Stark Ligon, Executive Director, Supreme Court Committee on Professional Conduct, Appellant v. Frank David Rees…

Summary

The court affirmed the Committee's findings that Rees violated Rules 1.2(d) and 8.4(c), its forty-two-day suspension and costs, and its rejection of Rees's motion to dismiss. The court held that the sanction was within the authorized range, that unruled counts were not preserved for appellate review, that the finding of no Rule 1.5(a) violation was not clearly erroneous, and that Rees failed to show prejudice from the delay in filing the formal complaint. Justice Brown, concurring, urged adoption of formal guidelines governing the time for filing disciplinary complaints and notifying attorneys.