KENTUCKY BAR ASSOCIATION V. DAVID K. LAYTON
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TO BE PUBLISHED
,Suprrmt 01,jaurf of `rufurh
2002-SC-0902-KB
KENTUCKY BAR ASSOCIATION
V.
IN SUPREME COURT
DAVID K. LAYTON
RESPONDENT
OPINION AND ORDER
In October 2000, this Court temporarily suspended David K. Layton (#40510) of
Lancaster, Kentucky, based on a Petition for Temporary Suspension filed by the Inquiry
Commission which alleged that Layton had converted or misappropriated funds from
his account as Master Commissioner of Jessamine and Garrard counties . In June
2000, he admitted to Circuit Judge Hunter Daugherty that he had converted the funds
for several years .
A Special Prosecutor from the Attorney General's office filed an Information
against Layton alleging seven counts of theft by failure to make required disposition of
property, violations of KRS 514.070, with each count being a Class D Felony.
On November 5, 2001, Layton entered a guilty plea in the Garrard Circuit Court
to the seven (7) counts contained in the Information, and on January 3, 2002, he
entered a guilty plea to an eighth count of theft by failure to make required disposition of
property . The written record does not indicate that Layton's plea was pursuant to North
Carolina v. Alford, 400 U.S . 25 (1970), although the videotape of the proceedings does
indicate that such a plea was entered . On the same day Layton entered his guilty plea,
the circuit court sentenced him to five years in prison on Counts 1 through 4, to run
concurrently ; five years on Counts 5 through 8, to run concurrent with each other but
consecutive to Counts 1 through 4. Layton was thereafter sentenced to five years of
supervised probation and ordered to pay restitution to victims in the amount of $200 per
month . He was also ordered to serve 120 days in jail . The circuit court determined that
the total amount of restitution owed by Layton was $385,819 .47.
On May 14, 2002, the Inquiry Commission issued a charge against Layton
alleging a violation of SCR 3.130-8 .3(b) which provides : "It is professional misconduct
for a lawyer to commit a criminal act that reflects adversely on the lawyer's honesty,
trustworthiness or fitness as a lawyer in other respects ."
On May 31, 2002, Layton filed an answer denying any violation of SCR 3.1308 .3(b) and claimed that he committed the felony offenses in defense of a deadly mood
disorder or bi-polar disorder and severe obsessive compulsive personality features .
The record does not contain any evidence verifying Layton's medical condition .
Pursuant to SCR 3 .210, the parties agreed that the matter contained only
questions of law and the agreement reflecting this understanding was filed with the
disciplinary clerk on July 8, 2002 . On July 18, 2002, Layton filed an amended answer,
referring and incorporating the videotape proceedings of his guilty plea and final
sentencing .
Layton filed a brief with the Board of Governors and appeared in person and by
counsel before the Board . His counsel stated in his brief, among other things, that
Layton concedes all facts and arguments contained in complainant's brief, except that
he denies intentional misconduct because the acts complained of were a result of his
mental illness, not intentional misconduct, by the Alford guilty plea.
According to the Board of Governors, Layton and his counsel made it clear to the
Board that he never wanted to practice law again but that should he be disbarred, that
his disbarment be based on mental illness and not intentional misconduct . There is no
evidence in the record to support his position . Although Layton has been and is
currently being treated for a bi-polar disorder, he presented no credible defense to the
charge supported by either fact or law.
Following a report by a Board member and due deliberations, the Board
unanimously found Layton guilty of the charge and recommended to this Court as
follows: On the charge, the Board voted 17 affirmative that the penalty should be
permanent disbarment with one vote to accept resignation under terms of permanent
disbarment. Accordingly, the Board of Governors of the Kentucky Bar Association
recommended that Layton be found guilty of the charge in KBA File No. 8109 for
violating SCR 3.310-8.3(b) and recommended permanent disbarment . Neither the
Kentucky Bar Association nor Layton filed a notice of review in this Court .
We find that the discipline recommended is appropriate, and, therefore, this
Court adopts the recommendation of the Board of Governors .
It is hereby ORDERED that:
1) David K. Layton is permanently disbarred from the practice of law in Kentucky
pursuant to SCR 3.380.
2) David K. Layton shall notify any and all courts in which he has matters
pending, any and all clients for whom he is actively involved in litigation, and similar
legal matters, of his inability to continue to represent them and of the necessity and
urgency of promptly retaining new counsel. Such notification shall be by letter duly
placed in the United States mail within ten (10) days of the date of this order, and
Layton shall simultaneously provide a copy of all such letters to the Director of the
Kentucky Bar Association . Upon issuance of this Opinion and Order, Layton shall
immediately, to the extent possible, cancel and cease any advertising activities in which
he is engaged .
3) David K. Layton shall pay the costs of this action in the sum of $253.94, for
which execution may issue from this Court upon finality of this Opinion and Order.
All concur.
ENTERED: February 20, 2003
COUNSEL FOR COMPLAINANT:
Bruce K. Davis
Executive Director
Jane H. Herrick
Kentucky Bar Association
514 West Main Street
Frankfort, KY 40601
COUNSEL FOR RESPONDENT:
Lee M. Dean
Dean, Dean & Dean
202 South Chiles Street
Harrodsburg, KY 40330-0159
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