On Friday, August 18, 2023, the Supreme Court of the State of Iowa publicly reprimanded attorney Kristen A. Boldt for professional misconduct, including lack of diligence, inadequate communication, impaired representation, failure to expedite litigation, non-compliance with lawful demands, and engaging in prejudicial conduct.
The case is entitled “Iowa Supreme Court Attorney Disciplinary Board vs. Kristen A. Boldt,” case no. 23-1189.
The charges cited Boldt’s violation of Iowa Rules of Professional Conduct 32:1.2(a) (“…[A] lawyer shall abide by a client’s decisions concerning the objectives of representation and, as required by rule 32:1.4, shall consult with the client as to the means by which they are to be pursued.); 32:1.3 (diligence); 32:1.4 (communication); 32:1.16(a)(2) (“…[A] lawyer shall not represent a client or, where representation has commenced, shall withdraw from the representation of a client if the lawyer’s physical or mental condition materially impairs the lawyer’s ability to represent the client…); 32:3.2 (expediting litigation); 32:8.1(b) (“…[A] lawyer…in connection with a disciplinary matter shall not…knowingly fail to respond to a lawful demand for information from an admissions or disciplinary authority…); and 32:8.4(d) (“It is professional misconduct for a lawyer to engage in conduct that is prejudicial to the administration of justice.)
According to the complaint filed with the Board, Boldt was hired in June 2021 to represent a client in a collaborative divorce case. However, after multiple meetings, Boldt became unresponsive and failed to maintain communication with the client. Despite numerous attempts to contact her, the client received no response, ultimately leading to the hiring of a second attorney. Furthermore, Boldt sent a bill to the client in late December 2021, despite the lack of communication. The invoice amount was automatically withdrawn from the client’s checking account, adding to the client’s frustration and dissatisfaction with Boldt’s conduct.
Boldt, in her delayed response, cited various medical and mental health issues as reasons for her lack of communication. She acknowledged being the sole practitioner and primary breadwinner for her family, mentioning her ex-husband’s imprisonment for abuse. Additionally, she mentioned her abusive marriage and subsequent divorce as contributing factors to her failures in communicating with her client and the Board.
The filing states:
“During this time, most of your contested cases were taken over by other attorneys. When you saw a different attorney file an appearance on behalf of complainant, you merely closed your file. In hindsight, you admitted, “That is not an excuse for my not reaching out.”
Following a determination that Boldt’s actions violated the above-cited rules of professional conduct, and considering Boldt’s late response to the complaint, the Board publicly reprimanded the latter on March 21, 2023.
Accordingly, after the reprimand had been filed with the court clerk with proof of service and a statement that Boldt had not filed an exception within the designated timeframe, the Court ordered that the reprimand of Boldt be included in the court’s records as a public document.
Ms. Kristen A. Boldt is listed as a Mediator and Coach at Harmony Law with an office located in West Des Moines. She attended Drake University Law School, graduating in 1998. Boldt has been admitted to practice in Iowa. Her info can be found on LinkedIn.
A copy of the original filing can be found here.
