Supreme Court of Oklahoma | Feb. 9, 2022
Decisions
STATE ex rel. OKLAHOMA BAR ASSOCIATION v. WILLIS
2022 OK 15, SCBD-6925; Consol. w/69945
Decided 02/08/2022
¶ 0 Complainant, State of Oklahoma ex rel. Oklahoma Bar Association (OBA) initiated disciplinary proceedings against Respondent, Haskell Doak Willis, based on the following: (1) Respondent’s criminal conviction and sentence for violating 18 U.S.C. § 922(g); (2) four client grievances filed against Respondent; and (3) Respondent’s failure to maintain an IOLTA account. This Court issued an Order of Immediate Interim Suspension. The Professional Responsibility Tribunal (PRT) held a hearing and issued a report unanimously recommending disbarment. We hold there is clear and convincing evidence that Respondent’s conduct requires disbarment. We order Respondent to pay costs within ninety days from the filing date of this opinion.
OWENS v. ZUMWALT
2022 OK 14, 119786
Decided 02/08/2022
¶0 Plaintiffs/Appellees Ronda K. Owens, Darryl Hubbard, Selena Freymiller, Shanika Crowley, Valerie Killman, Michael Lee Pitts, Ebony Warrior, John Ball, Michelle Bullock, Logan Bellew, Sondia Bell, Tumeeka Baker, and Jay Reid (collectively “Citizens”) filed the underlying lawsuit seeking declaratory and injunctive relief. Citizens claim that Governor J. Kevin Stitt and Defendant/Appellant Shelley Zumwalt, in her official capacity as Executive Director of the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission, acted without authority and violated 40 O.S.2011 § 4-313 of the Oklahoma Employment Security Act by terminating agreements with the U.S. Department of Labor to administer COVID-related unemployment programs. The trial court entered a preliminary injunction ordering Zumwalt to immediately reinstate and administer the programs. Zumwalt appealed, and this Court stayed the trial court’s order pending appeal. We hold 40 O.S. § 4-313 does not create a private right of action and, therefore, the trial court abused its discretion by granting a preliminary injunction.