STATE OF MINNESOTA

IN SUPREME COURT

C0-99-688

S Y L L A B U S

Attorney's neglect of numerous client matters, failure to properly maintain a client trust account, failure to communicate with clients, and failure to cooperate with the disciplinary investigation warrant an indefinite suspension from the practice of law for a minimum period of two years.

Heard, considered, and decided by the court en banc.

O P I N I O N

PER CURIAM.

The Director of the Office of Lawyers Professional Responsibility filed a petition for disciplinary action against respondent Dyan Lynn Campbell on March 24, 1999, alleging that she had violated various ethical rules. On August 4, 1998, the Director filed a supplementary petition alleging additional rule violations. Because Campbell failed to respond to either petition, the Director moved this court for summary relief. We granted the Director's motion for summary relief and the allegations in the petitions were deemed admitted pursuant to Rule 13(b), Rules on Lawyers Professional Responsibility (RLPR), and oral arguments were scheduled before this court. Campbell did not submit a written response or appear for oral argument. As a result of Campbell's professional misconduct and for the protection of the public, we order an indefinite suspension from the practice of law for a minimum of two years.

I. Rule Violations

Dyan Lynn Campbell was admitted to the practice of law in Minnesota on October 23, 1992. In August 1996, Campbell was issued an admonition for neglecting a client's divorce matter, failing to adequately communicate with a client, and failing to promptly pay attorney fees that had been awarded. In October 1998, the Director's Office received notice of an overdraft on Campbell's client trust account. Following this notification, the Director's Office began to receive complaints about Campbell from her clients. The Director's first count of misconduct against Campbell involves Campbell's conduct with seven client matters. The second count of misconduct concerns Campbell's failure to cooperate with the Director's Office and her failure to explain the trust account overdraft. In a supplementary petition for disciplinary action, the Director added two additional counts against Campbell. The third count of misconduct relates to Campbell mishandling her client trust account. The final count of misconduct charges Campbell with additional noncooperation with the Director's Office.

A. First Count