Sedona AZ (June 22, 2014) – Phoenix Attorney Robert F. Hughes was suspended from the practice of law for violating the Rules of Professional Conduct. The Presiding Disciplinary Judge of the Arizona Supreme Court ordered that Hughes be suspended for six months and one day.
Hughes entered into a Diversion Agreement with the State Bar of Arizona in April 2012. After failing to comply with the terms and conditions of that agreement, the Attorney Discipline Probable Cause Committee issued an order of admonition and probation in November 2013. The terms of Hughes’ probation required he comply with his Diversion Agreement in the earlier matter, which he failed to do.
In addition, Hughes was summarily suspended for failing to comply with mandatory continuing legal education (CLE) requirements in February 2014.
The State Bar instituted probation violation proceedings. Hughes did not appear for his June 16, 2014, hearing.
Hughes’ suspension was effective on June 16, 2014. Resulting from his suspension of more than six months, Hughes shall undergo rehabilitation and compliance requirements prior to being reinstated to the practice of law. Upon reinstatement, he will be placed on supervised probation with terms that will be determined at his reinstatement hearing.
Tempe Attorney Blake Simms was suspended from the practice of law for violating the Rules of Professional Conduct. The Disciplinary Hearing Panel of the Arizona Supreme Court, led by the Presiding Disciplinary Judge, ordered that W. Blake Simms be suspended from the practice of law for nine months.
In count one, a client retained Simms to assist her with an employment dispute. After drafting a demand letter for this client, he stopped communicating with this client and abandoned this client’s case. In count two, Simms charged a client an unreasonable fee by charging $3,115 for drafting a three-page letter.
W. Blake Simms’ suspension was ordered on February 26, 2014, and effective retroactively on February 3, 2014. He was ordered to pay $2,000 in restitution and $4,021.40 to the State Bar of Arizona for costs and expenses incurred during its investigation.
Simms was on probation when his nine month suspension was ordered.
Quartzite Attorney Martin E. Brannan was suspended from the practice of law for violating the Rules of Professional Conduct. The Presiding Disciplinary Judge of the Arizona Supreme Court ordered that Brannan be suspended for 90 days.
Brannan, the Quartzsite town attorney, town prosecutor, and town parliamentarian, filed a criminal complaint against his client, the mayor, for allegedly refusing to adjourn a town council meeting owing to lack of a quorum. He also initiated litigation on behalf of his client—the town—against his other clients, the Quartzsite Town Council and certain Quartzsite employees in various personnel matters, without obtaining written informed consent to the conflicts of interest.
After being fired, Brannan represented former town employees in litigation against the town—his former client—without obtaining written informed consent to the conflict of interest. On motion, he was disqualified from representing the former employees due to his conflict of interest with his former employer.
Brannan also failed to return town property including files and electronically stored data to the town after his employment was terminated.
On April 30, 2014, Brannan was ordered to pay $1,200 to the State Bar of Arizona for costs and expenses incurred during its investigation. Upon reinstatement, he will be placed on one year of supervised and must complete a continuing legal education (CLE) program on conflicts of interest.
Consumers may report attorney misconduct by calling the State Bar of Arizona Attorney/Consumer Assistance Program (A/CAP) hotline at 602-340-7280.
The State Bar of Arizona is a non-profit organization that operates under the supervision of the Arizona Supreme Court. The Bar includes approximately 17,000 active attorneys and provides education and development programs for the legal profession and the public. Since 1933 the Bar and its members have been committed to serving the public by making sure the voices of all people in Arizona are heard in our justice system.
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