TO BE PUBLISHED
Supreme Court of Kentucky 2024-SC-0375-KB
IN RE: WILLIAM DAVID RYE
IN SUPREME COURT
OPINION AND ORDER
William David Rye moves this Court, pursuant to Supreme Court Rule
(SCR) 3.480(2), to impose a sanction of a two-year suspension from the practice
of law for his violations of the Rules of Professional Conduct (SCR). The
Kentucky Bar Association (KBA) Office of Bar Counsel (OBC) has no objection
to Rye’s motion. For the following reasons, Rye’s motion for negotiated sanction
is granted, and the following sanctions imposed.
I. FACTS AND BACKGROUND
Rye was admitted to the practice of law in this Commonwealth on
October 23, 2000 (KBA member number 88550). His bar roster address is P.O.
Box 1039, Hopkinsville, Kentucky 42241.
The record reveals that Rye has a history of prior discipline dating back
to 2007, including a private admonition, two public reprimands, and multiple
suspensions from the practice of law. 1 Most recently, on June 15, 2023, Rye
1 Rye’s prior disciplinary history consists of multiple violations of the Rules of
Professional Conduct pertaining to competence (SCR 3.130(1.1), diligence (SCR was suspended from the practice of law in this Commonwealth for 181 days as
a result of his failure to comply with the terms of his probation as provided in a
December 2021 Opinion and Order of this Court. See Rye v. Ky. Bar Ass’n, 636
S.W.3d 129, 133 (Ky. 2021). However, it does not appear that Rye has been
reinstated to practice law, pursuant to SCR 3.502.
Relevant to his current disciplinary charges, Rye represented Scotty
Watson throughout 2019 in his defense to criminal charges of Trafficking in a
Controlled Substance, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and being a
Persistent Felony Offender in the first degree. Watson was ultimately convicted
and sentenced to twenty years of imprisonment. In September 2019, Rye filed a
notice of appeal to this Court on Watson’s behalf. Rye then moved for an
extension of time to file an appellant’s brief, which this Court granted. When
Rye missed that April 6, 2020, filing deadline, this Court again granted Rye
additional time to file an appellant’s brief up to March 15, 2021. Rye admits
that he never filed a brief on Watson’s behalf, yet he told Watson that he did
file a brief and was awaiting the Commonwealth’s response.
Unbeknownst to Watson, this Court dismissed Watson’s appeal in April
2021 for his failure to file an appellant’s brief. 2 At some point thereafter,
Watson learned that his appeal had been dismissed and, in November 2021,
3.130(1.3)), communication with one’s client (SCR 3.130(1.4)(a)), and responding to requests for information from the KBA (SCR 3.130(8.1)(b)). 2 This Court ultimately granted Watson’s motion for a belated appeal in May
2022. See Watson v. Commonwealth, No. 2019-SC-0595-MR, 2023 WL 6372895 (Ky. Sept. 28, 2023).
2 Watson filed a motion with the Lyon Circuit Court requesting that the court
order Rye to relinquish Watson’s client file to him. Rye admits that he did not
return Watson’s file. Watson then filed a Bar Complaint against Rye, which
serves as the basis for his current disciplinary charges. The record suggests
that Rye did file a Response to the Bar Complaint, but failed to respond to later
correspondence from the OBC requesting additional information not contained
in his initial Response. The KBA then charged Rye with five counts of
professional misconduct.
Rye now admits that his failure to file an appellant’s brief on Watson’s
behalf constitutes a violation of SCR 3.130(1.3), which states, “A lawyer shall
act with reasonable diligence and promptness in representing a client.”
Rye admits that when he lied to Watson about having filed an appellant’s
brief, he violated SCR 3.130(8.4)(c), which states, “It is professional misconduct
for a lawyer to . . . engage in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit or
misrepresentation[.]”
Rye admits that when he failed to inform Watson that his appeal had
been dismissed he violated SCR 3.130(1.4)(a)(3), which states, “A lawyer shall .
. . keep the client reasonably informed about the status of the matter[.]”
