Though considering the broader scope of his own jurisdiction, Pruden agreed, adding “that is a very high number. It is uncommon for a lawyer to have that many complaints.”

He also said the ISCDC hears about 1,600 complaints a year. That may sound high, but when weighed against the number of lawyers practicing in Indiana, 16,000, that ratio of 1 in 10, Pruden said, is not so lofty.

“Any one of these complaints as individual cases would have amounted to very little (disciplinary action),” said Pruden. “But as a pattern, they amount to quite a lot.”

The designs in Ramsey’s pattern largely relate to his failure to appear in court to represent his clients and his denial of refunds after his work was found unsatisfactory (or statements made to his clients were found to be false), although there are many others.

To clarify, these complaints are composed of violations of codes of conduct. For example, when one of his former clients called the ISCDC to allege his misconduct, all of the violations listed in that individual’s report made up one complaint.

But Ramsey wasn’t accused of failing his clients exclusively.

One complaint said he failed to supervise his former legal assistant Robert Lampe and failed to have adequate procedures at his office that would restrict Lampe’s contact with his clients, among other violations.

But more matters of interest arose that related specifically to Ramsey’s conduct in and outside the courtroom.

In one instance, a former client named Phyllis Hobbs reported Ramsey to the ISCDC for the mishandling of her case that resulted in a judgment against her of $238,500.

When confronted by the ISCDC about the matter, Ramsey admitted that he considered it his job to “answer questions incompletely (in court and) not produce evidence of the assets ... until the assets were out of danger,” according to the Ramsey complaints.

Yet, when Ramsey answered questions about this delay in the court where Hobbs’ case was being processed, the complaints show that he told the court “the problem was a result of his ‘depression’ and ‘recent and possible terminal illness contracted by (his) son.’”

Ramsey was accused of dishonesty — though he claimed it was honest irresponsibility — in a case unrelated to his law practice as well.

According to The Herald Bulletin story published after Ramsey carried a handgun into the Madison County courthouse, he showed up to work that day with a loaded, albeit jammed, .22-caliber Taurus semiautomatic handgun in his briefcase. Sheriff’s deputies spotted the pistol when they X-rayed the case and asked Ramsey if he was carrying a firearm.

Deputies reported that Ramsey told them he was unarmed, but they then searched the briefcase and found the gun.

In a subsequent letter to the community written by Ramsey and published in this newspaper, Ramsey described the incident as “an oversight” caused more by forgetfulness than deceit or ill will.