Narrative Opinion Summary
This judicial opinion concerns disciplinary proceedings against a Kentucky attorney, Margaret M. Jackson-Rigg, who faced multiple charges of professional misconduct. Jackson-Rigg, admitted to the Kentucky Bar in 1984, was initially suspended for nonpayment of dues in 2008. Despite her suspension, she attempted to represent a client in a personal injury claim, failed to communicate her suspension status, and neglected to maintain client files post-eviction from her office. Further investigation revealed she falsely claimed to have negotiated a settlement and failed to respond to the Kentucky Bar Association's inquiries. Additional charges involved her guilty plea to felony counts for failing to file tax returns, automatically suspending her practice rights. The Board of Governors found Jackson-Rigg guilty of numerous violations, citing her pattern of misconduct and previous disciplinary history, leading to her permanent disbarment. The disbarment order requires her to pay disciplinary costs, cease advertising, and notify relevant parties of her disbarment within ten days. The court's final ruling underscores the severity of her ethical breaches and the impact on her fitness to practice law.
Legal Issues Addressed
Criminal Conduct Reflecting on Fitness to Practicesubscribe to see similar legal issues
Application: Jackson-Rigg's guilty plea to multiple felony counts for failing to file state income tax returns led to her automatic suspension from practicing law.
Reasoning: On June 12, 2010, Jackson-Rigg pled guilty to seven felony counts for willfully failing to file state income tax returns from 2002 to 2008, leading to her automatic suspension from legal practice under SCR 3.166(1).
Engaging in Conduct Involving Dishonestysubscribe to see similar legal issues
Application: Jackson-Rigg made false statements about negotiating a settlement offer that never existed, thus violating ethical standards.
Reasoning: Big Lots, which denied any communication from Jackson-Rigg regarding the claim.
Failure to Maintain Communication with Clientsubscribe to see similar legal issues
Application: Jackson-Rigg failed to inform her client of her suspension and ceased communication regarding the status of the legal matter.
Reasoning: Subsequently, Lewis was unable to contact Jackson-Rigg, and later discovered her suspension from the practice.
Failure to Respond to Disciplinary Authoritysubscribe to see similar legal issues
Application: Jackson-Rigg did not respond to KBA inquiries and disciplinary complaints in a timely or complete manner.
Reasoning: Count III accuses her of violating SCR 3.130-8.1(b) for failing to respond to a disciplinary inquiry from the KBA.
Failure to Safeguard Client Propertysubscribe to see similar legal issues
Application: Jackson-Rigg did not retrieve or protect client files after being evicted from her law office, resulting in a breach of her professional duty.
Reasoning: Furthermore, after being evicted from her law office on May 12, 2010, Jackson-Rigg did not retrieve her client files, which were later sealed and moved to the Mason District Court.
Permanent Disbarment for Professional Misconductsubscribe to see similar legal issues
Application: The court permanently disbarred Jackson-Rigg for repeated violations of the Kentucky Rules of Professional Conduct, including past disciplinary actions and felony convictions.
Reasoning: Margaret M. Jackson-Rigg, KBA Member No. 35338, was permanently disbarred from practicing law in Kentucky due to multiple violations of the Kentucky Rules of Professional Conduct.
Practicing Law While Suspendedsubscribe to see similar legal issues
Application: Jackson-Rigg continued to represent a client and negotiate a settlement for a personal injury claim despite being suspended from practicing law for nonpayment of dues.
Reasoning: In March 2009, she attempted to represent Phillip Lewis’s minor son in a claim related to an accident at Big Lots.