CJ-2025-1471 - Ron Lawrence v. Michael Paul Rogalin

What's This Case About?

Let’s cut straight to the absurdity: a lawyer allegedly told his clients for four years that their appeal was pending before the Oklahoma Supreme Court… when, in reality, he never filed it. Not a single page. Not a cover letter, not a motion, not even a half-hearted Hail Mary. Just silence. And lies. For four years. From 2021 to 2025, this man—Michael Paul Rogalin—supposedly fed his clients a steady diet of legal fiction, assuring them the appeal was “pending,” “under review,” “waiting on a decision,” while the court’s docket sat completely blank. If this were a TV show, we’d accuse the writers of going too far. But no, this is real life, in the District Court of Tulsa County, where betrayal wears a suit and carries a bar number.

So who are these people caught in this legal ghost story? On one side, you’ve got Ron Lawrence, a Tulsa-based businessman who wears multiple hats—literally and figuratively. He’s the sole owner of two Oklahoma entities: Dead Fern Resources, Inc. (which sounds like a boutique eco-startup that went slightly off the rails), and Safe Harbor Products, LLC (which, given the circumstances, could really use what its name promises). On the other side stands Michael Paul Rogalin, an Oklahoma-licensed attorney with an office in Oklahoma City, who was hired to be the legal lifeguard but instead appears to have been napping on duty—repeatedly. Representing Lawrence and his companies now is attorney Kasey K. Fagin of Barrow & Grimm, P.C., who’s stepping in to clean up a mess that should’ve been prevented by basic professional competence.

Now, let’s rewind to how this legal dumpster fire started. It begins with two separate lawsuits against Lawrence’s companies—both of which Rogalin was hired to handle. The first, Score Enterprises v. Dead Fern, was already a tough spot. Score Enterprises filed a Motion for Summary Judgment in September 2020, which is basically a “look, this case is so clear-cut, we don’t even need a trial” move. Rogalin asked for more time to respond—got it—and then… did nothing. No opposition. No filings. No phone calls. Crickets. The court granted the motion, and on November 6, 2020, Dead Fern was hit with a judgment of over $64,000, plus interest. But the hits kept coming. Score then filed for attorney fees and costs—standard after a win—and Rogalin didn’t respond to that either. Worse, he didn’t even show up to the hearing. The court awarded another $24,000. Total damage? Nearly $90,000 in judgments, all because Rogalin failed to do the bare minimum.

Now, here’s where it gets wild. In March 2021, Rogalin finally did something: he filed a Motion to Vacate the summary judgment. That’s a long shot, but sometimes courts grant them. The court said no. At that point, the next legal step was clear—appeal. So Rogalin told Lawrence, “Don’t worry, I’m appealing.” Except… he didn’t. No Petition in Error. No notice of appeal. Nothing. And yet, according to the filing, Rogalin kept telling Lawrence—as recently as November 2024—that the appeal was “pending” and “waiting on a decision.” That’s not just negligence. That’s performance art. It’s improv theater titled I Am a Lawyer. Meanwhile, Lawrence, trusting his attorney, sat back, believing the legal system was grinding forward when, in fact, the gears had rusted shut years ago.

And if that weren’t enough, there’s a second case—Jack A. Tucker v. Lawrence and Safe Harbor—where Rogalin also represented the plaintiffs. This one ended in a $50,000 judgment against Lawrence and Safe Harbor after a non-jury trial in December 2022. Plaintiffs claim Rogalin was “unprofessional and unprepared,” failed to present evidence, and didn’t properly support their counterclaim. He did file an appeal to the Oklahoma Supreme Court in that case—but it was denied. So at least he filed something there. Small victories.

But the core of this lawsuit isn’t about losing cases. It’s about lying. It’s about failing to communicate. It’s about letting a client believe there’s a lifeline when you’ve already cut the rope. Lawrence says he didn’t know about settlement offers that could’ve resolved things early. He didn’t know he missed deadlines. He didn’t know his appeal was a mirage. And he didn’t find out the truth until February 2025—nearly four years after Rogalin allegedly started fibbing. That’s longer than some marriages last.

