State ex rel. Counsel for Dis. v. Person , 301 Neb. 661 ( 2018 )

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STATE EX REL. COUNSEL FOR DIS. v. PERSON
Cite as 301 Neb. 661State of Nebraska ex rel. Counsel for Discipline
of the Nebraska Supreme Court, relator,
v. K ent E. Person, respondent.
___ N.W.2d ___
Filed November 30, 2018. No. S-17-556.
1. Disciplinary Proceedings. Attorney discipline cases are original pro-
ceedings before the Nebraska Supreme Court, and the court reviews a
referee’s recommendations de novo on the record, reaching a conclusion
independent of the referee’s findings.
2. ____. The basic issues in a disciplinary proceeding against an attorney
are whether the Nebraska Supreme Court should impose discipline and,
if so, the appropriate discipline under the circumstances.
3. ____. The goal in disciplining attorneys in attorney discipline proceed-
ings is not as much punishment as it is a determination of whether it is
in the public interest to allow an attorney to keep practicing law.
4. ____. The determination of an appropriate penalty to be imposed on
an attorney in a disciplinary proceeding requires consideration of any
aggravating or mitigating factors.
5. ____. The Nebraska Supreme Court considers the following factors in
determining whether and to what extent discipline should be imposed:
(1) the nature of the offense, (2) the need for deterring others, (3) the
maintenance of the reputation of the bar as a whole, (4) the protection
of the public, (5) the attitude of the offender generally, and (6) the
offender’s present and future fitness to continue in the practice of law.
Original action. Judgment of suspension.
John W. Steele, Assistant Counsel for Discipline, for
relator.
Kent E. Person, pro se.
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STATE EX REL. COUNSEL FOR DIS. v. PERSON
Cite as 301 Neb. 661Heavican, C.J., Miller-Lerman, Cassel, Stacy, Funke,
Papik, and Freudenberg, JJ.
Per Curiam.
INTRODUCTION
The Counsel for Discipline of the Nebraska Supreme Court
filed formal charges against Kent E. Person, alleging ethi-
cal violations. At the hearing before the referee, Person, a
Nebraska licensed attorney, admitted to violating his oath of
office as an attorney, as well as Neb. Ct. R. of Prof. Cond.
§§ 3-501.1 (competence), 3-501.3 (diligence), 3-501.4 (com-
munications), 3-503.3 (candor toward tribunal), and 3-508.4
(misconduct). We order an indefinite suspension from the
practice of law for a minimum of 2 years, followed by a 2-year
period of probation.
BACKGROUND
Person was admitted to the practice of law in the State
of Nebraska on June 24, 1968. Person began practicing as
an attorney in 1970, working with his father in Holdrege,
Nebraska.
Person was retained by complainant to administer the estate
of complainant’s mother following her passing on November
16, 2007. The following timeline is placed against the back-
drop of repeated, and rarely answered, communications by
complainant over the 8 years that Person was purporting to
administer the estate of complainant’s mother.
On January 22, 2008, Person opened the estate informally
in Phelps County Court, at which time, complainant was
appointed as the estate’s personal representative. After no fur-
ther action had taken place with regard to the estate, on June
3, the clerk magistrate sent Person a notification reminding
him that the estate inventory had been due on April 22. Person
filed the initial inventory on December 1, over 7 months after
the statutorily mandated filing date.
In connection with meeting federal tax reporting require-
ments, Person contacted complainant on November 25, 2008,
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Cite as 301 Neb. 661to request that he come to Person’s office to sign the “Federal
Estate Tax Return, Form 706.” After complainant signed the
form, Person told complainant that he, Person, would file the
form. Person ultimately failed to do so. Person withheld from
complainant that the form should have been filed within 9
months of complainant’s mother’s death, a deadline that had
passed over 3 months earlier. Person further withheld informa-
tion regarding penalties and interest that would result from the
missed deadline.