Rye admits that he failed to notify Watson of his intention to terminate
his representation and that he failed to return Watson’s client file to him. Rye
admits that this conduct violated SCR 3.130(1.16)(d), which states, “Upon
termination of representation, a lawyer shall take steps to the extent
reasonably practicable to protect a client’s interests, such as giving reasonable
3 notice to the client, allowing time for employment of other counsel, [and]
surrendering papers and property to which the client is entitled[.]”
Finally, Rye admits that when he failed to reply to emails from the OBC
regarding information lacking in his Response to his Bar Complaint, he violated
SCR 3.130(8.1)(b), which states, “[A] lawyer in connection . . . with a
disciplinary matter, shall not . . . knowingly fail to respond to a lawful demand
for information from an admissions or disciplinary authority[.]”
II. ANALYSIS
Pursuant to the negotiated sanctions rule, this Court “may consider
negotiated sanctions of disciplinary investigations, complaints or charges prior
to the commencement of a hearing before a Trial Commissioner[.]” SCR
3.480(2). “The Court may approve the sanction agreed to by the parties, or may
remand the case for hearing or other proceedings specified in the order of
remand.” Id. Both Rye and the OBC agree that Rye’s violations of the Rules of
Professional Conduct warrant a two-year suspension from the practice of law.
This Court agrees with the parties and observes that it has imposed similar
sanctions in cases involving similar misconduct committed by attorneys with
histories of discipline.
In Kentucky Bar Ass’n v. Neal, this Court considered the proper
suspension for an attorney, Neal, who faced disciplinary actions in two
separate cases. 986 S.W.2d 156, 157 (Ky. 1999). In the first matter, Neal failed
to timely file an appellate brief on behalf of his client. Id. at 156. The client’s
case was ultimately dismissed, and rather than tell his client about the
4 dismissal, Neal told his client that “things were fine.” Similarly to Rye in this
case, Neal violated the Rules of Professional Conduct pertaining to diligence,
dishonesty, and client communication. Id. at 156–57. In the second matter,
Neal failed to file a response to a motion for summary judgment against his
client. Id. at 157. As a result of Neal’s failure to respond, his client’s complaint
was dismissed. Id. When Neal’s client attempted to retrieve her client file, Neal
failed to return her phone calls. Id. When Neal finally relinquished the file to
his client, the file was incomplete. Id. Similarly to Rye in this case, Neal was
found to have violated the Rules of Professional Conduct pertaining to
diligence, client communication, and the surrender of the client’s papers and
property. Id. This Court suspended Neal from the practice of law for two years.
Id.
In Kentucky Bar Ass’n v. McDaniel, the attorney, McDaniel, failed to
prosecute a federal civil rights case on behalf of his client.
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TO BE PUBLISHED
Supreme Court of Kentucky 2024-SC-0375-KB
IN RE: WILLIAM DAVID RYE
IN SUPREME COURT
OPINION AND ORDER
William David Rye moves this Court, pursuant to Supreme Court Rule
(SCR) 3.480(2), to impose a sanction of a two-year suspension from the practice
of law for his violations of the Rules of Professional Conduct (SCR). The
Kentucky Bar Association (KBA) Office of Bar Counsel (OBC) has no objection
to Rye’s motion. For the following reasons, Rye’s motion for negotiated sanction
is granted, and the following sanctions imposed.
I. FACTS AND BACKGROUND
Rye was admitted to the practice of law in this Commonwealth on
October 23, 2000 (KBA member number 88550). His bar roster address is P.O.
Box 1039, Hopkinsville, Kentucky 42241.
The record reveals that Rye has a history of prior discipline dating back
to 2007, including a private admonition, two public reprimands, and multiple
suspensions from the practice of law. 1 Most recently, on June 15, 2023, Rye
1 Rye’s prior disciplinary history consists of multiple violations of the Rules of
Professional Conduct pertaining to competence (SCR 3.130(1.1), diligence (SCR was suspended from the practice of law in this Commonwealth for 181 days as
a result of his failure to comply with the terms of his probation as provided in a
December 2021 Opinion and Order of this Court. See Rye v. Ky. Bar Ass’n, 636
S.W.3d 129, 133 (Ky. 2021). However, it does not appear that Rye has been
reinstated to practice law, pursuant to SCR 3.502.
