Attorney Discipline, 0220 WYBJ, Vol. 43 No. 1. 29

• Position: Vol. 43 1 Pg. 29

Attorney Discipline

Vol. 43 No. 1 Pg. 29

Wyoming Bar Journal

February, 2020

Suspension

The Wyoming Supreme Court issued an order of one-year suspension of Casper attorney Kara Crawford-Fink. Te disciplinary order resulted from Crawford-Fink’s representation of a client in a divorce matter. Te client paid a $3,500.00 fee at the outset of the representation. Te client ultimately terminated Crawford-Fink’s representation and retained other counsel, demanding a return of the fee. Crawford-Fink failed to return the unearned portion of the fee.

In stipulating to a one-year suspension, Crawford-Fink agreed that she committed violations of Rule 1.5 (fees) and Rule 1.16 (duties upon termination of representation) of the Wyoming Rules of Professional Conduct. In light of her prior disciplinary history (which included a private reprimand in 2017 and a 120-day suspension in 2018), Crawford-Fink agreed that a one-year suspension was an appropriate sanction for her conduct. Crawford-Fink agreed to return $3,000.00, representing the remaining unearned portion of the fee, to the client. In addition to receiving a one-year suspension, Crawford-Fink was ordered to pay an administrative fee in the amount of $750.00 and costs of $50.00 to the Wyoming State Bar.

Private...