As a result of the case’s being open in excess of 18 months,
the clerk magistrate sent a notification to Person requesting
that a “‘status letter’” be filed with the court by August 15,
2009. After Person failed to file the ordered status letter, the
clerk magistrate issued a show cause order to Person, setting
the matter for hearing on October 19. The result of the hear-
ing is not clear from the record. On April 6, 2010, the clerk
magistrate sent another communication to Person, seeking a
report on the status of the estate. Receiving no reply or status
letter, the clerk magistrate issued a second show cause order on
May 19 to determine the reason for the lack of movement with
regard to the estate and set the matter for hearing.
On June 7, 2010, Person filed a status letter with the Phelps
County Court, advising that a determination of the estate’s
assets had been difficult due to title discrepancies. Person indi-
cated that “[w]e have prepared and filed a Federal Estate Tax
Return in this estate.” Person went on to state that “[w]e will
be filing an Inventory with this estate within thirty (30) days
and will proceed to file the Inventory within thirty (30)
days with the Internal Revenue Service on the 706 that has
been filed and the remaining papers within thirty (30) days.”
(Emphasis supplied.) The federal estate tax form had not been
filed at the time Person made this statement.
Having again not heard from Person or any representative
of the estate, the clerk magistrate sent a letter on January 13,
2011, indicating that a status update on the case was required.
Person again failed to respond or file a status update. On May
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Cite as 301 Neb. 66113, the clerk magistrate issued a third order to show cause, set-
ting the matter for hearing on June 6. The result of the sched-
uled June 6 hearing is not clear from the record; however, on
June 7, Person filed an amended inventory.
With the estate still open and no further action occurring
following the June 7, 2011, filing, on January 10, 2012, the
clerk magistrate issued a fourth order to show cause and set
the matter for a hearing on February 8. Person failed to appear
at that hearing. With no further action occurring in regard to
the estate, on September 17, the clerk magistrate issued a fifth
order to show cause, setting the matter for hearing on October
1. The record is unclear as to the result of the September 17
order; however, the clerk magistrate sent a sixth order to show
cause on November 30, setting a hearing for December 17.
On December 14, 2012, complainant signed a petition for
determination of inheritance tax and maintained that until
that date, he was not aware he was required to pay an inher­
itance tax. At the hearing on December 17, Person reportedly
indicated that he would be closing the estate by the end of
the year.
On April 25, 2013, Person filed an amended inventory, a
petition for determination of inheritance tax, and an inher-
itance tax worksheet. The petition for determination of
inheritance tax contains the following: “The Inheritance Tax
Worksheet states the clear market value of all assets of the
Decedent, the proper deductions and the correct computation
of the Nebraska Inheritance Tax, which should be determined
and assessed as stated therein, and the Worksheet is incorpo-
rated by this reference.” (Emphasis supplied.) The inheritance
tax worksheet referenced shows a deduction of $55,415 for
attorney fees. During the hearing regarding discipline, the
referee questioned Person about the attorney fees, to which
Person responded that he had not received any payment. In
response to further questioning, Person indicated that the
amount listed on the worksheet was the agreed-upon fee for
Person’s services; however, Person further indicated that he
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Cite as 301 Neb. 661had never charged complainant and that he felt he had not
earned the fees.
In addition to the misrepresentations that Person had made
to the probate judge stating that he had filed the tax form,
the referee concluded that Person made a false statement in
the petition for determination of inheritance tax and on the
inheritance tax worksheet he filed with the court, because a
deduction for attorney fees had been claimed but never paid by
the estate.
On April 25, 2013, an order assessing the inheritance tax
was filed. However, Person had not informed complainant
that the state inheritance tax was past due and was accruing
interest and penalties according to Neb. Rev. Stat. § 77-2010(Reissue 2009). Under § 77-2010, interest will accrue at a
rate set by the Legislature under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 45-104.01(Reissue 2010), which was 14 percent. Additionally, accord-
ing to § 77-2010, a consequence for not filing the appropri-
ate proceeding to determine estate taxes within 12 months
carries between “five percent per month or fraction thereof,
up to a maximum penalty of twenty-five percent of the
unpaid taxes due.” As a result of Person’s failing to ade-
quately administer the estate or communicate with complain-
ant, state taxes, including accumulated interest and penalties,
totaled $36,052.48. The record demonstrates that complainant
paid the tax, including interest and penalties. However, it is
unclear from the record whether Person has fully reimbursed
complainant.
