Attorney Discipline, 1216 WYBJ, Vol. 39 No. 6. 66

Attorney Discipline

Vol. 39 No. 6 Pg. 66

Wyoming Bar Journal

December, 2016

PUBLIC CENSURE

The Wyoming Supreme Court issued an order of public censure of Rock Springs attorney Robert W. Hiatt Jr. The disciplinary order resulted from Hiatt’s representation of a client in a child custody and visitation modification matter. The client paid a $5,000.00 fat fee at the outset. Hiatt neglected to pursue the matter diligently and failed to maintain adequate communication with his client, who ultimately terminated Hiatt’s representation and retained other counsel. After the client discharged Hiatt, Hiatt failed to return the unearned portion of the fee and failed to cooperate with the client and his new counsel in transferring the file. Hiatt agreed that he committed multiple violations of Rule 1.3 (diligence) and Rule 1.4 (communication with client). He also agreed that he violated Rule 1.16 (termination of representation) in failing to return the unearned portion of the fee and in failing to cooperate with the transfer of the file to replacement counsel. Hiatt agreed to return $3,000.00, representing the unearned portion of the fee, to the client. Hiatt stipulated to a public censure in the matter, which was approved by the Board of Professional Responsibility and submitted to the Court. In addition to receiving a public censure, Hiatt was ordered to pay an administrative fee in the amount of $750.00 and costs of $50.00 to the Wyoming State Bar.

PRIVATE REPRIMANDS

The Review and Oversight Committee of the Wyoming State Bar issued a private reprimand to an attorney who delayed more than four months in submitting a proposed order in a child custody, support and visitation matter in which the Court specifically directed the attorney to prepare the order following the hearing. The attorney stipulated that the conduct violated Rule 1.3 of the Wyoming Rules of Professional Conduct, which requires attorneys to act with reasonable diligence and promptness in representing a client. The attorney was ordered to pay an...