North Dakota Supreme Court suspends three Fargo attorneys

(Bismarck, ND) -- Three North Dakota attorneys are temporarily not allowed to practice in the state after a string of announcements from the state's supreme court on Thursday. 

The North Dakota Supreme Court made the announcement about the suspensions in a series of opinions released on Thursday. The suspensions are against three attorneys; Mark Pilch, Kirstin Overboe, and Stephen Baird, all for various infractions.

Pilch is suspended and disbarred in part for not complying with continuing education reporting requirements, not paying certain licensing fees, and failing to answer to a Disciplinary Council petition. In the council, the panel found Pilch was unprepared for representation in a case within small claims court, failed to prompt said representation, failed to inform the client on decisions to be made, failed to notify the client on the termination of services, and failed to return the client's property and papers. 

Baird is suspended in part for failing to answer to a petition from the Disciplinary Council. In that petition, the pannel found Baird failed to represent a couple who were filing for bankruptcy, failed to act with "reasonable diligence and promptness," failed to respond to "reasonable" requests for information, and failed to protect the clients' interest.

Kristen Overboe is suspended for failing to answer to a Disciplinary Council petition. The panel found hen acting as legal council for a client in a divorce case, Overboe did not properly communicate with the client, failed to serve completed discovery papers answers to the opposing party,  and "the client's position was damaged" by not being prepared for the trial. When Overboe notified the client she was withdrawing as council, she filed a notice of appeal on the client's behalf. The client then terminated Overboe, and did not receive documents under the former council's custody.

You can find opinions released by the North Dakota Supreme Court by clicking here.