Three additional show cause orders requiring Person’s
appearance in court were issued on November 20, 2013; July
11, 2014; and January 6, 2015. The January 6 order compelled
Person to appear on February 11. Upon Person’s failure to
appear at the scheduled hearing, the probate court appointed a
separate attorney as special administrator for the estate.
The special administrator worked with complainant to wrap
up the affairs of the estate. During the course of its work,
the special administrator learned that the required tax form
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Cite as 301 Neb. 661had been completed but not filed. The special administrator
also retained a tax attorney to resolve issues with the Internal
Revenue Service (IRS). Despite the efforts of the tax attorney,
who sought to abate the IRS penalties and interest in excess
of the $800,000 owed, the IRS refused to accommodate any
abatement. As a result, the total amount due to the IRS totaled
$1,090,077.58 in interest and penalties.
The complaint made by complainant was forwarded to the
Committee on Inquiry of the Sixth Judicial District on May
13, 2017, and a disciplinary hearing was held on November
8. After the hearing, the referee found that Person had vio-
lated §§ 3-501.1; 3-501.3; 3-501.4(a)(1) through (4) and (b);
3-503.3(a); and 3-508.4(a), (c), and (d) of the Nebraska Rules
of Professional Conduct. The referee weighed a number of
considerations and determined that the appropriate discipline
was to consist of a 30-day suspension, with reinstatement after
the 30 days conditioned upon proof that Person had fully reim-
bursed the estate all interest and penalties paid by the estate to
state and federal taxing authorities. The 30-day suspension was
to be followed by a 1-year period of probation, during which
Person would be required to engage an attorney, licensed to
practice law in the State of Nebraska and approved by the
Counsel for Discipline, to act as a practice monitor during
Person’s probationary period.
In addition to the suspension and probationary period,
the referee recommended that upon Person’s application for
reinstatement, such reinstatement was to be conditioned upon
his producing evidence that he is fit to practice law and has
not had any additional disciplinary matters arise during his
suspension. Further, the referee recommended that Person
be required to comply with Neb. Ct. R. § 3-316 (rev. 2014),
and be required to pay costs and expenses in accordance
with Neb. Rev. Stat. §§ 7-114 and 7-115 (Reissue 2012) and
Neb. Ct. R. §§ 3-310(P) (rev. 2014) and 3-323(B), within 60
days after any order imposing costs and expenses ordered by
the court.
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STATE EX REL. COUNSEL FOR DIS. v. PERSON
Cite as 301 Neb. 661STANDARD OF REVIEW
[1] Attorney discipline cases are original proceedings before
this court, and we review a referee’s recommendations de novo
on the record, reaching a conclusion independent of the ref-
eree’s findings.1
ANALYSIS
[2-4] The basic issues in a disciplinary proceeding against
an attorney are whether the Nebraska Supreme Court should
impose discipline and, if so, the appropriate discipline under
the circumstances.2 The goal in disciplining attorneys in attor-
ney discipline proceedings is not as much punishment as it is
a determination of whether it is in the public interest to allow
an attorney to keep practicing law.3 With that in mind, the
determination of an appropriate penalty to be imposed on an
attorney in a disciplinary proceeding requires consideration of
any aggravating or mitigating factors.4
[5] This court considers the following factors in determin-
ing whether and to what extent discipline should be imposed:
(1) the nature of the offense, (2) the need for deterring others,
(3) the maintenance of the reputation of the bar as a whole,
(4) the protection of the public, (5) the attitude of the offender
generally, and (6) the offender’s present and future fitness to
continue in the practice of law.5
Person admits that in this case, he violated the following
Nebraska Rules of Professional Conduct: §§ 3-501.1 (com-
petence); 3-501.3 (diligence); 3-501.4(a)(1) through (4) and
1
See State ex rel. Counsel for Dis. v. Trembly, 300 Neb. 195, 912 N.W.2d
764 (2018).
2
State ex rel. Counsel for Dis. v. Cording, 285 Neb. 146, 825 N.W.2d 792(2013).
3
Trembly, supra note 1.
