STEPHANIE BAISDEN V. KENTUCKY BAR ASSOCIATION
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STEPHANIE BAISDEN
IN SUPREME COURT
KENTUCKY BAR ASSOCIATION
RESPONDENT
OPINION AND ORDER
Movant, Stephanie R. Baisden, KBA Member No. 84824, moves the
Court, pursuant to SCR 3.480(2) to impose the sanction of a one (1) year
suspension from the practice of law, for her violations of SCR 3.130-1 .3, 1 .4(a),
and 1 .16(d) as set forth in KBA file 9157. Movant's last known bar roster address
is 2432 Haviland Drive, Owensboro, Kentucky 42301 . The Kentucky Bar
Association states in response that it has no objection to Movant's motion. We
now adopt Movant's motion and impose such sanction for the reasons set forth
below.
Movant was admitted to the practice of law on October 22, 1993 . During
the course of her representation of a client in 2001, the Inquiry Commission
became aware that Movant was acting erratically and suspected that she posed
a substantial threat of harm to the public or to herself when she failed to diligently
proceed with the representation of a client . It was learned that Movant was
suffering from severe depression and exhibiting erratic behavior in the courtroom
and otherwise. Accordingly, the Inquiry Commission moved the Court to enter an
order of temporary suspension, which was ordered on May 16, 2002, pursuant to
SCR 3.265 . Since that time Movant has not been reinstated, nor has she sought
reinstatement to the practice of law.
As part of the temporary suspension order, Movant was ordered to notify
her clients of her inability to represent them and to provide copies of the
correspondence to the Kentucky Bar Association within thirty days of the order.
On May 25, 2003, Movant was charged by the Inquiry Commission with a
violation of SCR 3.130-1 .3, 1 .4(a), and 1 .16(d) stemming from her neglect in the
representation of a client . On September 15, 2005, the Inquiry Commission
issued a complaint that Movant may have abandoned her representation of
additional clients in violation of SCR 3 .130-1 .16(d), and may have violated SCR
3.130-3 .4(c) by failing to comply with the order of temporary suspension's
requirement that she notify existing clients of her inability to represent them and
to provide the Kentucky Bar Association with copies of such notification . On
December 12, 2007, the Inquiry Commission issued Movant a private admonition
in regards to these violations.
Movant now acknowledges that she is guilty of violating SCR 3.130-1 .3,
1 .4(a), and 1 .16(d), admits that she failed to diligently proceed with the
representation of clients, and that she failed to provide her clients with adequate
notice of the fact that she intended to cease representation .
Accordingly, having reviewed Movant's motion for suspension from the
practice of law, and having received the recommendations from the Chair of the
Inquiry Commission and the Kentucky Bar Association, we now grant her motion
and enter such order reflecting her one (1) year suspension from the practice of
law and requiring her to pay all costs .
Thus, it
1:
is ORDERED
that:
-Stephanie R. Baisden-, KBA Member
No .
84824,-is suspended from
the practice of law for one (1) year to begin on the date of the entry
of this order.
2.
In accordance with
SCR 3 .450,
Movant is directed to pay all
costs associated with this proceeding in the amount of $188.92, for
which execution may issue from this Court upon finality of this
order.
All sitting . All concur.
ENTERED :
May 22, 2008.
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