STATE OF MINNESOTA
December 8, 2016
IN SUPREME COURT Om:c OF
AJIIIB.M'IEC IS
Al6-0674
In rePetition for Disciplinary Action against
Jeremy Lloyd Brantingham, a Minnesota Attorney,
Registration No. 0299558.
ORDER
The Director of the Office of Lawyers Professional Responsibility has filed a
petition for disciplinary action alleging that respondent Jeremy Lloyd Brantingham has
committed a variety of professional misconduct warranting public discipline.
Brantingham's financial misconduct includes depositing client funds into a non-trust
"settlement" account, failing to maintain trust account books, allowing shortages to occur
in his trust account, commingling client funds with substantial amounts of his own
funds in his settlement account, allowing shortages to occur in his settlement account,
and advancing funds to clients from his settlement account. Other misconduct includes
failing to handle a client's claims diligently, failing to adequately communicate with
the client regarding her claims, and failing to promptly provide the client with her file
upon termination ofthe representation. See Minn. R. Prof. Conduct 1.3, 1.4(a)(3), 1.8(e),
l.l5(a), 1.15(b), 1.15(c)(3), 1.15(h), and 1.16(d).
Brantingham and the Director have entered into a stipulation for discipline. In it,
Brantingham withdraws his previously tiled answer, unconditionally admits the
allegations in the petition, and waives his procedural rights under Rule 14, Rules on
Lawyers Professional Responsibility (RLPR). The parties jointly recommend that the
appropriate discipline is a 30-day suspension followed by 2 years of probation.
This court has independently reviewed the file and approves the jointly
recommended disposition.
Based upon all the files, records, and proceedings herein,
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED THAT:
I. Respondent Jeremy Lloyd Brantingham is suspended from the practice of
law for a minimum of 30 days, effective 14 days from the date of filing of this order.
2. Respondent shall comply with Rule 26, RLPR (requiring notice of
suspension to clients, opposing counsel, and tribunals).
3. Respondent shall pay $900 in costs pursuant to Rule 24, RLPR.
4. Respondent shall be eligible for reinstatement to the practice of law
following the expiration of the suspension period provided that, not less than 15 days
before the end of the suspension period, respondent files with the Clerk of the
Appellate Courts and serves upon the Director an affidavit establishing that he is current
in continuing legal education requirements, has complied with Rules 24 and 26, RLPR,
and has complied with any other conditions for reinstatement imposed by this court.
5. Within 1 year of the date of this order, respondent shall file with the Clerk of
Appellate Courts and serve upon the Director proof of successful completion of the written
examination required for admission to the practice of law by the State Board of Law
Examiners on the subject of professional responsibility. Failure to timely file the required
documentation shall result in automatic re-suspension, as provided in Rule 18( e )(3 ), RLPR
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6. Upon reinstatement to the practice of law, respondent shall be subject to
probation for 2 years, subject to the following terms and conditions:
(a) Respondent shall cooperate fully with the Director's Office in its efforts to
monitor compliance with this probation. Respondent shall promptly respond to
the Director's correspondence by its due date. Respondent shall provide to the
Director a current mailing address and shall immediately notify the Director of
any change of address. Respondent shall cooperate with the Director's
investigation of any allegations of unprofessional conduct that may come to the
Director's attention. Upon the Director's request, respondent shall provide
authorization for release of information and documentation to verify compliance
with the terms of this probation.
(b) Respondent shall abide by the Minnesota Rules of Professional Conduct.
(c) Respondent shall maintain law office and trust account books and records
in compliance with Minn. R. Prof. Conduct 1.15 and Appendix 1. These books
and records shall include the following: client subsidiary ledgers, checkbook
register, monthly trial balance reports, monthly reconciliation reports, bank
statements, canceled checks (if they are provided with the bank statements),
duplicate deposit slips, bank reports of interest, service charges and interest
payments to the Minnesota IOL TA Program, and bank wire, electronic or
telephone transfer confirmations. Such books and records shall be made available
to the Director within 30 days of the approval of this stipulation and thereafter
shall be made available to the Director at such intervals as the Director deems
necessary to determine compliance.
Dated: December 8, 2016
BIJJU/k
David R. Stras
Associate Justice
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In re Petition for Disciplinary Action against Jeremy Lloyd Brantingham, a Minnesota Attorney, Registration No. 0299558. A16-674
Combined Opinion