GREENE v. KENTUCKY BAR ASSOCIATION (2012)

OPINION AND ORDER

Movant, Glenn L. Greene, Jr., KBA No. 83773,¹ admits to violating the Kentucky Rules of Professional Conduct and moves this Court to impose the sanction of permanent disbarment. The KBA has no objection to Greene's motion.

I. BACKGROUND

The Inquiry Commission charged Greene with two counts of misconduct based upon the allegations contained in KBA file 17122. Both charges stem from the criminal proceedings against Greene in Harlan Circuit Court case number 08–CR–00433. In that case, Greene pled guilty to the charge of theft by failure to make required disposition of property ($300 or more), a Class D Felony. See KRS 514.070. The indictment alleged that Greene took funds from the victim/client, on behalf of her mother, and converted them to his own use. He was sentenced to two years in prison, probated for a period of five years, and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $37,861.00.

Based on the facts giving rise to Greene's criminal conviction, the Inquiry Commission charged him with two counts of misconduct. Count I charged that Greene violated former SCR 3.130–8.3(b), which stated that it is professional misconduct for a lawyer to “[c]ommit a criminal act that reflects adversely on the lawyer's honesty, trustworthiness or fitness as a lawyer in other respects.”² The Commission asserts that Greene violated this rule by committing the crime of theft by failure to make required disposition of property ($300 or more), to which he pled guilty. Count II charged that Greene violated former SCR 3.130–8.3(c), which stated that it is professional misconduct for a lawyer to “[e]ngage in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit or misrepresentation.”³ The Commission claims that Greene violated this rule by failing to make the required disposition of the funds he took from the victim/client and converting the funds to his own use.

Greene admits that his actions violated the Rules of Professional Conduct. He claims there are mitigating circumstances surrounding his actions; however, he acknowledges that these circumstances would not excuse his ethical violations. Therefore, he requests that the Court grant him leave to resign from the KBA under terms of permanent disbarment pursuant to SCR 3.480(3).⁴ ,⁵

II. DISCIPLINE

Based on his admitted ethical violations, Greene requests that this Court grant him leave to resign from the KBA under terms of permanent disbarment. We agree that Greene's motion to withdraw his membership is appropriate pursuant to SCR 3.480(3). Therefore, it is hereby ORDERED that:

1. Glenn L. Greene, Jr. is permanently disbarred from the practice of law;

2. In accordance with SCR 3.450, Greene shall pay all costs associated with these proceedings, said sum being $234.66, for which execution may issue from this Court upon finality of this Opinion and Order.

3. Pursuant to SCR 3.390, Greene shall, within ten (10) days from the entry of this Opinion and Order, notify all clients, in writing, of his inability to represent them; notify, in writing, all courts in which he has matters pending of his disbarment from the practice of law; and furnish copies of all letters of notice to the Office of Bar Counsel. Furthermore, to the extent possible, Greene shall immediately cancel and cease any advertising activities in which he is engaged.

4. Our Opinion and Order in Inquiry Com'n v. Greene, 266 S.W.3d 242, 243 (Ky.2008) is superseded and vacated as moot.

ORDER GRANTING MOTION TO AMEND

Upon motion of Movant, Glenn L. Greene, Jr., KBA No. 83773, the Opinion and Order of the Court rendered June 21, 2012, is hereby modified by substituting the entire opinion as attached hereto.

JOHN D. MINTON, Chief Justice.

All sitting. All concur.All sitting. All concur.