On Thursday, December 14, 2023, the Kentucky Supreme Court issued an opinion temporarily suspending attorney Gary Alan Tabler, following allegations of misappropriating funds and posing a substantial threat of harm to clients or the public.

The case is entitled “Inquiry Commission v. Gary Alan Tabler,” with case no. 2023-SC-0461-KB.

Tabler was accused of misappropriating funds from the Estate of Joyce Hardin, where he was appointed as administrator in 2012. The Inquiry Commission contended that between 2012 and 2019, Tabler wrote unauthorized checks to himself, totaling $180,725.00, from the estate’s account. Additionally, he failed to file timely inventories and settlements, leading to contempt orders from the district court.

Despite multiple court orders and notices, Tabler allegedly did not respond or appear, prompting his removal as administrator in April 2022. The public administrator later filed a motion to compel Tabler to provide an accounting of the estate’s assets, revealing a significant decrease in value compared to Tabler’s earlier inventory.

Tabler, through counsel, responded to the bar complaint on July 18, 2023, citing health reasons for his inability to determine the truth of the misappropriation allegations.

The Supreme Court has reviewed the uncontroverted allegations of the Inquiry Commission and agreed that probable cause exists to believe Tabler is or has been misappropriating funds or has been otherwise improperly dealing with said funds. Consequently, the Court agreed with the Inquiry Commission that his license to practice law should be temporarily suspended.

The temporary suspension will remain in effect for 180 days unless extended or dissolved by a subsequent court order. Disciplinary proceedings may be initiated by the Inquiry Commission, and Tabler has the option to request dissolution or amendment of the suspension. Tabler is required to notify clients of his inability to provide further legal services and cease advertising activities immediately.

The Disposition states:

“Gary Alan Tabler is temporarily suspended from the practice of law in the Commonwealth of Kentucky, effective upon the date of entry of this order;”

According to Avvo, Mr. Tabler is an elder law attorney in Louisville, Kentucky. He obtained his law license in Kentucky in 1980.

A copy of the original filing can be found here.