Summary
The Nebraska Supreme Court accepted Craig A. Hoffman’s voluntary surrender of his law license under the Nebraska attorney disciplinary rules. The court entered an immediate judgment of disbarment based on his knowing decision not to contest allegations involving his client trust account and directed him to comply with applicable post-disbarment requirements and pay assessed costs.
Topics
Practice areas
Questions Presented
- Whether the court should accept Hoffman's voluntary surrender of his license under Neb. Ct. R. § 3-315.
- Whether the court should enter an immediate judgment of disbarment upon that voluntary surrender.
Holdings
- The court held that Hoffman voluntarily surrendered his license and knowingly did not challenge or contest the allegations concerning his client trust account, thereby satisfying the requirements of Neb. Ct. R. § 3-315.
- The court held that Hoffman should be disbarred and ordered him disbarred from the practice of law in Nebraska, effective immediately.
Key quotations
“The court accepts respondent’s voluntary surrender of his license and enters a judgment of disbarment.” (304 Neb. at 323)
“The court accepts respondent’s voluntary surrender of his license, finds that respondent should be disbarred, and hereby orders him disbarred from the practice of law in the State of Nebraska, effective immediately.” (304 Neb. at 325)
Factual background
Craig A. Hoffman was admitted to practice law in Nebraska in 2002 and was temporarily suspended in May 2018. At the time of his voluntary surrender, five felony theft-by-deception charges were pending against him in Lancaster County Court, and the Counsel for Discipline was investigating complaints involving his client trust account. Hoffman knowingly declined to contest the allegations, waived further proceedings, and consented to immediate disbarment.
Procedural history
The Nebraska Supreme Court considered respondent Craig A. Hoffman's voluntary surrender of his law license, filed while disciplinary investigations concerning his client trust account were pending. Hoffman waived notice, appearance, hearing, and further proceedings, and consented to immediate disbarment. The court accepted the surrender and entered judgment of disbarment.