JOHN F. RAMPULLA, III V. KENTUCKY BAR ASSOCIATION
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JOHN F. RAMPULLA, III
V.
IN SUPREME COURT
KENTUCKY BAR ASSOCIATION
RESPONDENT
OPINION AND ORDER
John F. Rampulla, III, moves this Court to terminate disciplinary proceedings
against him by entering an order suspending him from the practice of law for sixty (60)
days for violating SCR 3.130(1.3), 3.130(1.4) and 3.130(1.16). The Kentucky Bar
Association has no objection to this motion. We grant the motion.
KBA file # 6888 and KBA file # 7027
On or about October I,1997 and December 9, 1997, Rampulla was engaged to
represent clients in immigration matters. Apparently, Rampulla was attempting to
establish an immigration practice during this time. For whatever reasons, Rampulla
was struggling with the immigration practice. As a result of his difficulties, Rampulla
failed to represent his clients in a diligent manner in violation of SCR 3.130(1.3).
Further, he failed to keep the clients reasonably informed about the status of the
matters, and failed to explain the matters to the clients to an extent reasonably
necessary for the clients to make informed decisions regarding Rampulla’s handling of
the cases. These failures violated SCR 3.130(1.4), as alleged in the charges.
KBA file # 7108
In January 1998, a client engaged Rampulla to prepare and file a bankruptcy
petition. Rampulla was paid a fee of $750 for this service. The client died twelve (12)
days later. Rampulla had not yet filed any papers on the client’s behalf. Shortly
thereafter, Rampulla met with the administrator of the client’s estate and acknowledged
that the estate was entitled to a refund for the unearned portion of the fee.
Unfortunately, Rampulla failed to return the fee in a timely manner. The administrator
of the estate filed suit in small claims court and obtained a default judgment against
Rampulla. In response to the judgment against him, Rampulla finally reimbursed the
estate in December 1998. These acts violated SCR 3.130(1.16) as alleged in this
charge.
Upon the foregoing facts and charges, and upon Rampulla’s motion to terminate
these proceedings, it is ordered that:
1) The Movant, John F. Rampulla, III, is hereby suspended from the practice of
law in Kentucky for a period of sixty (60) days. The period of suspension shall
commence on the date of entry of this Opinion and Order and continue until such time
as Movant is reinstated pursuant to SCR 3.510(2).
2) In accordance with SCR 3.450, Movant is directed to pay all costs associated
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with this disciplinary proceeding against him, and for which execution may issue from
this Court upon finality of this Opinion and Order.
All concur. Keller, J., not sitting.
Entered: June 9, 2000.
HIEF JUSTICE
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