In Re Petition for DISCIPLINARY ACTION AGAINST Bruce Anthony KUNZ, a Minnesota Attorney, Registration No. 225289
Cited by
- In Re Petition for Reinstatement to the Practice of Law of Bruce A. KUNZ, … 873 N.W.2d 655 Minn. 2016
Opinion text
OFFICE OF
APPELLATE COURTS
AUG 2 8 2014
STATE OF MINNESOTA
IN SUPREME COURT FILED
A14-0435
In re Petition for Disciplinary Action against
Bruce Anthony Kunz, a Minnesota Attorney,
Registration No. 225289.
ORDER
The Director of the Office of Lawyers Professional Responsibility has filed a
petition for disciplinary action alleging that respondent Bruce Anthony Kunz committed
professional misconduct warranting public discipline, namely: (1) entering into business
transactions with clients without the required written disclosures and without obtaining
their written, informed consent to the essential terms of the transactions and respondent's
role in them, in violation of Minn. R. Prof. Conduct 1.8(a); (2) representing clients
despite a conflict of interest that existed because of the business transactions respondent
had entered into with these clients, including representing one such client in a bankruptcy
proceeding, in violation of Minn. R. Prof. Conduct 1.7(a)(2) and 8.4(d); and (3) failing to
disclose a client's interest in and income from one of respondent's business transactions
with the client to a bankruptcy court and bankruptcy trustee, in violation of Minn. R.
Prof. Conduct 3.3(a), 4.1, and 8.4(c).
Respondent unconditionally admits the allegations in the petition, withdraws his
previously filed answer, and waives his rights under Rule 14, Rules on Lawyers
Professional Responsibility (RLPR). In a stipulation, respondent and the Director jointly
recommend that the appropriate discipline is suspension from the practice of law for a
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minimum of 4 months, with the right to file a petition for reinstatement not more than 60
days before the expiration of the suspension period.
This court has independently reviewed the file and approves the jointly
recommended disposition.
Based upon all the files, records, and proceedings herein,
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that:
1. Respondent Bruce Anthony Kunz is suspended from the practice of law for
a minimum of 4 months, effective 14 days from the date of the filing of this order, with
leave to file a petition for reinstatement not more than 60 days before the expiration of
the minimum suspension period;
2. Respondent may petition for reinstatement pursuant to Rule 18(a)-(d),
RLPR. Reinstatement is conditioned on successful completion of the professional
responsibility portion of the state bar examination, and satisfaction of continuing legal
education requirements pursuant to Rule 18(e), RLPR; and
3. Respondent shall comply with Rule 26, RLPR (requiring notice of
suspension to clients, opposing counsel, and tribunals), and shall pay $900 in costs
pursuant to Rule 24, RLPR.
Dated: August 28, 2014
BY THE COURT:
kit , •id ?—
Alan C. Page
Associate Justice
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