DC Court of Appeals suspends attorney Kelley Clements Keller’s law license on interim basis following Pennsylvania disciplinary action

On Monday, November 27, 2023, the District of Columbia Court of Appeals issued an order suspending Attorney Kelley Clements Keller on an interim basis. The suspension is based on disciplinary action taken against Keller in Pennsylvania.

The case is entitled “In the Matter of Kelley Clements Keller,” with case no. 2023-D113.

According to a Joint Petition in Support of Discipline filed on March 28, 2023, the Pennsylvania Office of Disciplinary Counsel and Keller agreed that she should receive a suspension of one year and one day for her conduct. Keller admitted to engaging in misconduct involving seven clients.

The petition outlines issues with Keller’s representation of clients Claudia Williams, Bill and Laurie Bodisch, Jamie Trull, Ashley Armstrong, James and Connie Kreeger, Ellen Johnson, and Cari Wise.  The petition alleged that Keller had failed to provide services to clients, failed to respond to client requests for updates, and failed to refund unearned fees. The allegations were admitted by Keller, and the Supreme Court found that she had violated various rules of professional conduct, including failing to provide competent representation, failing to communicate with clients, and engaging in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit, or misrepresentation.

Keller acknowledged that she had not provided the services that were paid for and offered to refund the unearned portion of the fee. However, she failed to timely refund the fee, and the client was forced to initiate a chargeback with their credit card company.

The disciplinary board found that Keller had engaged in a pattern of misconduct, including failing to provide services, failing to communicate with clients, and failing to refund unearned fees. They also found that Keller had demonstrated a lack of respect for the legal system and a lack of integrity.

Upon consideration of the recommendation of the disciplinary board, the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania issued an order granting the joint petition and suspending Keller for one year and one day.

Meanwhile, the D.C. Court of Appeals issued its Order on November 27, 2023, to suspend Keller’s D.C. bar license on an interim basis, based upon the discipline imposed in Pennsylvania

According to avvo.com, Ms. Keller is an attorney in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. She acquired her law license in the District of Columbia in 2018.

A copy of the original filing can be found here.