Attorney Kristi M. Morley of Phoenix was disbarred from the State Bar of Arizona after abandoning clients, keeping unwarranted fees, subjecting a client to a large judgement, and burdening courts with her incompetence.
On May 9, 2017, an aggravation/mitigation hearing was held before the Presiding Disciplinary Judge of the Arizona Supreme Court and a hearing panel, where the State Bar of Arizona admitted 55 exhibits against Morley alleging misconduct. Morley did not appear.
Charges against Morley include failing to turn over a client file to successor counsel; failing to adequately or competently represent her clients in family court by taking no action on her clients’ behalf and failing to appear in court; failing to communicate with her client after obtaining a $30,000 judgment and arranging to obtain the check from opposing counsel; being held in contempt and being sanctioned; failing to provide disclosures required by rules of procedure; and failing to comply with multiple court orders.
The hearing panel found clear and convincing evidence that Morley violated ethical rules after reviewing the 55 exhibits that were admitted to support the allegations. She failed to comply with the State Bar’s screening requests and failed to file an answer, or otherwise defend, against the allegations in four separate counts.
Leading up to her disbarment, Morley was serving an interim suspension that was ordered on March 28, 2017.
Kristi M. Morley’s disbarment was effective May 30, 2017. She was ordered to pay a sum of $27,500 to four clients and must pay for the costs and expenses associated with her disciplinary proceedings to the State Bar of Arizona.
Consumers may report attorney misconduct by calling the State Bar of Arizona Attorney/Consumer Assistance Program (A/CAP) hotline at 602-340-7280. Do not expect them to assist you in any way. The Bar is interested primarily in prosecuting small firm attorneys and protecting the powerful.