. Ct. R. Annot. 387) (terminating representation); and KRPC 8.4 (2001 Kan. Ct. R. Annot. 437) (misconduct).

A hearing was held before a panel of the Kansas Board for Discipline of Attorneys on July 17, 2001, in the hearing room of the Disciplinary Administrator. The office of the Disciplinary Administrator appeared by its administrator, Stanton A. Hazlett. The respondent appeared in person pro se.

The answer filed by the respondent admitted the majority of the allegations of the formal complaint. Exhibits were admitted and the Disciplinary Administrator called Bobbi Foss, Wallace R. Johnson, and the respondent to testify as to the merits of the complaint as well as to factors in aggravation and mitigation. After hearing the arguments of counsel, reviewing the exhibits admitted into evidence, and considering the evidence, the panel found by clear and convincing evidence the following:

[155]*155“FINDINGS OF FACT
“1. Byron J. Moore (hereinafter ‘the Respondent’) is an attorney at law, Kansas Attorney Registration No. 08175. His last registration address with the Clerk of the Appellate Courts of Kansas is . . . Wichita, Kansas . . . Although the Respondent was admitted to the practice of law in 1973, he did not actively practice law until 1996.
“2. On March 2,1999, the Respondent entered the professional visitation area of the Sedgwick County Adult Detention Facility to meet with Pamela F. Dirks. The Respondent represented to the jail personnel that Ms. Dirks was a client of his, although he was not entered as attorney of record in any pending case at that time. While the Respondent was meeting with Ms. Dirks, a Sedgwick County Deputy checked the visitation room. At that time, the deputy observed that the top part of Ms. Dirks jumpsuit was raised, that the bottom part of her jumpsuit was lowered, and that Ms. Dirks was masturbating. Additionally, the deputy saw that the Respondent was watching Ms. Dirks masturbate.
“3. On April 29,1999, the Respondent was charged in a two count complaint in the Sedgwick County District Court. Count one of the complaint alleged that the Respondent violated K.S.A. 21-3826 (traffic in contraband in a correctional institution), a level 6 nonperson felony. Count two of the complaint alleged that the Respondent violated K.S.A. 21-4301 (promoting obscenity), a class A nonperson misdemeanor.
“4. At the hearing on this matter, the Respondent testified that during the summer months of 1999, he began regularly using cocaine.
“5. On November 4,1999, the Respondent’s criminal case went before a jury. The jury found the Respondent not guilty of trafficking contraband in a correctional institution, but guilty of promoting obscenity. The Respondent was sentenced to serve six months in the county jail. The jail sentence was suspended and the Respondent was placed on probation for twenty-four months.
“6. On December 23,1999, Wallace R. Johnson retained the Respondent to represent Bobbi Foss on charges of driving after having been declared a habitual violator and driving without liability insurance. The Respondent told Mr. Johnson that his attorney fee for the representation would be $750. At that time, Mr. Johnson paid $500 of the fee.
“7. On January 25, 2000, immediately prior to Ms. Foss’ first appearance on the charges, the Respondent met with Mr. Johnson and Ms. Foss. The Respondent told Mr. Johnson and Ms. Foss that in order to make the appearance with Ms. Foss that day, the remaining $250 had to be paid. Mr. Johnson paid the Respondent $250. The Respondent appeared with Ms. Foss at the first appearance.
“8. After Ms. Foss’ first appearance, Ms. Foss and Mr. Johnson attempted to contact the Respondent on many occasions. The Respondent failed to return the telephone calls. At some point, Ms. Foss ran into the Respondent at a mutual friend’s house. The Respondent assured Ms. Foss that he was working on her [156]*156case. However, the Respondent’s failure to maintain communication with Ms. Foss continued.
“9. After being placed on probation, the Respondent was arrested for driving while his license was suspended, possession of drug paraphernalia, and possession of cocaine. As a result of his arrest, a probation violation warrant was issued. On March 21, 2000, the Respondent was arrested on the probation violation warrant. On that same day, the Respondent began having chest pains. The Respondent was transported to the Wesley Medical Center in Wichita. While at the hospital, a blood test was performed on the Respondent. The blood test indicated that the Respondent had used cocaine.
“10. Because she could not get into contact with the Respondent, shortly before the date set for trial, Ms. Foss contacted the District Court of Sedgwick County. Ms. Foss was informed by a judge that the Respondent was incarcerated, and would be unable to represent her.
Tl. At the time of trial, Ms. Foss appeared as ordered. The Respondent did not appear. The Respondent failed to withdraw from the representation of Ms. Foss. The Respondent failed to refund the fee paid by Mr. Johnson.
“12. Ms. Foss obtained new counsel and Mr. Johnson paid the new attorney a retainer of $1,000. Subsequently, Mr. Johnson was reimbursed a portion of the fee paid to the Respondent by the Client Protection Fund.
“13. After having served approximately two and a half months in jail, the Respondent was again placed on probation. At some point, the Respondent requested that his probation be revoked so that he could be placed in jail to complete his sentence. On December 23, 2000, the Respondent was released from jail, after completing the six month jail sentence for his conviction of promoting obscenity.
“14. At the hearing on this matter, the Respondent testified that he has not used cocaine since his arrest on March 21, 2000. However, the Respondent failed to provide any medical evidence to substantiate the treatment received. Additionally, the Respondent testified that he is currently under treatment for depression, but no records were provided to the Disciplinary Administrator’s Office or to the Hearing Panel regarding that treatment.
“15. The Respondent testified at the hearing held on his matter that he does not have an office for his law practice. The Respondent is currently living with his son in an apartment in Wichita, Kansas. The Respondent practices law from his son’s apartment. The Respondent testified that he has never employed a secretary to assist him in the practice of law.

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Related

In re Moore
84 P.3d 1045 (Supreme Court of Kansas, 2004)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
41 P.3d 831, 273 Kan. 154, 2002 Kan. LEXIS 86, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/in-re-moore-kan-2002.