On Friday, September 6, 2024, the Seventh District Committee of the Virginia State Bar issued a Consent Order publicly reprimanding attorney Steven Kent Baldridge for failing to comply with terms set out in a prior private reprimand.
The case is entitled “In the Mater of Steven Kent Baldridge,” with case no. 24-070-132146.
The disciplinary case against Baldridge began when a former client, Deborah Weaver, filed a complaint alleging Baldridge failed to provide an adequate accounting of $27,000 in legal fees paid for his representation of Weaver’s mother, Colleen Carr, in a breach of contract lawsuit. During the VSB’s investigation, it found Baldridge had not been properly maintaining his trust account records and documentation as required by Rule 1.15 of the Virginia Rules of Professional Conduct.
In November 2022, the Seventh District Subcommittee held a meeting and approved an agreed disposition of a private reprimand with terms for Baldridge. The private reprimand outlined findings that Baldridge had spent substantial time working on Carr’s case and kept his clients informed. However, it also found Baldridge failed to keep proper accounting records for his trust account as required. As part of the terms, Baldridge was required to take an online trust accounting CLE, hire an accountant to audit his accounts, and provide periodic reports to the VSB certifying his compliance with Rule 1.15.
However, the VSB did not receive the required audit reports from Baldridge or his accountant by the deadlines of May 1, 2023, and November 1, 2023. In July 2024, Baldridge finally provided an audit report from May 2024 that identified multiple instances of noncompliance. As a result, the VSB filed a rule to show cause petition alleging Baldridge failed to comply with the terms of the private reprimand.
On September 6, 2024, the Seventh District Committee entered into a consent order with Baldridge. Baldridge stipulated that he did not comply with the terms and waived his right to a hearing. Pursuant to the rules, the Committee then publicly reprimanded Baldridge without terms. The consent order brings the disciplinary case against Buena Vista attorney Steven Baldridge to a conclusion after he failed to comply with the initial private reprimand.
According to avvo.com, Mr. Baldridge is an attorney in Buena Vista, Virginia. He attended the Brigham Young University – J. Reuben Clark Law School. He acquired his law license in Virginia in 2005.
A copy of the original filing can be found here.