So why are they in court? Legally, the plaintiffs are making two big claims. First: Breach of Contract. Translation: you hired a lawyer to do a job, he took your money, and he didn’t do the job. Specifically, he didn’t file appeals, didn’t respond to motions, didn’t show up to hearings, and didn’t tell you any of it. That’s not just a breach—it’s a demolition. Second: Negligence. In plain English, Rogalin failed to meet the basic standard of care expected of any Oklahoma attorney. He didn’t act like a competent lawyer. He acted like someone who forgot he was a lawyer at all.

And what do they want? $150,000. Split right down the middle—$75,000 in actual damages (to cover the financial losses from the judgments, lost opportunities, and additional legal fees), and another $75,000 in punitive damages. That second half isn’t about compensation. It’s about punishment. It’s the legal equivalent of saying, “You didn’t just mess up—you lied, you deceived, you strung us along for years. Pay up, and maybe think twice before doing this to someone else.” Is $150,000 a lot? For a solo attorney in a civil malpractice case? It’s serious money. But when you consider the sheer audacity of pretending an appeal was ongoing for four years while doing absolutely nothing—well, it starts to feel almost reasonable. Especially when you factor in the emotional distress Lawrence claims to have suffered. Imagine thinking you’re in legal limbo, fighting for justice, only to learn you’ve been legally dead in the water since 2021.

Our take? Look, losing a case isn’t malpractice. Bad outcomes happen. But lying to your client for four years? That’s the kind of betrayal that makes people lose faith in the entire legal system. The most absurd part isn’t even the failure to file—it’s the continued deception. Why not come clean in 2021? Or 2022? Or 2023? Why keep feeding the lie? Was Rogalin hoping the clients would forget? Was he planning to fake the appellate decision too? “Congratulations, the Supreme Court ruled in your favor… here’s a PDF I made in Word.” This isn’t just incompetence. It’s a sustained performance of being a lawyer, like an understudy who never learned the lines but keeps going on stage anyway.

We’re rooting for transparency. For accountability. For the idea that when you hang up a shingle and say “I’m an attorney,” you actually act like one. And if you don’t? You don’t get to pretend forever. The court will decide if Rogalin crossed the line—but the court of public opinion? We’ve already got our verdict.

Case Overview

$150,000 Demand Petition

Jurisdiction

District Court of Tulsa County, Oklahoma

Filing Attorney

Kasey K. Fagin

Barrow & Grimm, P.C.

Relief Sought

$75,000 Monetary

$75,000 Punitive

Plaintiffs

Ron Lawrence individual
Rep: Kasey K. Fagin
Dead Fern Resources, Inc. business
Rep: Kasey K. Fagin
Safe Harbor Products, LLC business
Rep: Kasey K. Fagin

Defendants

Michael Paul Rogalin individual

Claims

#	Cause of Action	Description
1	Breach of Contract	Plaintiffs allege Rogalin breached his contract to provide legal services.
2	Negligence	Plaintiffs allege Rogalin was negligent in his representation of them.