4
State ex rel. Counsel for Dis. v. Jones, 270 Neb. 471, 704 N.W.2d 216(2005).
5
See Trembly, supra note 1.
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Cite as 301 Neb. 661(b) (communication); 3-503.3(a) (candor toward tribunal); and
3-508.4(a), (c), and (d) (misconduct). Person argues on appeal
that because the violations affected only one client and were
mitigated by other factors, at most a brief suspension was
appropriate. Relator agreed with the referee that a 30-day sus-
pension, followed by reinstatement conditioned on proof that
Person had fully reimbursed the estate and a 1-year period of
probation following that reinstatement, was appropriate.
In State ex rel. Counsel for Dis. v. Fraizer,6 the formal
charges consisted of one count against Theodore Fraizer, alleg-
ing that he failed to make a timely distribution of the assets
remaining in the trust. In that case, the decedent died on
May 3, 2006, and Fraizer filed the estate proceeding on May
12. In May 2009, the estate was closed, with the remaining
assets being transferred to a trust for which Fraizer became
trustee in 2013. The beneficiaries subsequently filed a com-
plaint with the Counsel for Discipline alleging that Fraizer
failed to make timely distribution of the assets remaining in
the trust. Fraizer ultimately completed all matters related to
the estate and trust, further agreeing to be responsible for any
interest or penalties. Fraizer filed a conditional admission
admitting that he violated his oath of office as an attorney
and professional conduct rules §§ 3-501.3 and 3-508.4(a).
Fraizer’s violations and voluntary admission resulted in a pub-
lic reprimand.
In State ex rel. Counsel for Dis. v. Holthaus,7 the for-
mal charges alleged that Roger Holthaus had neglected his
responsibilities while acting as the attorney for the personal
representative of a probate estate. It was alleged that Holthaus
neglected his responsibilities by not timely filing pleadings
in the probate case, not filing tax returns, not communicating
6
State ex rel. Counsel for Dis. v. Fraizer, 297 Neb. 496, 899 N.W.2d 912(2017).
7
State ex rel. Counsel for Dis. v. Holthaus, 268 Neb. 313, 686 N.W.2d 570(2004).
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Cite as 301 Neb. 661with the residual beneficiary, and mishandling estate assets.
The residual beneficiary filed a petition to surcharge the per-
sonal representative and Holthaus, which resulted in a judg-
ment against Holthaus. Subsequently, Holthaus filed a condi-
tional admission in which he did not contest the truth of the
allegations and further waived all proceedings against him in
favor of a 6-month suspension of his license.
In State ex rel. Counsel for Dis. v. Ubbinga,8 we suspended
Lori Anne Ubbinga for 1 year upon finding that she failed to
complete the work for which she was retained, failed to com-
municate with her client regarding the status of her work,
failed to provide an accounting when asked, and failed to
cooperate with relator’s investigation. In that case, Ubbinga
agreed to represent a client regarding child visitation. During
the course of the representation, she failed to file motions with
the court and did not adequately communicate with the client.
Upon the client’s filing a complaint, Ubbinga failed to fully
cooperate with relator and made false statements to relator. In
that case, we noted that Ubbinga did not take responsibility for
her actions and that her dishonest conduct raised questions as
to her fitness to practice law.
The record shows that during the course of Person’s rep-
resentation of the estate, he repeatedly failed to see that
the estate was properly administered. The clerk magistrate
sent numerous letters requesting a status update, which were
largely ignored by Person. Following Person’s disregard of
requests for status updates, the clerk magistrate issued mul-
tiple orders to show cause, which were also largely ignored by
Person. Complainant made several attempts to communicate
with Person, which he either ignored the attempts or provided
little information in the way of legal counsel.
Moreover, Person misled the court by stating that he had
filed the required tax form, when in fact he had taken no
8
State ex rel. Counsel for Dis. v. Ubbinga, 295 Neb. 995, 893 N.W.2d 694(2017).
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Cite as 301 Neb. 661such action. He later made a false statement in the petition
for determination of inheritance tax and on the inheritance
tax worksheet that he subsequently filed with the court. As a
result of Person’s failure to competently administer the estate,
it accumulated $1,090,077.58 in interest and penalties alone to
the IRS, and $36,052.48 in interest and penalties to the state
and county, a loss totaling $1,126,130.06.
