STATE ex rel. OKLAHOMA BAR ASSOCIATION v. DRUMMOND

2017 OK 24, 393 P.3d 207, 2017 Okla. LEXIS 26, 2017 WL 1153408
Supreme Court of Oklahoma·Decided March 28, 2017·No. SCBD 6368, SCBD 6444 (combined for purposes of published opinion)·Published·Cited by 47 cases

Opinion

GURICH, V.C.J.

Facts and Procedural History

Rule 7 Proceeding

¶ 1 L. Caroline Drummond 1 was employed as counsel for Michael Ross Kettles in connection with Tulsa County District Court Case No. CF-2013-4788. Kettles was incarcerated in the David L. Moss Criminal Justice Center. The pah- had an existing relationship, which originated in 1997, when Drummond was Kettles’ English teacher at Skiatook High School. In early 2015, the two reconnected on social media and their relationship became more personal.

¶2 According to Drummond, Kettles began requesting access to a cell phone. After multiple requests from Kettles, Drummond finally relented. After obtaining a phone from her carrier, Drummond scheduled a meeting with Kettles at the Tulsa County jail facility. As an attorney, she was permitted to have *211 direct contact visits with clients. During their conference Drummond, covertly supplied Kettles with the cell phone and charger. The phone was placed in Drummond’s legal file and transferred to Kettles by handing him the folder, Drummond also provided Kettles with cigarettes. The illicit items were subsequently discovered by detention officer Jessica Hams on May 15, 2015. During her confiscation of the contraband, Kettles assaulted Officer Harris to prevent her from confiscating the items.

¶ 3 Tulsa County Sheriff employee Corporal Bradley Philpott initiated an investigation to determine the source of the smuggled objects located in Kettles’ cell. Corporal Phil-pott subpoenaed records from AT&T and had a forensic expert examine the contents of the phone. He also requested an interview with Drummond. After delaying for several weeks, Drummond finally met with Corporal Philpott on June 8, 2015. She confessed to providing Kettles with all of the contraband.

¶ 4 On July 30, 2015, a criminal matter was filed against Drummond in State of Oklahoma v. L. Caroline Dnmmond, Tulsa County District Court Case No. CP-2015-3921. The district attorney charged her with one felony count of bringing contraband into a penal institution in violation of 57 O.S.Supp. 2012 21. On February 23, 2016, Drummond pled guilty to the felony. An order deferring sentencing for two years was filed the following day. Review of the matter is scheduled for February 12, 2018.

¶ 5 On February 26, 2016, the Oklahoma Bar Association presented this Court with a certified copy of an Order of Deferred Sentence in the above-referenced criminal proceeding. A disciplinary case was initiated pursuant to Rule 7.2 of the Rules Governing Disciplinary Proceedings. 2 In accordance with RGDP Rule 7.3, we entered an order immediately suspending Drummond from the practice of law on March 7, 2016. The order further directed Drummond to “show cause, if any, no later than March 18, 2016, why [the] order of interim suspension should be set aside.” In response, Drummond filed a pleading waiving any challenge to the interim suspension and requesting a hearing to offer evidence pertaining to final disciplinary action. We issued an order appointing a PRT panel and scheduling a hearing for April 19, 2016, to allow presentation of evidence on the issues of mitigation and appropriate discipline.

¶ 6 Subsequent to the interim suspension, Drummond continued to engage in the practice of law. Testimony indicated Drummond met with a divorce client, Gary Vance, on March 15 and 21, 2016, in preparation for an upcoming mediation. On March 24, 2016, Drummond forwarded correspondence to opposing counsel, her client, and the designated mediator. The letter failed to mention the suspension order, identified Drummond as an attorney, and continued to advocate her client’s position in the divorce proceeding. Drummond filed a sworn affidavit in this Court on March 28, 2016, attesting to her withdrawal from “all cases pending in any tribunal.” The next day, on March 29, 2016, Drummond appeared for the scheduled mediation with her client, who had driven to Oklahoma City from Pawnee, Oklahoma. After opposing counsel revealed Drummond’s suspension, the mediator prohibited her from participating any further in the session. Vance was forced to conduct the mediation without counsel. At no time prior to the March 29 mediation did Drummond inform Vance she had been suspended. 3 An exhibit presented by the OBA indicates Drummond did not even file a motion to withdraw in the Vance divorce matter until April 4, 2016— one week after filing her RGDP Rule 9.1 affidavit in this Court.

¶ 7 A hearing before the PRT was held on April 19, 2016. The panel report recommended Drummond be suspended for a period of one-year, effective from the date of *212 interim suspension. Additionally, the PRT recommended Drummond be monitored by the OBA following reinstatement through the remainder of her deferred sentence. The panel also suggested she participate in the Lawyers Helping Lawyers program. Both Drummond’s and the OBA’s briefs to this Court endorsed the PRT report and recommendation.

Rule 6 Proceeding

¶ 8 On September 6, 2016, while the Rule 7 case was pending in this Court, the OBA filed a second proceeding against Drum-mond. The new case was brought pursuant to Rule 6 and asserted multiple violations of the Oklahoma Rules of Professional Conduct, including, but not limited to: failing to act with reasonable diligence and promptness; failing to properly communicate with her client; commingling client funds with her operating account; misappropriating client funds for her own personal use; failing to maintain a client trust account; acting with dishonesty, deceit and misrepresentation; failing to sufficiently cooperate and respond to the OBA grievances; and engaging in the unauthorized practice of law. The allegations of misconduct in the Rule 6 Complaint occurred prior to Drummond’s guilty plea and deferred sentence.

¶ 9 In September or October of 2015, Drummond was hired by Marie Cortez to assist with resolving an attorney fee dispute between Cortez and attorney Duane Riffe. Cortez was the maternal grandmother and legal guardian of minor child A.M. An automobile accident had claimed the life of A.M.’s mother, Samantha Ruvancalba. 4 Riffe originally represented Cortez in the matter. He helped secure insurance settlement proceeds of $25,000.00 and $50,000.00, which were payable to A.M. from two separate policies. According to testimony before the PRT, no written attorney client contract was executed by Cortez and Riffe. Riffe asserted an attorney’s lien against the proceeds from the $ 50,000.00 policy, and the matter was set for hearing in Tulsa County District Court Case No. CJ-2014-612.

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STATE ex rel. OKLAHOMA BAR ASSOCIATION v. DRUMMOND, 2017 OK 24, 393 P.3d 207, 2017 Okla. LEXIS 26, 2017 WL 1153408 (Okla. 2017).

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