People v. Slaughter.
No. 24PDJ089. 11/26/2024. Stipulation to Discipline.
February 5, 2025
The Presiding Disciplinary Judge approved the parties’ stipulation to discipline and suspended Paula Bovo Slaughter (attorney registration number 38624) for 90 days, all to be stayed upon Slaughter’s successful completion of a two-year period of probation, with conditions. Slaughter’s probation was effective on November 26, 2024.
In 2014, Slaughter was prescribed the use of a Game Ready machine to assist in post-operative recovery from a knee surgery. She purchased the machine, which retails for approximately $2,900. In 2019, Slaughter’s former spouse petitioned for dissolution of marriage. As part of the temporary orders hearing, the former spouse testified that his doctor had recommended use of a Game Ready machine. Slaughter’s lawyer was unprepared to litigate this issue, as the machine was not included in her former spouse’s list of disputed items. In a written order, the court ordered Slaughter to turn over the machine to her former spouse.
After the parties’ many contentious interactions over the course of more than a year, including cross-motions for contempt citations, the domestic court acted on Slaughter’s former spouse’s fourth motion for contempt against her, issuing a citation to her to show cause why she should not be held in contempt. After a hearing on that motion, the court issued an order, finding Slaughter in contempt for failing to notify her former spouse about their children’s trips and sporting events, as she was required to do, as well as failing to make the children available for virtual visits with him. The court also concluded that Slaughter failed to return the machine to her former spouse, even though he attempted to gain possession of the machine seven separate times. The court expressed frustration that Slaughter had not relied on court procedures to reopen the issue of the machine instead of simply refusing to turn it over.
In March 2023 Slaughter was sentenced on the contempt findings; she was fined $2,000 and ordered to complete 40 hours of community service. She completed the community service, paid the fine, and turned over the machine to her former spouse in December 2023.
Through this conduct, Slaughter violated Colo. RPC 3.4(c) (a lawyer must not knowingly disobey an obligation under the rules of a tribunal).