The Kentucky Supreme Court issued opinions/orders in 3 attorney disciplinary matters on October 23, 2014 – John Scott Benton, Charles David Keen, and Adrienne A. Thakur.
Click here for prior pages from the Kentucky Court Report posting attorney disciplinary matters.
Disciplinary matters with links to the full text of the action are below:
KENTUCKY BAR ASSOCIATION V. JOHN SCOTT BENTON
2014-SC-000399-KB
ORDER OF SUSPENSION FROM THE PRACTICE OF LAW FOR 181 DAYS.
Benton entered a guilty plea in Fayette Circuit Court to terroristic threatening, third-degree, which is a Class A misdemeanor. The charge arose from threatening text messages and voicemails Benton sent to an 18-year-old male high school student who had been bullying Benton’s daughter. Benton was sentenced to sixty days imprisonment with credit for time served, and he has served his time. “It is professional misconduct for a lawyer to: . . . (b) commit a criminal act that reflects adversely on the lawyer’s honesty, trustworthiness or fitness as a lawyer in other respects[.]” SCR 3.130-8.4(b). Benton is suspended from the practice of law for 181 days.
CHARLES DAVID KEEN V. KENTUCKY BAR ASSOCIATION
2014-SC-000410-KB
ORDER OF PUBLIC REPRIMAND.
Charles David Keen’ (Keen) moves this Court for a public reprimand for his admitted violations of SCR 3.130-1.3, SCR 3.130-1.4(a)(3), SCR 3.130-1.16(d), SCR 3.130-3.2 in one Charge; and SCR 3.130-1.3, SCR 3.130-1.4(a)(4), and SCR 3.130-1.16(d) in another Charge. The Kentucky Bar Association (KBA) states no objection to the proposed discipline, which was negotiated pursuant to SCR 3.480(2). Finding a public reprimand to be the appropriate discipline for his misconduct, we grant Keen’s motion.
ADRIENNE A. THAKUR V. KENTUCKY BAR ASSOCIATION
2014-SC-000543-KB
ORDER OF SUSPENSION FROM THE PRACTICE OF LAW FOR 5 YEARS WITH CONDITIONS.
Pursuant to SCR 3.480(2), the negotiated sanction rule, Movant, Adrienne A. Thakur, KBA Number 92703, moves this Court to impose upon her a five-year suspension, along with additional conditions, to resolve the professional misconduct charges contained in KBA File 21456. The Kentucky Bar Association (KBA) has no objection to Movant’s request.
On January 16, 2014, the Inquiry Commission issued a three-count charge against Movant. Count I alleged that Movant violated SCR 3.130-1.15(a) 1by concealing from the firm the receipt of funds from, or for, certain clients and by not turning over said funds to the firm. Count II alleged that Movant violated SCR 3.130-1.15(b) 2by not notifying the firm of the receipt of funds from, or for, certain clients and by not turning over the funds for deposit into the appropriate account. Count III alleged that Movant violated SCR 3.130-8.4(c) 3by concealing from the firm the receipt of funds from clients and diverting the funds for her own personal benefit instead of turning them over for deposit into the appropriate account.
Appellant admits that she is guilty of each of the above ethical violations.
