Scalf v. Kentucky Bar Ass'n

11 S.W.3d 34, 2000 Ky. LEXIS 21, 2000 WL 217660
CourtKentucky Supreme Court
DecidedFebruary 24, 2000
DocketNo. 2000-SC-0025-KB
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 11 S.W.3d 34 (Scalf v. Kentucky Bar Ass'n) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Kentucky Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Scalf v. Kentucky Bar Ass'n, 11 S.W.3d 34, 2000 Ky. LEXIS 21, 2000 WL 217660 (Ky. 2000).

Opinion

OPINION AND ORDER

William M. Scalf, who was admitted to the practice of law in Kentucky in 1967, and whose last known address was Corbin, Kentucky, moves this Court pursuant to SCR 3.480(3) to enter an order permitting him to resign under terms of disbarment. The KBA, recognizing that Scalf has not been served with a copy of the charges in KBA files 7074, 7323, 7410, 7481, and 7562, nor has he been served with a copy of the complaints in KBA files 7578, 7606, 7635, 7653, 7655, 7657, 7658, 7659, 7676, 7677, 7678, 7695 and 7698, does not object to the motion. Scalf acknowledges his misconduct in the following eighteen pending disciplinary matters:

In Charge No. 7074, Scalf represented a client in a personal injury action on a contingency fee basis. Throughout the representation, Scalf received eleven checks from the defendant’s insurance company which were reimbursements for the client’s medical expenses. The checks were made out to the client in care of Scalf. Of the eleven checks, the client endorsed eight of them and was only given two-thirds of the proceeds. Three other checks were endorsed with forged signatures and deposited into Scalfs escrow account. The client did not receive the proceeds of two of these checks in a timely fashion.

Although the client’s case was later settled for $13,000, Scalf did not inform her until almost two months later and even then told her it had settled for $12,000. The client never endorsed the settlement check nor signed the settlement release. The client eventually received the other $1,000, minus Scalfs fee, after she contact[35]*35ed the insurance company and was properly advised of the situation.

In Count I, the Inquiry Commission charged Scalf with violating SCR 3.130-8.3(c) when he forged the client’s signature on various checks, including the settlement check; forged the names on the settlement release; lied about the correct amount of the settlement; and deposited money in his trust account without his client’s knowledge. In Count II, Scalf is charged with violating SCR 3.130-5-3(c) when his secretary forged the name of the client on various checks, including the settlement check and the release without her knowledge.

In Count III, Scalf is charged with violating SCR 3.130-1.15(b) when he failed to deliver to the client the $13,000 settlement check and the proceeds of two medical reimbursement checks promptly. In Count IV, he is charged with violating SCR 3.130-1.4(a) when he failed to inform his client that he was negotiating a settlement of her personal injury case, and delayed for two months telling her that the case had been settled. In Count V, Scalf is charged with violating SCR 3.130-1.2(a) for failing to discuss with his client a settlement offer from an insurance company regarding her personal injury case.

In Count VI, Scalf is charged with violating SCR 3.130-1.4(b) for failing to explain a settlement offer to his client in order to allow her to either accept or reject the offer. In Count VII, he is charged with violating SCR 3.130-1.5(a) for charging a contingency fee for medical reimbursements that was not provided for in his contingency fee agreement with his client. In Count VIII, Scalf is charged with violating SCR 3.130-1.1 for failing to provide competent representation to his client in her personal injury action.

Charge No. 7323, stems from Scalfs representation of a client in a personal injury case which resulted while the client was incarcerated. The retainer agreement the parties entered specifically stated that the representation was for pending cases or any cases to be filed in “the Board of Claims and Applicable Court.” At the time the representation began, the client had previously filed, pro se, an action in Federal District Court for the Western District of Kentucky and also had a case pending with the Kentucky Board of Claims. Scalf became aware of these cases on or about February 28,1994. Several months later the federal case was dismissed because the client failed to provide the court with his current address. Scalf never entered his appearance in this case and failed to file any pleading to try to overturn the court’s order of dismissal.

In September of 1994, the attorney of record in the Board of Claims case withdrew his representation so that Scalf could enter his appearance. Scalf later represented the client at a hearing on the claim. The hearing officer overruled the request by Scalf for a continuance in order to depose various witnesses, but agreed to allow him ample time after the hearing to take the depositions. Despite this extension of time, Scalf failed to complete the proof. The matter is still pending although Scalf has withdrawn from the case.

In Count I of the charge, the Inquiry Commission charged Scalf with a violation of SCR 3.130-1.3 for failing to enter his appearance in a pending federal case, fading to file any pleading to overturn the dismissal order, and failing to complete proof in a Board of Claims case after requesting the hearing officer to keep the matter open.

In Charge No. 7410, Scalf represented clients in a matter involving a land dispute. After the clients paid him $5,000, Scalf failed to return their telephone calls, failed to provide them with any documentation of what he was doing on their behalf and never filed their civil complaint. After being discharged, Scalf returned about half the clients’ money. He never returned their file when requested to do so.

In Count I of the charge, the Inquiry Commission charged Scalf with a violation [36]*36of SCR 3.130-1.4(a) for failing to return his clients’ calls and respond to inquiries regarding the status of their civil case. In Count II, he is charged with violating SCR 3.130-1.3 for failing to file a civil complaint for his clients in a land dispute matter promptly. In Count III, Sealf is charged with violating SCR 3.130 — 1.6(d) for failing to provide his clients with a copy of their file when requested to do so. In Count IV, he is charged with violating SCR 3.130 — 8.1(b) for knowingly failing to respond to a lawful demand for information from an admissions or disciplinary authority-

Charge No. 7481 results from Scalfs representation in a criminal matter in which the client was under a sentence of fifty years in prison. Sealf represented the client on direct appeal and also filed a verified motion to vacate and set aside the sentence pursuant to RCr 11.42. After the trial court denied the RCr 11.42 motion, the Ghent’s wife paid Sealf $2,500 to continue to represent her husband and appeal the trial court’s ruling.

Sealf filed a notice of appeal but the record was never certified. The Court of Appeals issued a Show Cause Order requesting the client to show cause why the appeal should not be dismissed for failure to obtain certification of the record. Sealf, on behalf of his client, failed to respond to the Show Cause Order or file a motion for extension or enlargement of time and the appeal was dismissed.

The client’s wife was unable to contact Sealf either by telephone or certified letter to find out the status of the case. She eventually hired another attorney who filed a belated appeal for her husband.

In Count I of the charge, the Inquiry Commission charged Sealf with a violation of SCR 3.130-1.3 for failing to certify the record on an appeal and failing to respond to a Show Cause Order which caused the appeal to be dismissed. In Count II, Sealf is charged with violating SCR 3.130-1.4(a) for failing to return his client’s calls and responding to inquiries regarding the status of his client’s appeal.

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Related

Radolovich v. KENTUCKY BAR ASS'N
282 S.W.3d 327 (Kentucky Supreme Court, 2009)
Kentucky Bar Ass'n v. Scalf
42 S.W.3d 622 (Kentucky Supreme Court, 2001)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
11 S.W.3d 34, 2000 Ky. LEXIS 21, 2000 WL 217660, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/scalf-v-kentucky-bar-assn-ky-2000.