Petition Text

1,352 words

IN THE DISTRICT COURT OF TULSA COUNTY STATE OF OKLAHOMA RON LAWRENCE, an Individual, SAFE ) HARBOR PRODUCTS, LLC, an Oklahoma ) limited liability company, and DEAD FERN ) RESOURCES, INC., an Oklahoma corporation, ) Plaintiffs, vs. MICHAEL PAUL ROGALIN, an Individual, Defendant. PETITION COMES NOW Plaintiffs, Ron Lawrence ("Lawrence"), Safe Harbor Products, LLC ("Safe Harbor"), and Dead Fern Resources, Inc. ("Dead Fern") (hereinafter collectively referred to as "Plaintiffs"), and for their causes of action against Defendant, Michael Paul Rogalin ("Rogalin") allege, and state as follows: JURISDICTION AND VENUE 1. Ron Lawrence is an individual residing in Tulsa County, Oklahoma. 2. Safe Harbor is an Oklahoma limited liability company with its principal place of business in Tulsa County, Oklahoma. Ron Lawrence is the sole owner of the business. 3. Dead Fern is a registered Oklahoma corporation with its principal place of business in Tulsa County, Oklahoma. Ron Lawrence is the sole owner of the business. 4. Upon information and belief, Rogalin is an individual residing in Oklahoma County, Oklahoma. Rogalin is an Oklahoma licensed attorney, Bar No. 7711. Rogalin's business address listed in the Oklahoma Bar Association Member Directory is 228 Robert S. Kerr Ave., Suite 950, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73102-5206. 5. The events giving rise to this dispute occurred in Tulsa County, Oklahoma. Therefore, the Court has jurisdiction over the parties hereto pursuant to 12 O.S. 2021, § 2004(F), and venue is proper herein pursuant to 12 O.S. 2021, §§ 131, 132 and 139. STATEMENT OF FACTS 6. Plaintiffs hired Rogalin to defend them in two (2) separate litigation matters, which both are at issue herein. 7. Rogalin represented Dead Fern against Plaintiff Score Enterprises, LLC ("Score Enterprises") in Case No. CJ-2019-2074, in Tulsa County, Oklahoma (hereinafter the Score Enterprises case"). Shortly after Dead Fern filed its Answer and Counterclaims, on September 23, 2020, Score Enterprises filed a Motion for Summary Judgment. On October 7, 2020, Rogalin, on behalf of Dead Fern, filed a Motion for Extension of Time to Respond to the Motion for Summary Judgment. The court granted Dead Fern’s Motion for Extension of Time and ordered that it file its response by October 27, 2020. However, no response was ever filed, and the court sustained Score Enterprises Motion for Summary Judgment. On November 6, 2020, judgment was entered against Dead Fern for $64,460.63, plus pre-judgment and post-judgment interest at the statutory rate. 8. Score Enterprises then filed an Application for Attorneys’ Fees and Costs, which the court set for hearing. No response to this Application was ever filed. At the hearing on Score Enterprises’ Application, Rogalin did not appear. Following the hearing, on January 20, 2021, the court entered judgment against Dead Fern in the amount of $21,670.70 for fees, and $2,578.31 for costs, for a total final award of $24,249.01, to accrue interest at the statutory rate of 5.25%. 9. On March 11, 2021, Rogalin, on behalf of Dead Fern, filed a Motion to Vacate Score Enterprises’ Summary Judgment. Score Enterprises filed its Response and Objection to Dead Fern’s Motion to Vacate, and Dead Fern filed a Reply to the Response. At a hearing on the Motion to Vacate, the Court denied the Motion. 10. Following the court’s denial, Rogalin informed Lawrence that he would appeal the decision. However, no appeal was ever filed. In fact, Rogalin wrongfully told Lawrence that he had filed an appeal in the case. 11. Rogalin did not advise Lawrence that he had failed to respond to the Motion for Summary Judgment, and the Application for Attorneys’ Fees and Costs, and that he had failed to appear at the hearing for the Application. Lawrence was unaware of any limitations on filing a Motion to Vacate or appeal of the judgment. Rogalin also failed to communicate with Lawrence regarding certain settlement offers made by Score Enterprises, which would have allowed him to settle the case, or once judgment was entered, would have allowed him to release the judgment and all future claims arising from the case. 12. Rogalin has made representations as recently as November of 2024, to Plaintiffs that their appeal is pending and waiting on a decision from the Appellate Court. 13. Plaintiffs relied on the representations of Rogalin as correct and truthful. 