Not OK
The Oklahoma Supreme Court has accepted an attorney’s resignation in the face of a number of pending complaints
Griffin states she is aware that the OBA has opened an investigation into several grievances filed against her in the following matters:
(a) DC-23-193: Grievance by Marianne Tyer. In this client-initiated matter arising from a divorce proceeding, Griffin allegedly failed to disburse funds that had been transferred to her IOLTA account upon the sale of marital property; thereafter, Griffin allegedly failed to maintain funds in the account, and sought to delay the proceedings in order to avoid the consequences of her actions.
(b) DC-23-194: Grievance by Ronald Tyer. In this client-initiated matter arising from a divorce proceeding, Griffin allegedly failed to disburse funds that had been transferred to her IOLTA account upon the sale of marital property; thereafter, Griffin allegedly failed to maintain funds in the account, and sought to delay the proceedings in order to avoid the consequences of her actions.
(c) DC-23-204: Grievance by Patricia Woodall. Client alleged that Griffin neglected and failed to take action to seek visitation rights with grandchild on client’s behalf, even though client had paid attorney fees in advance.
(d) DC-24-27: Grievance by OBA General Counsel. This investigation concerns criminal charges for embezzlement which were filed against Griffin in Delaware County District Court Case No. CF-2024-26.
KSN 16 reported
A Delaware County attorney can forfeit a six-month jail sentence if she pays back the money she’s accused of stealing from a client.
Lee Griffin, 56, of Centerton, Ark., is charged in Delaware County District Court with embezzlement. She is free on $85,000 bail and due back in court on May 1, court records show.
Griffin was also at the center of a Jan. 31 contempt hearing of a divorce case where she represented Ronald Tyer. Griffin testified she had put Tyer’s money in her IOTA (interest or dividend-bearing trust account), but gambled the money away.
On Wednesday Associate Judge David Crutchfield sentenced Griffin to six months in the Delaware County jail and fined her $500 on the contempt charge, which is separate from the criminal charge. He also ruled that she would not have to serve a sentence as long as she continued to pay Tyer.
The payment arrangement set by the Court is for Griffin to pay $1,500 in March and $3,000 monthly, until the debt is paid in full, court records show.
Records show Griffin paid $2,000 on Wednesday.
Giffin represented Ronald Tyer in his 2015 divorce, according to a criminal probable cause affidavit.
In the divorce settlement, the Court ordered the sale of the marital house which sold for $85,145.27. Those funds were put into Griffin’s IOTA. The Tyer’s divorce was granted on May 20, 2022, and the wife was awarded $58,072.63, the affidavit states.
On October 17, 2022, Griffin was cited for contempt when she failed to honor a court order to pay the former Mrs. Tyer, the affidavit states.
On an October 3rd, Ronald Tyer found out there was no money in the account, the affidavit states.
(Mike Frisch)