
    IN RE Petition for DISCIPLINARY ACTION AGAINST Christopher Ozioma OBASI, a Minnesota Attorney, Registration No. 0296223.
    A16-1718
    Supreme Court of Minnesota.
    Dated: January 19, 2017
   ORDER

On August 30, 2016, we suspended respondent Christopher Ozioma Obasi from the practice of law for a minimum of 30 days, effective September 13, 2016. On November 30, 2016, we extended respondent’s suspension for a minimum of 30 days. Respondent has filed affidavits seeking reinstatement in which he states that he has fully complied with the terms of our suspension orders, except for successful completion of the written examination required for admission to the practice of law by the State Board of Law Examiners on the subject of professional responsibility. The Director of the Office of Lawyers Professional Responsibility does not oppose the request.

Based upon all the files, records, and proceedings herein,

IT IS HEREBY ORDERED THAT:

1. Respondent Christopher Ozioma Obasi is conditionally reinstated to the practice of law in the State of Minnesota, subject to his successful completion of the written examination required for admission to the practice of law by the State Board of Law Examiners on the subject of professional responsibility, and is placed on disciplinary probation for 2 years, subject to the following conditions:

(a)Respondent shall pay or make a payment plan to pay the sanctions entered against him in Osuorah v. Midland Funding, LLC. Payment shall be complete by the end of the period of probation.
(b) Respondent shall cooperate fully with the Director’s Office in its efforts to monitor compliance with this probation. Respondent shall promptly respond to the Director’s correspondence by its due date. Respondent shall provide the Director with a current mailing address and shall immediately notify the Director of any change of address. Respondent shall cooperate with the Director’s investigation of any allegations of unprofessional conduct that may come to the Director’s attention. Upon the Director’s request, respondent shall provide authorization for release of information and documentation to verify respondent’s compliance with the terms of this probation.
(c) Respondent shall abide by the Minnesota Rules of Professional Conduct.
(d) Respondent shall be supervised by a licensed Minnesota attorney, appointed by the Director, to monitor compliance with the terms of this probation. Within 14 days from the date of this order, respondent shall provide the Director with the names of four attorneys who have agreed to be nominated as respondent’s supervisor. If, after diligent effort, respondent is unable to locate a supervisor acceptable to the Director, the Director shall seek to appoint a supervisor. Until a supervisor has signed a consent to supervise, respondent shall, on the first day of each month, provide the Director with an inventory of client files as described in paragraph (e) below. Respondent shall make active client files available to the Director upon request.
(e) Respondent shall cooperate fully with the supervisor’s efforts to monitor compliance with this probation. Respondent shall contact the supervisor and schedule a minimum of one in-person meeting per calendar quarter. Respondent shall submit to the supervisor an inventory of all active client files by the first day of each month during the probation. With respect to each active file, the inventory shall disclose the client name, type of representation, date opened, most recent activity, next anticipated action, and anticipated closing date. Respondent’s supervisor shall file written reports with the Director at least quarterly, or at such more frequent intervals as the Director may reasonably request.
(f) Respondent shall initiate and maintain office procedures that ensure that there are prompt responses to correspondence, telephone calls, and other important communications from clients, courts, and other persons interested in matters that respondent is handling, and that will ensure that respondent regularly reviews each and every file and completes legal matters on a timely basis.
(g) Within 30 days from the date of this order, respondent shall provide to the Director and to the probation supervisor, if any, a written plan outlining office procedures designed to ensure that respondent is in compliance with probation requirements. Respondent shall provide progress reports as requested.

2. By August 30, 2017, respondent shall file with the Clerk of the Appellate Courts and serve upon the Director proof of successful completion of the written examination required for admission to the practice of law by the State Board of Law Examiners on the subject of professional responsibility. Failure to timely file the required documentation shall result in automatic re-suspension. See Rule 18(e)(3), Rules on Lawyers Professional Responsibility.

BY THE COURT:

/s/-

David R. Stras Associate Justice  