Wong v. Miss. Bar
| Docket Number: | 2008-BR-00014-SCT | |
| Supreme Court: | Opinion Link Opinion Date: 12-11-2008 Opinion Author: Graves, J. Holding: Petition of Raymond L. Wong for Reinstatement to the Practice of Law in the State of Mississippi is conditionally granted. |
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| Additional Case Information: |
Topic: Bar reinstatement - Miss. R. Disc. 12 Judge(s) Concurring: Smith, C.J., Waller and Diaz, P.JJ., Easley, Carlson, Dickinson, Randolph and Lamar, JJ. Procedural History: Admin or Agency Judgment Nature of the Case: CIVIL - BAR MATTERS |
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| Trial Court: |
Date of Trial Judgment: 12-03-2007 Disposition: Wong was suspended for failure to respond to his clients, failure to pursue his clients’ criminal appeals, failure to respond to informal complaints from the Mississippi Bar (the “Bar”), and noncooperation with the Bar complaint process. Case Number: 2007-B-1259 |
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| Party Name: | Attorney Name: | |||
| Appellant: | Raymond L. Wong |
RAYMOND L. WONG, PRO SE |
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| Appellee: | The Mississippi Bar | ADAM B. KILGORE |
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Synopsis provided by:  If you are interested in subscribing to the weekly synopses of all Mississippi Supreme Court and Court of Appeals hand downs please contact Tammy Upton in the MLI Press office. |
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| Topic: | Bar reinstatement - Miss. R. Disc. 12 |
| Summary of the Facts: | Raymond Wong seeks reinstatement to the Mississippi Bar following a six-month suspension. Wong was suspended for failure to respond to his clients, failure to pursue his clients’ criminal appeals, failure to respond to informal complaints from the Mississippi Bar, and noncooperation with the Bar complaint process. |
| Summary of Opinion Analysis: | Miss. R. Disc. 12 requires that reinstatement to the practice of law following any other discipline shall be only upon proof of compliance with any such sanctions. To be reinstated, the petitioner must state the cause or causes for suspension or disbarment; give the name and current address of all persons, parties, firms, or legal entities who suffered pecuniary loss due to the improper conduct; make full amends and restitution; show that he has the necessary moral character for the practice of law; and demonstrate the requisite legal education to be reinstated to the privilege of practicing law. Wong demonstrated his knowledge of the underlying facts of the cases and informed the Bar of the circumstances under which he violated the Rules of Professional Conduct. Wong acknowledged that he caused some of his clients harm because they were forced to find other attorneys to represent them. Wong returned all case files, papers, money and unused attorney’s fees, and other property belonging to his clients within fourteen days of the complaint tribunal’s decision and notified all courts, agencies, and adverse parties in his cases of his suspension. Wong has paid $1,080.54 in costs and expenses associated with the investigation of his violations. Wong testified that he has been a member of the Exchange Club, a service organization that advocates against child abuse. Wong stated that he has spent much of his time during his suspension taking care of his elderly parents. Wong was not required by the complaint tribunal to take the Multi-State Professional Responsibility Exam. He stated in his Petition for Reinstatement and at his deposition that for the August 2007 period, he had completed more than twelve hours of continuing legal education. The Bar recommends that Wong be reinstated to the practice of law, on the condition that he certify to the Court that he completed twelve hours of continuing legal education hours in law office management, twelve hours of continuing legal education hours in professional responsibility, and twelve hours of continuing legal education required by the Bar to maintain his law license. Wong has shown that he put significant thought into improving his conduct in the future. He has also completed the requirements set out by Rule of Discipline 12. Furthermore, the Bar ultimately recommends that he be reinstated. The letters of recommendation submitted strongly urge Wong’s reinstatement. Both the letters of recommendation and the deposition transcript demonstrate that Wong is a competent and knowledgeable attorney and public defender. Thus, Wong’s Petition for Reinstatement is granted on the condition that he certify to the Court and to the Mississippi Bar within thirty days of the hand-down of this opinion that he has completed twelve hours of continuing legal education in professional responsibility. |
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