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Clerk Handbooks

Supreme Court Rules




Section/Rule:

5.26

Subject:

Rule 5 - Rules Governing the Missouri Bar and the Judiciary - Complaints and Proceedings Thereon

Publication / Adopted Date:

June 20, 1995

Topic:

Designation and Appointment of Trustee

Revised / Effective Date:

January 1, 2023


5.26 Designation and Appointment of Trustee

(a) For purposes of this Rule 5.26, the following terms mean: (b) Designation of Trustee. (c) Appointment of Trustee. A circuit court in the circuit where the lawyer maintained an office, through the presiding judge or a judge of the circuit designated by the presiding judge, on motion or sua sponte, may appoint the trustee designated by the lawyer or, if no trustee has been designated by the lawyer in the lawyer's annual enrollment statement, may appoint one or more persons licensed to practice law in this state to serve as the trustee(s) for a lawyer upon a showing that:
Notice of the trustee's appointment shall be given by the clerk of the court to the Chief Disciplinary Counsel who shall monitor and assist the work of the trustee as necessary and appropriate.

(d) Duties of Trustee. The trustee shall take whatever action seems indicated to protect the interests of the clients and other affected parties, including: The lawyer, to the extent possible, shall cooperate and promptly respond to reasonable requests for information from the trustee.

(e) Protection of Client Information. The trustee shall be bound by the Rules of Professional Conduct pertaining to client confidentiality with regard to the records of individual clients.

The trustee shall not disclose any information contained in any file under this Rule 5.26 without the informed, written consent of the client to whom the file relates except as necessary to:
The trustee shall report professional misconduct on the part of the lawyer as required by Rule 4-8.3.

(f) Reports to the Court. The trustee shall file written reports with the clerk of the appointing court:
The reports shall describe the nature and scope of the work accomplished and to be accomplished under this Rule 5.26 and the significant activities of the trustee in meeting the obligations under this Rule 5.26.

The final report must include accountings for any trust and business accounts, the disposition of active and inactive case files, and any requests for disposition of remaining files and property.

The trustee may apply to the appointing court for instructions whenever necessary to carry out or conclude the duties and obligations imposed by this Rule 5.26.

(g) Immunity. All trustees appointed pursuant to this Rule 5.26 shall be immune from liability for conduct in the performance of their official duties in accordance with Rule 5.315. This immunity shall not extend to employment under Rule 5.26(h).

(h) Acceptance of Clients. With the consent of any client, the trustee may, but need not, accept employment to complete any legal matter.

(i) Legal Responsibility of Lawyer. The lawyer for whom a trustee has been appointed or the estate of a deceased lawyer for whom a trustee has been appointed is liable to the trustee for all reasonable fees, costs, and expenses incurred by the trustee as approved by the appointing court. To the extent that the approved trustee's fees, costs, and expenses are paid by the disciplinary authority or other third party, the lawyer or the estate shall be liable to make reimbursement to the disciplinary authority or other third party for such payment.

(j) Fees, Costs, and Expenses. Application for allowance of fees, costs, and expenses shall be made by affidavit to the appointing court, which may enter a judgment in favor of the trustee and against the lawyer or the estate of a deceased lawyer for whom a trustee has been appointed. The application shall be made on notice to the Chief Disciplinary Counsel, the lawyer or, if deceased, to the lawyer's personal representative, or heirs. For good cause shown, an interim application for fee, costs, and expenses may be made.

As approved by the appointing court, the trustee shall be entitled to reimbursement from the lawyer or the deceased lawyer's estate for:
In the absence of other funding sources, the Chief Disciplinary Counsel may pay the approved fees, cost, and expenses from the Advisory Committee Fund.

(Adopted June 20, 1995, effective January 1, 1996. Amended October 25, 2011, effective January 1, 2012; Amended December 20, 2016, effective July 1, 2017; Amended October 5, 2017, effective October 5, 2017; Amended May 31, 2022, effective January 1, 2023.)