Relevant to his current disciplinary charges, Rye represented Scotty
Watson throughout 2019 in his defense to criminal charges of Trafficking in a
Controlled Substance, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and being a
Persistent Felony Offender in the first degree. Watson was ultimately convicted
and sentenced to twenty years of imprisonment. In September 2019, Rye filed a
notice of appeal to this Court on Watson’s behalf. Rye then moved for an
extension of time to file an appellant’s brief, which this Court granted. When
Rye missed that April 6, 2020, filing deadline, this Court again granted Rye
additional time to file an appellant’s brief up to March 15, 2021. Rye admits
that he never filed a brief on Watson’s behalf, yet he told Watson that he did
file a brief and was awaiting the Commonwealth’s response.
Unbeknownst to Watson, this Court dismissed Watson’s appeal in April
2021 for his failure to file an appellant’s brief. 2 At some point thereafter,
Watson learned that his appeal had been dismissed and, in November 2021,
3.130(1.3)), communication with one’s client (SCR 3.130(1.4)(a)), and responding to requests for information from the KBA (SCR 3.130(8.1)(b)). 2 This Court ultimately granted Watson’s motion for a belated appeal in May
2022. See Watson v. Commonwealth, No. 2019-SC-0595-MR, 2023 WL 6372895 (Ky. Sept. 28, 2023).
2 Watson filed a motion with the Lyon Circuit Court requesting that the court
order Rye to relinquish Watson’s client file to him. Rye admits that he did not
return Watson’s file. Watson then filed a Bar Complaint against Rye, which
serves as the basis for his current disciplinary charges. The record suggests
that Rye did file a Response to the Bar Complaint, but failed to respond to later
correspondence from the OBC requesting additional information not contained
in his initial Response. The KBA then charged Rye with five counts of
professional misconduct.
Rye now admits that his failure to file an appellant’s brief on Watson’s
behalf constitutes a violation of SCR 3.130(1.3), which states, “A lawyer shall
act with reasonable diligence and promptness in representing a client.”
Rye admits that when he lied to Watson about having filed an appellant’s
brief, he violated SCR 3.130(8.4)(c), which states, “It is professional misconduct
for a lawyer to . . . engage in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit or
misrepresentation[.]”
Rye admits that when he failed to inform Watson that his appeal had
been dismissed he violated SCR 3.130(1.4)(a)(3), which states, “A lawyer shall .
. . keep the client reasonably informed about the status of the matter[.]”
Rye admits that he failed to notify Watson of his intention to terminate
his representation and that he failed to return Watson’s client file to him. Rye
admits that this conduct violated SCR 3.130(1.16)(d), which states, “Upon
termination of representation, a lawyer shall take steps to the extent
reasonably practicable to protect a client’s interests, such as giving reasonable
3 notice to the client, allowing time for employment of other counsel, [and]
surrendering papers and property to which the client is entitled[.]”
Finally, Rye admits that when he failed to reply to emails from the OBC
regarding information lacking in his Response to his Bar Complaint, he violated
SCR 3.130(8.1)(b), which states, “[A] lawyer in connection . . . with a
disciplinary matter, shall not . . . knowingly fail to respond to a lawful demand
for information from an admissions or disciplinary authority[.]”
II. ANALYSIS
Pursuant to the negotiated sanctions rule, this Court “may consider
negotiated sanctions of disciplinary investigations, complaints or charges prior
to the commencement of a hearing before a Trial Commissioner[.]” SCR
3.480(2). “The Court may approve the sanction agreed to by the parties, or may
remand the case for hearing or other proceedings specified in the order of
remand.” Id. Both Rye and the OBC agree that Rye’s violations of the Rules of
Professional Conduct warrant a two-year suspension from the practice of law.
This Court agrees with the parties and observes that it has imposed similar
sanctions in cases involving similar misconduct committed by attorneys with
histories of discipline.
