On Thursday, March 23, 2023, the Supreme Court of Kentucky granted the motion to amend the opinion and order filed by the Kentucky Bar Association in relation to the case of attorney Richard Davis Null who was suspended from the practice of law for multiple violations of the Kentucky Rules of Professional Conduct.

The case is entitled “Richard Davis Null v. Kentucky Bar Association” with case no. 2022-SC-0422-KB.

The charges cited Kentucky Rules of Professional Conduct 3.130(1.3), 3.130(1.4)(a)(3), 1.130(1.4)(a)(4), 3.130(1.6)(a), 3.130(1.15)(a), 3.130(1.16)(d), 3.130(8.1)(a), 3.130(8.1)(b), and 3.130(8.4)(c).

On December 15, 2022, the Supreme Court of Kentucky, through an opinion and order, rendered a decision finding the respondent guilty of violating seven counts of professional misconduct, thereby suspending the same for one year and 180 days. Some of the misconduct of the respondent includes; failing to appear on the client’s behalf at any court hearings, failing to deposit the fee into a trust account because he does not have a trust account to safeguard client funds, failing to file the petition or to pursue the case on the client’s behalf and misrepresented to them on several occasions the status of the case, failing to deposit the funds into an escrow account, giving someone’s confidential file to friend’s daughter without obtaining the consent of the former, not keeping the client informed about the true status of his legal matters and not responding to reasonable requests for information, and failing to file a motion for the client to obtain temporary custody.

The report states:

“Having admitted all the allegations therein, Richard Davis Null filed a motion for suspension from the practice of law, pursuant to SCR 23.480(2). The Kentucky Bar Association filed a response expressing no objection to the negotiated sanction. The Kentucky Supreme Court agreed and imposed a one-year suspension from the practice of law, with 180 days to serve and the balance probated for two years, subject to conditions as set forth by the Court.”

After reviewing the facts and the broad range of imposed penalties emerging from relevant case law, the court agreed with the Kentucky Bar Association that the appropriate discipline in this matter against the respondent is suspension.

The Order states:

“The Motion to Amend the Opinion and Order, filed by the Kentucky Bar Association is GRANTED, and the Opinion and Order of the Court, rendered December 15, 2022, is amended by substitution of the attached Opinion and Order in lieu of the original. Said amendment does not affect the holding of the original Opinion and Order of this Court.”

Mr. Null attended Salmon P. Chase College of Law, graduating in 1998. He practices in Paducah, Kentucky. He is licensed in Kentucky with license #87271. His info can be found on Lawyerdb.org.

A copy of the original filing can be found here.