Disciplinary History

An attorney was interimly suspended from the practice of law in the State of Alabama by Order of the Supreme Court of Alabama, effective May 12, 2014. The Supreme Court entered its Order based upon the May 12, 2014 Order of the Disciplinary Commission of the Alabama State Bar in response to a petition filed by the Office of General Counsel evidencing that the attorney had demonstrated a pattern of conduct that was causing, or was likely to cause, immediate and serious injury to a client and to the public, and he was, by his actions, causing great public harm. On May 13, 2014, the attorney was transferred to disability inactive status by Order of the Supreme Court of Alabama. The Supreme Court entered its Order based upon the May 15, 2014 Order of Panel I of the Disciplinary Board of the Alabama State Bar in response to a letter submitted by the attorney to the Office of General Counsel requesting to be transferred to disability inactive status.

An attorney was suspended from the practice of law in Alabama for a period of one-hundred eighty (180) days by the Supreme Court of Alabama, effective May 8, 2014. The Supreme Court entered its order based upon the Disciplinary Commission’s acceptance of the attorney's conditional guilty plea, wherein the attorney pleaded guilty to violating Rules 1.15(a) and 5.3(a), Ala. R. Prof. C. The attorney admitted he failed to properly supervise the office activities of his office assistant and admitted client funds were mismanaged and stolen from his law office trust account by his office assistant.

An attorney received a private reprimand on May 6, 2014, for violating Rules 8.4(a), and 8.4(g), Ala. R. Prof. C. On or about March 22, 2010, the attorney was retained to represent a client in a contempt matter against her ex-husband wherein the attorney charged the client in excess of $7,000 in fees when the settlement amount was approximately $6,500. With this conduct and given the fee amount involved and the results obtained, the attorney violated Rule 1.5(a), Ala. R. Prof. C., by charging a clearly excessive fee. Additionally, the attorney violated Rules 8.4(a) and (g), Ala. R. Prof. C., as he engaged in conduct adversely reflecting on his fitness to practice law.

On April 24, 2013, an order was entered by the Disciplinary Commission of the Alabama State Bar accepting an attorney’s conditional guilty plea for a violation to Rule 8(g), Ala. R. Disc. P. The respondent attorney misappropriated funds in his IOLTA account. The respondent attorney was placed on probation for a period of one-year, during the term of his probation, the attorney will submit monthly trust account reports to the Office of General Counsel. Upon completion of his probation, the respondent attorney will receive a private reprimand. Should the respondent attorney violate the terms of his probation, he shall receive a public reprimand with general publication. The attorney successfully completed his 1-yr probation and on May 6, 2014 received a a private repriman for violating Rule 1.15(a), Ala.R.Prof.C.

An attorney was interimly and summarily suspended from the practice of law in the State of Alabama by Order of the Supreme Court of Alabama, effective April 23, 2014. The Supreme Court entered its Order based upon the April 23, 2014 Order of the Disciplinary Commission of the Alabama State Bar in response to a petition filed by the Office of General Counsel evidencing that the attorney failed to fully respond to requests from the Office of General Counsel concerning a disciplinary matter, and the attorney's conduct is causing, or is likely to cause, immediate and serious injury to a client and to the public. In addition, the attorney has admitted to misappropriating client funds on multiple occasions.

An attorney was interimly and summarily suspended from the practice of law in the State of Alabama by Order of the Supreme Court of Alabama, effective April 23, 2014. The Supreme Court entered its Order based upon the April 23, 2014 Order of the Disciplinary Commission of the Alabama State Bar in response to a petition filed by the Office of General Counsel evidencing that the attorney failed to fully respond to requests from the Office of General Counsel concerning a disciplinary matter, and the attorney's conduct is causing, or is likely to cause, immediate and serious injury to a client and to the public.

Rule 23(a) Consent to Disbarment - The attorney was disbarred from the practice of law in the State of Alabama by order of the Supreme Court of Alabama effective April 23, 2014. The Supreme Court entered its order based upon the December 15, 2014 order of Panel III of the Disciplinary Board accepting the attorney's Consent to Disbarment, pursuant to Rule 23, Ala. R. Disc. P., and ordered that the attorney's disbarment date be effective retroactive to April 23, 2014, the date of the attorney's interim suspension from the practice of law in the State of Alabama. The attorney's Consent to Disbarment was based upon allegations that the attorney misappropriated client funds.

An attorney was summarily suspended from the practice of law, pursuant to Rule 20, Ala. R. Disc. P., in the State of Alabama by order of the Supreme Court of Alabama, effective April 21, 2014. The Supreme Court entered its Order based upon the April 21, 2014 Order of the Disciplinary Commission in response to a petition filed by the Office of General Counsel evidencing that the attorney failed to respond to formal requests for written responses from the Office of General Counsel regarding a disciplinary matter.

