Opinion
Bar Docket No. 08874
Opinion Filed March 31, 1999.
ORDER OF DISBARMENT
ATTORNEY AND CLIENT — Disciplinary Proceeding — Disbarment.
In a letter dated March 25, 1999, to the Clerk of the Appellate Courts, respondent Donald C. Long, of Kansas City, an attorney admitted to practice law in the state of Kansas, voluntarily surrendered his license to practice law in Kansas, pursuant to Supreme Court Rule 217 (1998 Kan. Ct. R. Annot. 242).
On January 22, 1999, this court suspended respondent for 1 year for his failure to competently and diligently handle cases for three separate clients. In re Long, 266 Kan. 664, ___ P.2d ___ (1999).
Since respondent was suspended from the practice of law, the Disciplinary Administrator's office has received numerous phone calls from former clients of respondent, alleging that he has failed to return client files, failed to return unearned retainers, and failed to protect the interests of his former clients. Additional matters were being investigated by the Disciplinary Administrator's office at the time respondent surrendered his license.
This court, having examined the files of the office of the Disciplinary Administrator, finds that the surrender of respondent's license should be accepted and that respondent should be disbarred.
IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that Donald C. Long be and he is hereby disbarred from the practice of law in Kansas and his license and privilege to practice law are hereby revoked.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Clerk of the Appellate Courts strike the name of Donald C. Long from the roll of attorneys licensed to practice law in Kansas.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that this order shall be published in the Kansas Reports, that the costs herein shall be assessed to respondent, and that respondent forthwith shall comply with Supreme Court Rule 218 (1998 Kan. Ct. R. Annot. 246).
DATED this 31st day of March, 1999.