We note that Person had been practicing law for approxi-
mately 48 years when he took on representation of complain-
ant and that he had been subject to only one prior complaint,
for which he was reprimanded. The length of Person’s career
and the lack of substantial prior disciplinary history should
be considered as a mitigating factor in this case, as it dem-
onstrates that this is not a pattern of behavior throughout
Person’s career. Person also maintains a good reputation in
the community, and complainant has commented, without
solicitation, that Person is “an honest individual. He is civic-
minded and has made several contributions to better our life
in Holdrege.”
Person has indicated that he suffers from depression. Person
indicated that due to a severe motor vehicle accident, the loss
of his father in 2007, and his brother’s retiring from the prac-
tice of law, he was left without a support system. Person claims
this resulted in his becoming overburdened, though he did not
recognize it at the time. However, the record contains no medi-
cal evidence that the injuries Person received in his accident
were direct and substantial contributing factors for his conduct.
As such, the referee discounted those claims.
Moreover, Person’s lack of a support system in which to
seek professional assistance and counsel with regard to deci-
sionmaking is a cause for concern. This need for support, and
accompanying lack of support, lead to the unavoidable concern
for the protection of the public.
Person has not only been cooperative with the Counsel for
Discipline, but has demonstrated remorse and admitted that he
mishandled his representation in this case. Further, Person has
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Cite as 301 Neb. 661indicated that he intends to reimburse his client for the loss he
caused. These factors weigh in favor of Person. However, as
the referee correctly noted, we cannot allow members of the
bar to buy their way out of disciplinary sanctions or give the
public the impression that we would permit such actions.
CONCLUSION
Based on the repeated acts of indifference to the clerk
magistrate’s communications and orders, as well as Person’s
indifference to his responsibility to communicate with his cli-
ent and his duty as an officer of the court to communicate
honestly with the tribunal, we find that the appropriate sanc-
tion is an indefinite suspension from the practice of law for a
minimum of 2 years, followed by a 2-year period of probation.
At the completion of Person’s suspension, he must apply for
reinstatement. Such reinstatement should be conditioned on
Person’s producing evidence that he has fully reimbursed the
estate, in addition to showing that he is fit to practice law and
has not had any additional disciplinary matters arise during
his suspension.
Upon reinstatement, Person shall comply with the following
terms of monitored probation. The monitoring shall be by an
attorney licensed to practice law in the State of Nebraska and
approved by the Counsel for Discipline. Person shall submit a
monitoring plan with his application for reinstatement, which
shall include but not be limited to the following: During the
first 6 months of probation, Person shall meet with and provide
the monitor a weekly list of cases for which Person is respon-
sible. The list shall include the date the attorney-client relation-
ship began; the general type of case; the date of last contact
with the client; the last type and date of work completed on
the file (pleading, correspondence, document preparation, dis-
covery, or court hearing); the next type of work and date that
work should be completed on the case; any applicable statutes
of limitations and their dates; and the financial terms of the
relationship (hourly, contingency, et cetera).
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Cite as 301 Neb. 661After the first 6 months through the end of his probation,
Person shall meet with the monitor on a monthly basis and
provide the monitor with a list containing the same informa-
tion as set forth above. Person shall work with the monitor to
develop and implement appropriate office procedures to ensure
protection of the clients’ interests. Person shall reconcile his
trust account within 10 working days of receipt of the monthly
bank statement and provide the monitor with a copy within 5
working days.
Person shall submit a quarterly compliance report to the
Counsel for Discipline, demonstrating adherence to the fore-
going terms of probation. The quarterly report shall include a
certification by the monitor that the monitor has reviewed the
report and that Person continues to abide by the terms of pro-
bation. If at any time the monitor believes Person has violated
the rules of professional conduct or has failed to comply with
the terms of probation, the monitor shall report the same to
the Counsel for Discipline. Person shall pay all of the costs
in this case, including the fees and expenses of the monitor,
if any.
Judgment of suspension.