Opinion
No. C8-99-969.
April 5, 2000.
ORDER
The Director of the Office of Lawyers Professional Responsibility has filed a petition for disciplinary action alleging that respondent Gregory Allen Carpenter has committed professional misconduct warranting public discipline, namely, neglecting a client's immigration matter, failing to adequately communicate with that same client, misrepresenting to the client the status of the immigration matter, failing to maintain proper trust account books and records, and failing to cooperate in the disciplinary investigation in violation of Rules 1.3, 1.4, 1.15, 4.1, and 8.1(a)(3) and 8.4(c), Minnesota Rules of Professional Conduct (MRPC), Lawyers Professional Responsibility Board Opinion No. 9, and Rule 25 Rules on Lawyers Professional Responsibility (RLPR).
Respondent admits his conduct has violated the Rules of Professional Conduct, waives his rights pursuant to Rule 14, Rules of Lawyers Professional Responsibility, and has entered into a stipulation with the Director wherein they jointly recommend that the appropriate discipline is a six-month suspension commencing November 1, 1999, with reinstatement conditioned on (1) payment of $1,001.25 in costs and disbursements pursuant to Rule 24, RLPR; (2) compliance with Rule 26, RLPR; (3) successful completion of the professional responsibility portion of bar examination; and (4) satisfaction of continuing legal education requirements. The parties further stipulate that the reinstatement hearing pursuant to Rule 18, RLPR, is not waived.
This court has independently reviewed the file and approves the jointly-recommended disposition.
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that respondent's license to practice law is suspended for a term of six months commencing on November 1, 1999. Any reinstatement is subject to the jointly agreed-to conditions set forth above. The Director is awarded $1, 001.25 in costs and disbursements pursuant to Rule 24, RLPR.
BY THE COURT:
Alan C. Page Associate Justice