Summary
The Oklahoma Supreme Court reviewed a bar disciplinary proceeding involving seven counts of professional misconduct by Tynan Dasharey Grayson, including client neglect, improper handling of client funds, inadequate communication, and failure to cooperate with the Oklahoma Bar Association's investigation. On de novo review, the Court suspended Grayson's license to practice law for two years and one day and assessed $3,862.34 in costs.
Topics
Practice areas
Questions Presented
- Whether the evidence established that Grayson violated the charged Oklahoma Rules of Professional Conduct and Rules Governing Disciplinary Proceedings.
- Whether the appropriate discipline was a suspension of two years and one day.
- Whether Grayson should be assessed $3,862.34 in disciplinary proceeding costs.
Holdings
- The evidence established that Grayson violated all of the Rules of Professional Conduct and Rules Governing Disciplinary Proceedings alleged by the Oklahoma Bar Association, including rules concerning diligence, communication, fees, safekeeping client property, professional misconduct, discredit to the profession, and cooperation with the disciplinary investigation.
- Grayson's license to practice law should be suspended for two years and one day.
- Grayson was assessed $3,862.34 in costs, payable no later than ninety days after the opinion became final.
- A suspension for two years and one day requires the suspended attorney to use the procedures applicable to a disbarred attorney for readmission.
Key quotations
“This Court is the ultimate arbiter of appropriate sanctions in bar discipline.” (¶ 9)
“Rather, the ultimate responsibility for imposition of professional discipline is ours alone.” (¶ 9)
“The nondelegable, constitutional responsibility to regulate both the practice and the ethics, licensure, and discipline of practitioners of the law is solely vested in this Court.” (¶ 19)
Factual background
Grayson represented multiple clients in matters including divorce, business formation, discrimination, paternity and custody, and bankruptcy proceedings. The evidence showed repeated neglect, failures to communicate, failure to perform contracted legal work, failure to account for or refund unearned fees, and deposits of advance fees into personal rather than client trust accounts. Grayson also failed to cooperate fully with the Bar Association's investigation and had previously received a private reprimand after earlier grievances involving similar conduct.
Procedural history
The Oklahoma Bar Association charged Grayson with seven counts of professional misconduct arising from client neglect, mishandling of client funds, failures to communicate and account, failure to cooperate with the disciplinary investigation, and aggravating prior misconduct. Following a hearing, the Professional Responsibility Tribunal recommended a two-year-and-one-day suspension and costs of $3,862.34. The Supreme Court independently reviewed the record and imposed the recommended suspension and costs.