A Shawnee attorney has been suspended for one year by the Oklahoma Bar Association, but his law firm will remain open under new management.
Attorney Gregory Scott Wilson is temporarily suspended from practicing law until April 2009.
After OBA proceedings, the Professional Responsibility Tribunal (PRT) found Wilson violated the rules governing a lawyer’s conduct involving a trust account, resulting in a one-year suspension.
“I apologize for any adverse effect that this action may have on anyone,” Wilson said in a statement. “The events that led to my suspension occurred five to six years ago. I made some serious mistakes early on in the management of my law office. I have learned from those errors and accept full responsibility for them.”
Wilson has been a member of the OBA since April 1998. According to court filings, the Bar accused Wilson of forging a client’s name to a settlement check. The Bar failed to establish forgery, but proved Wilson commingled and converted client trust funds from the client’s settlement check, a court ruling shows. Commingling occurs when a client’s money is combined with the attorney’s personal funds.
The PRT concluded that Wilson’s improper management of the client trust fund amounted to incompetent representation. Wilson became attorney for the client for a traffic accident lawsuit in 2000 and received settlement checks in that case in 2002.
The matter was referred to as a misappropriation of funds, with court records showing there is a “distinction between irregular bookkeeping and actual misuse of funds.”
Since the accounting problems occurred, Wilson said Wilson Law Firm, PLLC has implemented office policies and procedures to make sure accounts are handled in full compliance with the Oklahoma Bar Association rules.
During the temporary suspension, the OBA will allow Wilson’s mother, Deanna Wilson, a licensed attorney, to manage Wilson’s firm. Shawnee attorney Allan Grubb will move his office to the firm. Wilson will work as a legal assistant, which means doing legal research and writing and preparing cases for trial.
Wilson said the firm will continue to represent existing and new clients in the areas of personal injury/auto accidents, divorce/custody, bankruptcy, criminal defense, probate/guardianships and civil cases.
Anyone who would like to discuss this matter with Wilson can call him at (405) 706-1943.
Kim Morava may be reached at 214-3962 or kimberly.morava@news-star.com.
