► Attorney Robert Dolton of Clackamas, OR; ethical misfit |
Attorney Robert Dolton of Clackamas, OR; ethical misfit
The state of Oregon provided Robert G. Dolton with a law license in 1981.
The Oregon State Bar found Robert guilty of the following misconduct
In one matter, Robert was hired to represent a minor client on a personal injury claim regarding an auto accident. Subsequently, Robert obtained a settlement offer that was acceptable to the minor and his parents. Under Oregon law, settlement of the claim required the establishment of a conservatorship for the minor to receive the settlement proceeds and court approval of the settlement.
The court then appointed the minor’s grandmother as conservator and approved the settlement on the condition that the settlement funds be deposited into a restricted account to be withdrawn only on order of the court. The court further ordered that an acknowledgment by the depository of the restrictions on the funds had to be filed with the court within 30 days. Contrary to the court’s specific order, Robert did not cause an acknowledgment of restrictions to be filed within 30 days or anytime thereafter.
Several months later, the probate court coordinator mailed a courtesy notice to Robert telling him that a citation would issue in 30 days unless the acknowledgment of restrictions was filed or a written explanation for the delay was submitted. Robert took no action in response to the court’s notice.
The trial judge then ordered a show cause hearing as to why the conservator shouldn’t be removed and sanctions imposed for possible breach of fiduciary duty by the conservator. Robert appeared with the conservator at the hearing. The trial judge again directed Robert to file the acknowledgement of restrictions within 30 days of the hearing. Again, Robert failed to abide by the court’s order. Robert’s response to the court was basically, “Up Yours!.”
As a consequence of his misconduct, the apologists for Attorney Misfits sitting on the Oregon Supreme Court punished Robert by gifting him with a complimentary reprimand.
As we speak (ca. March 2013) Robert practices with the Law Office of Robert G. Dolton at 13100 SE Sunnyside Road in Clackamas, Oregon.
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