STATE OF MINNESOTA November 19, 2015
Om:cEOF
IN SUPREME COURT API!'B.I.A1ECcuns
A14-0504
In rePetition for Disciplinary Action against
Matthew Harvey Jones,
a Minnesota Attorney, Registration No. 0286412.
ORDER
The Director of the Office of Lawyers Professional Responsibility has filed an
amended and supplementary petition for disciplinary action alleging that respondent
Matthew Harvey Jones committed professional misconduct warranting public
discipline--namely, engaging in a pattern of neglect, inadequate client communication,
failing to deposit client funds in trust, failing to promptly account for and return client
property, sending false and misleading solicitations, making false statements to clients,
failing to enter into appropriate written fee agreements, failing to deposit advance
retainers into a trust account, failing to supervise nonlawyer assistants, sharing legal fees
with a nonlawyer, knowingly depositing an insufficient funds instrument into his trust
account resulting in an overdraft in the account, and failing to cooperate with the
disciplinary system. See Minn. R. Prof. Conduct 1.3, 1.4, 1.4(aX3), (aX4), and (b),
1.5(b)(1) and (3), 1.15(a), (c)(3), (c)(4), and (c)(S), 1.16(d), 5.3(b) and (c), 5.4(a), 7.1,
7.3(b)(1) and (c), 8.1(b), and 8.4(c), and Rule 25, Rules on Lawyers Professional
Responsibility (RLPR).
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Respondent waives his rights Wlder Rule 14, RLPR, withdraws his previously
filed answer, Wlconditionally admits the allegations in the amended and supplementary
petition, and with the Director recommends that the appropriate discipline is an indefinite
suspension with no right to petition for reinstatement for 12 months.
The court has independently reviewed the file and approves the recommended
disposition.
Based upon all the files, records, and proceedings herein,
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED THAT:
1. Respondent Matthew Harvey Jones is indefinitely suspended from the
practice of law, effective 14 days from the date of the filing of this order, with no right to
petition for reinstatement for 1 year.
2. Respondent shall comply with Rule 26, RLPR (requiring notice of
suspension to clients, opposing counsel, and tribunals), and shall pay $900 in costs
pursuant to Rule 24, RLPR.
3. Respondent may petition for reinstatement pursuant to Rule l8(a)-(d),
RLPR. Reinstatement is conditioned on successful completion of the professional
responsibility portion of the state bar examination and satisfaction of continuing legal
education requirements pursuant to Rule 18(e), RLPR.
Dated: November 19, 2015 BY THE COURT:
David R. Stras
Associate Justice
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