The Wyoming Supreme Court has issued a public censure to Letitia C. Abromats, an attorney based in Greybull, Wyoming, following a disciplinary proceeding related to her handling of a complex real estate transaction in Basin, Oil City News reports.
The Wyoming State Bar released details of the case, which centered on Abromats’ representation of clients who were successors in interest to a deceased seller involved in a seller-financed property sale. The transaction involved two parcels of land, with one warranty deed recorded and a corresponding mortgage executed by the buyers. The second parcel’s deed was held in escrow, along with a quitclaim deed that would revert ownership of both parcels back to the seller if the buyers defaulted.
After the buyers defaulted, Abromats was retained to initiate foreclosure proceedings on the mortgage. During this process, she identified two judgment liens against the parcel deeded to the buyers but failed to conduct a full records search, which would have revealed two additional liens.
Rather than proceeding with foreclosure—which would have extinguished the liens—Abromats chose to record the escrowed quitclaim deed. While her clients ultimately regained ownership of both parcels, they were later required to pay over $13,000 to satisfy the previously undiscovered liens on the property.
Following a disciplinary hearing, the Board of Professional Responsibility recommended a public censure, citing violations of:
Rule 1.3 (Diligence) – for not recognizing the implications of the recorded deed and not conducting a thorough lien search.
Rule 1.4(b) (Client Communication) – for failing to sufficiently explain the differences between foreclosure and quitclaim processes, and for recording the quitclaim deed without her clients’ informed consent.
The Wyoming Supreme Court found clear and convincing evidence supporting these findings. The censure was deemed an appropriate disciplinary measure.
In addition to the public reprimand, Abromats was ordered to:
Complete three hours of continuing legal education in real estate law, specifically focusing on deeds, mortgages, and property transactions.
Pay $2,616.15 in costs associated with the disciplinary proceedings.
Pay an additional $750 administrative fee to the Wyoming State Bar.
The full order of public censure is available through the Wyoming State Bar.
