State ex rel. Okla. Bar Ass'n v. Scott, Case Number: SCBD-5992

• Decision Date: 04 March 2014
• Docket Number: OBAD-1953,Case Number: SCBD-5992
• Citation: 2014 OK 13
• Parties: STATE OF OKLAHOMA ex rel. Oklahoma Bar Association, Complainant, v. JOEL EDWARD SCOTT, III Respondent.
• Court: Oklahoma Supreme Court

2014 OK 13

STATE OF OKLAHOMA ex rel. Oklahoma Bar Association, Complainant,

v. JOEL EDWARD SCOTT, III Respondent.

Case Number: SCBD-5992

OBAD-1953

SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA

Decided: March 4, 2014

NOTICE: THIS OPINION HAS NOT BEEN RELEASED FOR PUBLICATION. UNTIL RELEASED, IT IS SUBJECT TO REVISION OR WITHDRAWAL.

ORDER APPROVING RESIGNATION

¶1 Before this Court is an affidavit filed by Joel Edward Scott, III, pursuant to Rule 8.1, Rules Governing Disciplinary Proceedings (RGDP), 5 O.S. 2011, Ch. 1, App. 1-A , requesting that he be allowed to resign his membership in the Oklahoma Bar Association and relinquish his right to practice law. The Oklahoma Bar Association has filed an Application for Order Approving Resignation Pending Disciplinary Proceedings.

¶2 UPON CONSIDERATION OF THE MATTER WE FIND:

1. The Respondent, Joel Edward Scott, III, OBA # 21350, executed his resignation pending disciplinary proceedings on February 13, 2014.

2. The Respondent was admitted to the practice of law on September 26, 2006, and his official and current roster address with the Oklahoma Bar Association is 4301 N.W. 63rd Street, Suite 211, Oklahoma City, OK 73116.

3. The Respondent's resignation is freely and voluntarily tendered; he is not acting under coercion or duress and he is fully aware of the consequences of submitting his resignation.

4. The Respondent acknowledges receipt and service and is aware of an amended complaint filed on October 14, 2013, and currently pending against him, alleging seven (7) counts of professional misconduct and violation of his oath as an attorney. The allegations against the Respondent are set forth in the amended complaint which is attached hereto as "Exhibit A" and made a part hereof.

5. The Respondent acknowledges that the allegations in the amended complaint regarding his conduct, if proven, would violate Rules 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.4, 1.14(a)(c)(d) and (e), 1.16(d), 3.2, 5.5, 8.1(b) and 8.4(a)(b)(c) and (d) of the Oklahoma Rules of Professional Conduct (ORPC), 5 O.S. 2011, Ch. 1, App. 3-A, and Rules 1.3 and 5.2 of the RGDP, as well as his oath as an attorney.

6. The Respondent is aware that a disciplinary hearing is scheduled before the Professional Responsibility Tribunal at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, February 18, 2014, through Thursday, February 20, 2014, at the Oklahoma Bar Center. The Respondent is aware that the burden of proof rests upon the Oklahoma Bar Association and he has voluntarily waived any and all right to contest the allegations.

7. The Respondent is aware of the following grievances filed with the Office of the General Counsel of the Oklahoma Bar Association and the pending investigations thereof, TO WIT:

a) DC 13-148: Grievance filed by the Office of the General Counsel of the Oklahoma Bar Association, alleging that the Respondent's IOLTA client trust account was overdrawn on September 3 and September 5, 2013. .

b) DC 13-149: Grievance filed by Terry Frazier, alleging that the Respondent assisted a client in filing a fraudulent lien in the amount of $31,225.00 on real property owned by the complainant in Cleveland County, Oklahoma, following the tornado on May 20, 2013.

c) DC 13-181: Grievance filed by Kenneth Owens, alleging that the Respondent assisted a client in filing a fraudulent lien in the amount of $59,600.00 on real property owned by the complainant in Oklahoma County, Oklahoma, following the tornado on May 20, 2013.

8. The Respondent acknowledges that the allegations set forth in the above grievances, if proven, would constitution violations of Rules 1.1, 1.2(d), 1.15, 3.1 and 8.4(a)(b)(c) and (d) of the ORPC, and Rule 1.3 of the RGDP, as well as his oath as an attorney. The Respondent is aware that the burden of proof regarding these allegations rests upon the Oklahoma Bar Association and he waives any and all right to contest the allegations.

9. The Respondent recognizes that the approval or disapproval of his resignation is at the discretion of this Court. He recognizes and agrees he may be reinstated to the practice of law only upon full compliance with the conditions and procedures described by the Rules Governing Disciplinary Proceedings, and he may make no application for reinstatement prior to the expiration of five (5) years from the effective date of this order;

10. The Respondent has familiarized himself with and has agreed to comply with Rule 9.1, RGDP, within twenty (20) days following the date of his resignation.

11. The Respondent is aware the Oklahoma Bar Association has incurred costs in the investigation and prosecution of this

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