CHRISTIE L. WRIGHT V. KENTUCKY BAR ASSOCIATION
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CHRISTIE L. WRIGHT
MOVANT
V.
IN SUPREME COURT
KENTUCKY BAR ASSOCIATION
RESPONDENT
OPINION AND ORDER
Movant, Christie L. Wright, moves the Court to impose the sanction of a Public
Reprimand to which the Kentucky Bar Association (KBA) agrees . Movant admits that
she is guilty of all violations, and we grant her motion for a Public Reprimand .
Movant was admitted to the practice of law on October 16, 1998, and maintains a
bar roster address at P .O . Box 314, Belcher, Kentucky 41513 . Movant admits that she
is guilty of violating the Rules of Professional Conduct as set out in Counts I and II in the
KBA Charge 10611 .
On February 4, 2003, by order of Kentucky Supreme Court, Movant was
suspended for non-compliance with Continuing Legal Education (CLE) requirements .
Movant was restored to membership by order of the Kentucky Supreme Court on June
24, 2003 .
On April 28, 2003, while under suspension, Movant received a document filed by
the Clerk of the Kentucky Court of Appeals entitled "Return of Unauthorized Pleading" in
a case in which Movant was representing the Appellee, CertainTeed Corporation . The
clerk's notice stated that CertainTeed's pleading was being returned to Movant because
it was unauthorized as a reply to a response without leave of the Court, and because
Movant was not authorized to practice law in Kentucky nor had she filed a motion to
proceed pro hac vice.
After receiving this document, Movant appeared in Fayette Circuit Court at a
prehearing conference on April 30, 2003 . Despite her knowledge that there was a
question regarding her license to practice law in the Commonwealth of Kentucky,
Movant did not inform the Court that she had been suspended, or that there was a
question regarding her membership status with the KBA. Movant stated that she did not
receive the notice of her suspension prior to receipt of such notice from the Court of
Appeals.
On July 17, 2003, the Fayette Circuit Court entered an order in the case of Linda
Ann Hurst, et al v. Cardinal Industrial Installation, Inc., et al , disqualifying Movant as
counsel for CertainTeed, one of the defendants in the case. The court also disqualified
the law firm of Hawkins & Parnell, Movant's employer at the time . The trial court struck
all pleadings filed by Movant and Hawkins & Parnell since February 4, 2003, the date
Movant violated the suspension order, engaged in the practice of law, filed pleadings on
behalf of CertainTeed, and represented CertainTeed in the Fayette Circuit Court .
Movant admits that she violated SCR 3.130-5 .5(a) as stated in Count I of the
Charge . That rule provides that a lawyer shall not "practice law in a jurisdiction where
doing so violates the regulation of the legal profession in that jurisdiction ." Movant
violated SCR 3.130-5 .5(a) when she practiced law in the Commonwealth of Kentucky
following her suspension from the practice of law on February 4, 2003 .
Additionally, Movant admits that she violated SCR 3 .130-3 .3(a)(2) as set out in
Count II of the KBA Charge . That rule provides that a lawyer shall not knowingly "fail to
disclose a material fact to the tribunal when disclosure is necessary to avoid a fraud
being perpetrated on the tribunal." Movant violated SCR 3.130-3 .3(a)(2) when she
appeared and represented a client in the Fayette Circuit Court, but failed to inform the
Court that she had been suspended from the practice of law, or that there was a
question regarding her membership status with the Kentucky Bar Association . Movant
apologized to the Fayette Circuit Court for her actions and said that she has no prior
disciplinary history .
Movant admits that she violated SCR 3 .130-5 .5(a) as set out in Count I of the
Charge; and that she violated SCR 3 .130-3 .3(a)(2) as set out in Count II of the Charge .
Movant admits that she violated these rules and states that she has agreed to
imposition of discipline .
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that
1 . Movant, Christie L. Wright, shall be and is hereby Publicly Reprimanded .
2 . Movant, Christie L. Wright, shall complete, at her expense, ten hours of remedial
ethics education, separate and apart from fulfillment of any other continuing legal
education requirements, within two years of the date after filing of this order for
Public Reprimand .
3 . The remedial ethics education shall be satisfied by Movant's, Christie L. Wright's,
personal attendance at live legal education or adult educational programs to be
approved in advance by the Kentucky Bar Association Office of Bar Counsel and
with subject matter related to compliance with the rules of the Court . Movant
shall not apply for or obtain continuing legal education credits for her attendance
at these programs . Movant shall provide the CLE commission with a release to
allow the Office of Bar Counsel to review her confidential CLE records, so it can
verify that she has not applied for CLE credit for any such remedial ethics training
as she completes it.
4. If Movant, Christie L. Wright, fails to comply with any of the terms of discipline set
forth hereinabove, or receives a charge of professional misconduct during the
two year period after entry of this order, upon Motion of the Kentucky Bar
Association Office of Bar Counsel, the Court may convert the Public Reprimand
to a thirty day suspension from the practice of law.
5. In accordance with SCR 3 .450, Movant, Christie L. Wright, is directed to pay all
costs associated with these disciplinary proceedings in the amount of $63 .99 for
which execution may issue from this Court upon finality of this Order.
All concur.
ENTERED : August 25, 2005 .
COUNSEL FOR MOVANT :
Christie Lynn Wright
P . O . Box 314
Belcher, KY 41413
COUNSEL FOR RESPONDENT:
Bruce K. Davis, Executive Director
Jay R. Garrett, Deputy Bar Counsel
Kentucky Bar Association
514 West Main Street
Frankfort, KY 40601
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