14. Plaintiffs only learned of the fact that no appeal was ever filed, and that Rogalin’s representations were incorrect, in February of 2025. 15. Based upon the referenced and other failures, Plaintiffs have been damaged in an amount in excess of $75,000.00. 16. Rogalin represented Lawrence and Safe Harbor against Plaintiff Jack A. Tucker, in Case No. CJ-2019-2043, in Tulsa County (hereinafter the “Tucker case”). The case concluded in a non-jury trial on December 7, 2022, where judgment was entered against Lawrence and Safe Harbor in the amount of $50,000.00. Plaintiffs contend that Rogalin was unprofessional and unprepared for the trial, and failed to present evidence to dispute the claims by Mr. Tucker, and to support the counterclaim alleged by Lawrence and Safe Harbor. 17. Rogalin, on behalf of Safe Harbor and Lawrence, filed a Petition in Error to the Supreme Court regarding the Tucker case, which was ultimately denied. FIRST CAUSE OF ACTION – BREACH OF CONTRACT 18. For their first cause of action, Plaintiffs adopt, restate, and reallege the allegations set forth in the paragraphs above. 19. Rogalin was hired to represent Plaintiffs in both the Score Enterprises case and the Tucker case, as shown above. 20. The Parties entered into an oral contract whereby Rogalin was to provide legal services, in exchange for payment by Plaintiffs. Rogalin was to provide competent, honest, and fair representation. 21. Rogalin breached the Parties’ contract for legal services. 22. The actions of Rogalin have damaged Plaintiffs in an amount known at this time to be in excess of $75,000.00. The actions of Rogalin have also caused Lawrence to suffer from emotional distress and have caused Plaintiffs to incur additional legal fees and costs to pursue the instant action against Rogalin. 23. The actions of Rogalin were in reckless disregard of Plaintiffs’ rights, and thereby entitle Plaintiffs to punitive damages in an amount in excess of $75,000.00. 24. Plaintiffs are entitled to be made whole by Rogalin for the damages caused by his breach of the Parties’ contract for legal services. SECOND CAUSE OF ACTION – NEGLIGENCE 25. For their second cause of action, Plaintiffs adopt, restate, and reallege the allegations set forth in the paragraphs above. 26. Rogalin was hired to represent Plaintiffs in both the Score Enterprises case and the Tucker case, as shown above. 27. Rogalin failed to meet the standard of care expected of a competent attorney in the State of Oklahoma, under the circumstances denominated above, and was therefore negligent. 28. Rogalin breached his duty to Plaintiffs, and, due to Rogalin’s breach, the Plaintiffs have been damaged. 29. The actions of Rogalin have damaged Plaintiffs in an amount known at this time to exceed $75,000.00. The actions of Rogalin have also caused Lawrence to suffer from emotional distress and caused Plaintiffs to incur additional legal fees and costs to pursue the instant action. 30. The actions of Rogalin were in reckless disregard of Plaintiffs’ rights, and thereby entitle Plaintiffs to punitive damages in an amount in excess of $75,000.00. WHEREFORE, premises considered, Plaintiffs, Ron Lawrence, Dead Fern Resources, Inc., and Safe Harbor Products, LLC, pray that the Court enter judgment in their favor and against Defendant, Michael Paul Rogalin, for actual damages in an amount in excess of $75,000.00, together with punitive damages in excess of $75,000.00, plus attorney fees, costs, and such other and further relief as the Court deems just and equitable. Respectfully submitted, BARROW & GRIMM, P.C. By [Signature] Kasey K. Fagin, OBA No. 34396 110 West Seventh Street, Suite 900 Tulsa, OK 74119-1044 (918) 584-1600 (918) 585-2444 (Fax) [email protected] Attorney for Plaintiffs VERIFICATION STATE OF OKLAHOMA ) COUNTY OF TULSA ) SS: Ron Lawrence, of lawful age, being first duly sworn, upon oath says: That he is the sole owner of Dead Fern Resources, Inc., a Plaintiff named above, and is the sole owner of Safe Harbor Products, LLC, a Plaintiff named above; that he has read the foregoing Petition and knows the contents thereof and that the facts and allegations stated therein are true to the best of his knowledge and belief. DATED this 27th day of March, 2025. Ron Lawrence Subscribed and sworn to before me this 27th day of March, 2025. My Commission Expires: 10-22-2028 Comm. No. 08010927 Notary Public PAULA B. SEBO NOTARY PUBLIC - STATE OF OKLAHOMA MY COMMISSION EXPIRES OCTOBER 22, 2028 COMMISSION #08010927