In Re Petition for DISCIPLINARY ACTION AGAINST Alan F. PENDLETON, a Minnesota Attorney, Registration No. 0121538 , 2016 Minn. LEXIS 116 ( 2016 )

STATE OF MINNESOTA
fl March 16, 2016
Om:c OF
IN SUPREME COURT AJII!'B.lA'IECGUtTS
A16-0240
In re Petition for Disciplinary Action against
Jaren Lee Johnson, a Minnesota Attorney,
Registration No. 0290427.
ORDER
The Director of the Office of Lawyers Professional Responsibility has filed a
petition for disciplinary action alleging that respondent Jaren Lee Johnson committed
professional misconduct warranting public discipline-namely, failing to timely provide
discovery requests to a client and to submit discovery responses to opposing counsel;
failing to inform a client regarding the status of the case and to respond to the client's
requests for information; making a false statement to opposing counsel; and failing to
properly withdraw from representation. See Minn. R. Prof. Conduct 1.3, 1.4(a)(l),
1.4(a)(3), 1.4(a)(4), 1.4(b), 1.16(d), 3.4(d), 4.1, and 8.4(d).
Respondent waives his rights under Rule 14, Rules on Lawyers Professional
Responsibility (RLPR), unconditionally admits the allegations in the petition, and with the
Director recommends that the appropriate discipline is a 30-day suspension followed by 2
years of probation.
The court has independently reviewed the file and approves the recommended
disposition.
Based upon all the files, records, and proceedings herein,
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED THAT:
1. Respondent Jaren Lee Johnson is suspended from the practice of law for a
minimum of 30 days, effective 14 days from the date of this order.
2. Respondent shall comply with Rule 26, RLPR (requiring notice of
suspension to clients, opposing counsel, and tribunals).
3. Respondent shall pay $900 in costs pursuant to Rule 24, RLPR.
4. Respondent shall be eligible for reinstatement to the practice of law
following the expiration of the suspension period provided that, not less than 15 days before
the end of the suspension period, respondent files with the Clerk of Appellate Courts and
serves upon the Director an affidavit establishing that he is current in continuing legal
education requirements, has complied with Rules 24 and 26, RLPR, and has complied with
any other conditions for reinstatement imposed by the court.
5. Within 1 year of the date of this order, respondent shall file with the Clerk of
Appellate Courts and serve upon the Director proof of successful completion of the
professional responsibility portion of the state bar examination. Failure to timely file the
required documentation shall result in automatic re-suspension, as provided in
Rule 18(e)(3), RLPR.
6. Upon reinstatement to the practice of law, respondent shall be subject to
probation for 2 years, subject to the following conditions:
(a) Respondent shall cooperate fully with the Director's Office in its efforts to
monitor compliance with this probation. Respondent shall promptly respond to the
Director's correspondence by its due date. Respondent shall provide the Director
with a current mailing address and shall immediately notify the Director of any
change of address. Respondent shall cooperate with the Director's investigation of
2
any allegations of unprofessional conduct that may come to the Director's attention.
Upon the Director's request, respondent shall provide authorization for release of
information and documentation to verify respondent's compliance with the terms of
this probation; and
(b) Respondent shall abide by the Minnesota Rules of Professional Conduct.
Dated: March 16, 2016 BY THE COURT:
David R. Stras
Associate Justice
3