On April 18, 2014, an attorney received a private reprimand for violating Rule 1.1, Ala. R. Prof. C. In April of 2010, the attorney agreed to help a personal friend negotiate a credit card payment with Citibank. While in the process of negotiating, the account was referred to a law firm for collection. In August of 2010, the law firm, on behalf of the bank, filed a Motion for Default Judgment, and an Entry of Default was entered on September 27, 2010. Subsequently, the attorney filed a Motion to Set Aside Default Judgment, but failed to support the motion by filing supporting evidence.

An attorney was suspended from the practice of law in the State of Alabama for a period of ninety-one (91) days by Order of the Supreme Court of Alabama, effective April 15, 2014. The Supreme Court entered its order based upon the Disciplinary Commission’s Order on Joint Stipulation of the Parties regarding the revocation of the attorney's probation. On October 18, 2012, the Disciplinary Commission of the Alabama State Bar accepted the attorney's Conditional Guilty Plea and ordered that he be suspended from the practice of law in the State of Alabama for a period of ninety-one (91) days, pursuant to Rule 8(b), Ala. R. Disc. P. The suspension was ordered held in abeyance and the attorney was placed on probation for a period of two years, pursuant to Rule 8(h), Ala. R. Disc. P. On September 6, 2013, the Office of General Counsel filed a Petition to Revoke the attorney's Probation, alleging that the attorney had committed a number of ethical violations while on probation. On January 6, 2014, the Disciplinary Commission issued an Order revoking the attorney's probation and imposing his original discipline of a ninety-one (91) day suspension. The revocation of the attorney's probation was based on the attorney's filing of a civil suit against an individual for filing a bar complaint against him, a violation of Rule 15, Ala. R. Disc. P., and Rules 3.4(c), 3.1(a), 8.4(a) and 8.4(g), Ala. R. Prof. C.

An attorney, on April 8, 2014, who is also licensed to practice law in another State, received identical and reciprocal discipline in the form of a private reprimand, pursuant to Rule 25(a), Ala. R. Disc. P. On or about January 3, 2014, the Supreme Court of another State entered an order admonishing the attorney for violating Rules 5-1.1 [Trust Accounts] and 5-1.2 [Trust Accounting Records and Procedures], for failing to properly maintain his trust account.

An attorney was suspended from the practice of law in the State of Alabama by order of the Alabama Supreme Court for a period of 91days effective April 7, 2014. The Supreme Court entered its order based upon the decision of the Disciplinary Board, Panel II, of the Alabama State Bar wherein the attorney was found guilty of violating Rules 7.3(a) and 8.4(a) and (g) Ala. R. Prof. C. Within one or two days following funeral services for a 13-year old child who was killed in an automobile accident, the attorney called the child’s home identifying himself as “a pastor and an attorney.” The attorney tried to establish a relationship with the parents by claiming a connection with the father’s cousin, who was not a cousin, but a person whose name was given to the attorney by an individual associated with attorney's law practice. The attorney had no prior professional or other relationship with the child’s family. The attorney stated that he would like to meet the parents to discuss their legal rights. The attorney also made subsequent calls to the mother of the child stating that he had talked to her husband about their legal issues and wanted to set up a meeting. The attorney made no effort to inquire about the parents’ need for counseling, their church affiliations or spiritual resources.

An attorney, whose license is inactive, was issued a private reprimand on April 7, 2014, for violating Rules 8.1(b) and 8.4(a), 8.4(b), and 8.4(g), Ala. R. Prof. C. On or about July 31, 2011, the attorney was arrested and charged with public intoxication by the local police department. After responding to an inquiry from the Bar stating “…the matter is being dealt with in a manner acceptable to all the parties involved” the attorney refused to provide a supplemental or more detailed response in spite of multiple requests from the Office of General Counsel. With this conduct, the attorney failed to respond to a lawful demand for information from a disciplinary authority and engaged in conduct adversely reflecting his fitness to practice law.

An attorney received a private reprimand on April 7, 2014 for a violation of Rule 1.3, Ala. R. Prof. C. On or about January 22, 2013, the attorney filed a final settlement petition reporting no outstanding claims and subsequently made distributions in a case where he was retained to probate the estate of a client’s deceased mother. On January 30, 2013, the probate court notified the attorney there were two outstanding claims totaling nearly $100,000. As a result, the client is ultimately responsible for the un-reported claims still outstanding. The attorney failed to properly account for two outstanding claims before filing a final settlement petition and making distributions.

An attorney received a private reprimand for violations of Rules 1.7(a), 4.3(a) and 8.4(a) and (g), Ala. R. Prof. C. The attorney represented a client charged with theft of property belonging to the complainant. At the preliminary hearing, the attorney negotiated an agreement with the complainant whereby she agreed to dismissal of the criminal action in exchange for the respondent attorney’s client’s agreement to pay her $6,000.00. In the event restitution was not paid, the attorney agreed to file suit on behalf of the complainant against his client. The attorney’s client failed to pay restitution and the attorney sent the complainant a complaint for her signature seeking a $6,000.00 judgment. The complaint was never filed and the attorney refused to communicate with the complainant about the matter.