On Tuesday, August 2, 2022, the Office of Disciplinary Counsel for the State of Montana filed a Complaint for attorney discipline against Anaconda attorney Joseph Connors for professional misconduct.
The case, titled In the Matter of Joseph Connors, is being heard by the Commission on Practice of the Supreme Court of Montana. Case #22-140.
The charges cited Connors’ violations of 8.1 of Montana Rules on Professional Conduct and 8A(6) of the Montana Rules for Lawyer Disciplinary Enforcement.
A summary of the Complaint goes:
On February 2022, ODC received a grievance alleging Respondent engaged in unethical conduct while representing a client. ODC obtained a copy of the client’s Register of Action and discovered Respondent had not filed a Notice of Appearance, and that absent the initial filings in 2006, no additional filings or activity had occurred.
By letter dated March 17, 2022, ODC requested Respondent to respond to the allegations against him within twenty (21) days, on or before, April 7, 2022. Despite ODC’s grant of Respondent’s request for extension twice, Respondent failed to provide a response.
Neither did the Respondent file his response to ODC’s another letter dated May 26, 2022 which requests Respondent to provide his justification for failing to respond to his client’s grievance, nor did he contact ODC.
Accordingly, the Office of Disciplinary Counsel for the State of Montana, charges Joseph Connors with professional misconduct for his failure to respond to the grievance, or have any further communication with ODC in violation of Rule 8.1(b) and Rule 8A(6) of the Montana Rules for Lawyer Disciplinary Enforcement his failure to promptly and fully respond to an inquiry from ODC.
In its Complaint, the Office of Disciplinary Counsel prays:
1: That a Citation be issued to the Respondent, to which shall be attached a copy of the complaint, requiring Respondent, within twenty-one (21) days after service thereof, to file a written answer to the complaint;
2: That a formal hearing be had on the allegations of this complaint before an Adjudicatory Panel of the Commission;
3: That the Adjudicatory Panel of the Commission make a report of its findings and recommendations after a formal hearing to the Montana Supreme Court, and, in the event the Adjudicatory Panel finds the facts warrant disciplinary action and recommends discipline, that the Commission also recommend the nature and extent of appropriate disciplinary action, including an award of costs and expenses incurred in investigating and prosecuting this matter; and
4: For such other and further relief as deemed necessary and proper.”
According to Lawyer.com, Connors earned his Law degree at Notre Dame Law School, graduating in 1990. Connors practices in Anaconda, Montana. He has been licensed in Montana and Arizona.
A copy of the original filing can be found here.
