TO BE PUBLISHED
,Suprrtur (liourf of T ritfurkv
2016-SC-000261-KB
KENTUCKY BAR ASSOCIATION MOVANT
V. IN SUPREME COURT
CLINTON CHADWELL CARTER RESPONDENT
KBA MEMBER NO. 90756
OPINION AND ORDER
Respondent, Clinton Chadwell Carter, was admitted to the practice of law
in the Commonwealth of Kentucky on June 16, 2005. His bar roster address is
200 S. Lawrence St., Montgomery, AL 36104, and his Kentucky Bar
Association (KBA) member number is 90756.
As explained in an order of Public Censure entered April 15, 2016, the
Board of Professional Responsibility of the Supreme Court of Tennessee found:
[the Respondent] engaged in the unauthorized practice of law by
representing a client in Tennessee after his license had been
administratively suspended. [Respondent] failed to file a certificate
of good faith in a medical malpractice action he filed which was
fatal to the case. [Respondent] failed to inform his client of the
dismissal of the lawsuit for a period of over six months.
The Court found Respondent guilty of the following violations of the
Tennessee Rules of Professional Conduct: 1.1 (requirement to provide
competent representation); 1.4 (requirement to promptly provide the client with
necessary information and promptly respond to the client's reasonable requests
for information); 3.1 (requiring reasonable due diligence prior to filing and/or
defending a claim); 5.5 (illegally engaging in the practice of law); 8.4(a)
(requirement that an attorney not violate nor attempt to violate the rules of
professional conduct); and 8.4(d) (engaging in conduct that is prejudicial to the
administration of justice).
In its order of Public Censure, the Supreme Court of Tennessee imposed
a public reprimand. Pursuant to SCR 3.435(4), Respondent is subject to
identical reciprocal discipline in the Commonwealth of Kentucky unless he
proves by substantial evidence: (a) a lack of jurisdiction or fraud in the
Tennessee disciplinary action, or (b) that his misconduct warrants
substantially different discipline in this Commonwealth.
On May 20, 2016, the KBA filed a petition for reciprocal discipline
pursuant to SCR 3.435. On May 24, 2016, this Court ordered the following:
Within twenty (20) days of the date of the entry of this order,
Respondent is ordered to show cause why he should not be
publicly reprimanded, as consistent with an order of identical
discipline from the Supreme Court of Tennessee.
Respondent failed to comply with the May 24, 2016, order.
ACCORDINGLY, IT IS ORDERED that Respondent, Clinton Chadwell
Carter, KBA Member Number 90756, is publicly reprimanded, as consistent
with an order of identical discipline from the Supreme Court of Tennessee,
effective from the entry of this opinion and order.
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All sitting. All concur.
ENTERED: August 25, 2016.
CHIEF JUSTICE
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