On Friday, November 15, 2024, the Presiding Disciplinary Judge of the Supreme Court of Arizona issued a final judgment disbarring attorney Robert S. Reder. This decision followed a hearing panel’s earlier ruling on October 30, 2024, which found Reder in violation of several Arizona Rules of Professional Conduct.

The case is entitled “In the Matter of Robert S. Reder,” with case np. PDJ 2024-9076.

Reder’s disbarment is effective immediately and marks the culmination of a disciplinary process initiated by the State Bar of Arizona. The Bar filed a complaint against Reder on August 29, 2024, related to his failure to communicate with clients and fulfill his professional obligations. Despite being served with the complaint, Reder did not respond or appear at the required hearings, leading to a notice of default being issued against him.

The complaint stemmed from Reder’s representation of clients Amber and Brian Davis in a litigation matter involving Elite RV Rentals, LLC. According to the findings, Reder had not communicated with the Davises for nearly a year, despite their attempts to reach him through various means, including emails and social media. Brian Davis reported having paid Reder over $20,000 in legal fees, yet the Davises remained unaware of the status of their case.

During the aggravation and mitigation hearing held via Zoom on October 24, 2024, the hearing panel, which included Presiding Disciplinary Judge Margaret H. Downie, determined that Reder’s actions constituted a serious breach of his duties as an attorney. The panel deemed that Reder’s conduct caused actual harm to his clients, confirming that he knowingly failed to perform his services, which aligns with the American Bar Association’s standards for imposing sanctions.

As part of the ruling, the panel noted several aggravating factors, including Reder’s prior disciplinary history and his refusal to acknowledge the wrongful nature of his actions. These factors contributed to the conclusion that disbarment was the appropriate sanction. Reder was also ordered to pay restitution of $22,000 to Brian Davis and cover $2,000 in costs incurred by the State Bar of Arizona.

The court emphasized that Reder’s name would be removed from the roll of lawyers in Arizona, and he would lose all rights and privileges associated with practicing law.

The Disposition states:

“IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that ROBERT S. REDER, Bar No. 024117, is disbarred, effective October 30, 2024, for his conduct in violation of the Arizona Rules of Professional Conduct and Rules of the Supreme Court of Arizona. His name is stricken from the roll of lawyers in Arizona, and he is no longer entitled to the rights and privileges of a lawyer, though he remains subject to the jurisdiction of the court.”

According to avvo.com, Mr. Reder was a litigation attorney in Scottsdale, Arizona. He acquired his law license in Arizona in 2005. 

A copy of the original filing can be found here.