In Kentucky Bar Ass’n v. Neal, this Court considered the proper
suspension for an attorney, Neal, who faced disciplinary actions in two
separate cases. 986 S.W.2d 156, 157 (Ky. 1999). In the first matter, Neal failed
to timely file an appellate brief on behalf of his client. Id. at 156. The client’s
case was ultimately dismissed, and rather than tell his client about the
4 dismissal, Neal told his client that “things were fine.” Similarly to Rye in this
case, Neal violated the Rules of Professional Conduct pertaining to diligence,
dishonesty, and client communication. Id. at 156–57. In the second matter,
Neal failed to file a response to a motion for summary judgment against his
client. Id. at 157. As a result of Neal’s failure to respond, his client’s complaint
was dismissed. Id. When Neal’s client attempted to retrieve her client file, Neal
failed to return her phone calls. Id. When Neal finally relinquished the file to
his client, the file was incomplete. Id. Similarly to Rye in this case, Neal was
found to have violated the Rules of Professional Conduct pertaining to
diligence, client communication, and the surrender of the client’s papers and
property. Id. This Court suspended Neal from the practice of law for two years.
Id.
In Kentucky Bar Ass’n v. McDaniel, the attorney, McDaniel, failed to
prosecute a federal civil rights case on behalf of his client. 193 S.W.3d 752,
753 (Ky. 2006). The client’s case was ultimately dismissed for a lack of
prosecution, and McDaniel was alleged to have told his client that the case was
“proceeding well,” even though he knew that the case had been dismissed. Id.
McDaniel failed to respond to any communications from the KBA about the
resulting disciplinary charges against him. Id. Similarly to Rye, McDaniel was
found to have violated the Rules of Professional Conduct pertaining to
diligence, client communication, dishonesty, and communication with the KBA.
Id. Also similarly to Rye, McDaniel had a history of prior disciplinary actions,
including multiple suspensions from the practice of law. Id. at 753. This Court
5 ultimately suspended McDaniel from the practice of law for two years. Id. at
754.
In Kentucky Bar Ass’n v. Leadingham, the Respondent attorney,
Leadingham, was charged with various ethical violations for his failure to
prosecute two separate appeals for two different clients. 317 S.W.3d 589, 589–
90 (Ky. 2010). In one case, Leadingham properly filed a notice of appeal for his
client but failed to file an appellant’s brief in the Court of Appeals. Id. at 589.
As a result, Leadingham’s client’s appeal was eventually dismissed. Id. at 589–
90. Similarly to Rye, Leadingham’s failure to file an appellate brief on behalf of
his client resulted in a charge that Leadingham violated the Rule of
Professional Conduct pertaining to diligence. Id. at 590. This Court also noted
that Leadingham was a “frequent offender,” who had previously received
multiple suspensions from the practice of law and a public reprimand. Id. at
590–91. We again note that, like Leadingham, Rye has a similar history of
disciplinary proceedings with the KBA. In Leadingham, this Court ultimately
rejected the KBA’s recommendation that the attorney receive a sixty-one-day
suspension and instead suspended him from the practice of law for 181 days.
Id. at 591.
Having considered the facts underlying Rye’s current disciplinary
charges, Rye’s prior disciplinary history, Rye’s participation in the present
matter, and the relevant case law, this Court agrees with the parties and
concludes that a two-year suspension from the practice of law is an
appropriate sanction.
6 ACCORDINGLY, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED THAT:
1. William David Rye is found guilty of violating SCR 3.130(1.3), SCR
3.130(8.4)(c), SCR 3.130(1.4)(a)(3), SCR 3.130(1.16)(d), SCR 3.130(8.1)(b);
2. Pursuant to SCR 3.380, Rye is suspended from the practice of law in the
Commonwealth of Kentucky for a period of two years; and
3. Pursuant to SCR 3.450, Rye shall pay all costs associated with this
proceeding, totaling $751.33.
All sitting. All concur.
ENTERED: September 26, 2024.
______________________________________ CHIEF JUSTICE