Disciplinary History

An attorney was suspended from the practice of law in the State of Alabama for a period of 3 years, by Order of the Supreme Court of AL, effective retroactive to 7/13/11, the date of the attorney’s previous interim suspension. The Supreme Court entered its order based upon the Disciplinary Commission’s acceptance of the attorney’s Conditional Guilty Plea, wherein he pled guilty to violating Rules 1.3, 1.4(a), 1.5(a), 1.15(a), 1.15(b), 1.15(c), 3.4(c), 8.1(b), 8.4(a), and 8.4(g), Ala. R. Prof. C. In one case, the Office of General Counsel received three insufficient funds notices indicating that the attorney had overdrawn his trust account. Through an investigation of the attorney’s trust account records, it became apparent that client funds were misappropriated by the attorney, and that he had violated a court order concerning the disbursement of settlement proceeds. In another case, the attorney was hired to represent a client regarding an adoption. The client paid the attorney $750. for a home study to be conducted, & an additional $700. for representation. The attorney failed to place the $750. for the home study in his trust account & failed to forward payment to the appropriate party for a home study. Thereafter, the client was unable to contact the attorney regarding his case & filed a Bar complaint. After the Bar complaint was filed, the attoprney refunded his client $750. for the home study, & $700. for legal fees.

An attorney was suspended from the practice of law in the State of Alabama by Order of the Supreme Court of Alabama for a period of five (5) years, effective April 25, 2011. The Supreme Court entered its order based upon the Disciplinary Commission’s acceptance of the attorney's Conditional Guilty Plea wherein the attorney pled guilty to multiple violations of Rules 1.2(a), 1.3, 1.4(a) and (b), 1.15(a), 1.16(a), (c) and (d), 5.5(a)(1), 8.1(b), 8.4(a), (c), (d) and 8.4(g), Alabama Rules of Professional Conduct. the attorney willfully neglected legal matters entrusted to him, failed to adequately communicate with clients, failed to notify clients of a prior suspension, and engaged in the unauthorized practice of law while suspended. Under the terms of the Conditional Guilty Plea, prior to petitioning for reinstatement, the attorney is also required to make restitution.

The attorney was suspended from the practice of law in AL for 91 days, by Order of the Supreme Court of AL, eff. 4/20/11. The Supreme Court entered its order based upon the Disciplinary Commission’s acceptance of the attorney’s Conditional Guilty Plea wherein the attorney pled guilty to violations of Rules 1.4(a), 1.4(b), & 8.1(b), Ala. R. Prof. C. The attorney was previously suspended from the practice of law in April of 2011 and had not been reinstated. In one case, the attorney was hired to represent a client in a divorce action that had been filed by the client’s wife. The attorney filed an answer to the divorce petition and entered a notice of appearance. A final hearing was held in the matter, and the court entered a final judgment of divorce. Thereafter, the client tried to contact the attorney to discuss the final order on several occasions, without success. The attorney failed to return the client’s phone calls and failed to appear at appointments the client had made with the attorney's office. In February of 2011, a letter and a copy of a bar complaint filed by the client was sent to the attorney, advising the attorney of the complaint, and informing her that she was required to submit a response to the complaint within fourteen (14) days of the date of the letter. No response was received from the attorney, and as a result, the attorney was summarily suspended from the practice of law on April 20, 2011.

The attorney was suspended from the practice of law in Alabama for a period of five (5) years by the Supreme Court of Alabama, retroactive to April 6, 2011, the date he was placed on disability inactive status. The attorney entered a conditional guilty plea to violations of Rules 1.7(b), 1.8(b), 8.1(a), 8.4(a), 8.4(b), 8.4(c) and 8.4(g), Ala. R. Prof. C. The attorney admitted he was guilty of inappropriate sexual conduct in a client interview and knowingly made material misrepresentations of fact regarding the circumstances surrounding his conduct during the course of the Bar’s investigation into the matter.

An attorney was suspended in Alabama for 91 days, by Order of the Supreme Court, eff. 8/23/10. The Supreme Court entered its order based upon the Disciplinary Commission’s acceptance of the attorney’s Conditional Guilty Plea wherein she pled guilty to violating Rules 1.4(a), 1.16(d), 8.1(b), 8.4(a), & 8.4(g), Ala. R. Prof. C. The attorney was previously suspended on 08/23/10, & has not been reinstated. In one matter, the attorney was hired to represent a client in obtaining a green card as a special immigrant religious worker. The client paid an initial retainer of $2,000.00. Thereafter, the attorney failed to adequately communicate with the client. In May of 2010, a letter enclosing a bar complaint was sent to the attorney advising her that the Bar was in receipt of a complaint filed by the client. the attorney was requested to submit a response, in writing, to the complaint, but no response was received from. Thereafter, numerous attempts were made to contact the attorney; however, she did not respond.

The attorney was suspended from the practice of law in the State of AL for a period of 3 years, effective 3/1/10. The Supreme Court entered its order based upon the attorney’s Conditional Guilty Plea to violations of Rules 1.3, 1.4(a), 1.4(b), 1.16(d), 8.4(a), & 8.4(g), Ala. R. Prof. C. In a case, the attorney met with a client regarding a lawsuit stemming from an automobile accident in which the client had previously admitted fault. At the time of the accident, the client did not have liability insurance. The attorney agreed to represent the client for $500.00, & allowed the client to make payments. The attorney filed an answer to the plaintiff’s complaint on 7/21/06. Thereafter, the attorney took no further action in the matter. The attorney later contended that he only agreed to file an answer on behalf of the client, but failed to provide any written documentation that the client had agreed to the limited scope of representation. The attorney also never filed a motion to withdraw from the matter. The matter was ordered to mediation on 8/10/06. On 12/13/06, the plaintiff filed a motion to continue based upon the attorney’s failure to participate in mediation. According to the motion, opposing counsel attempted to contact the attorney on multiple occasions without success. The court subsequently continued the matter & reset the trial for 5/8/07. After the attorney & the client failed to appear for trial, the court granted a default judgment against the client in the amount of $41,000.00 on 5/29/07.

The attorney was issued a public reprimand without general publication on January 8, 2016, for violating Rules 1.3, 1.4(a) and (b), 1.5(a), 1.15(b) and (e), and 8.4(g), Ala. R. Prof. C. The attorney created two irrevocable trusts for a client and her husband to benefit the couple’s two children, who were minors at that time. Initially, the attorney charged a fee of $150.00 per trust, per year, to handle making the premium payments. However, the client was not informed when the attorney began charging a $500.00 (and later $1000.00) fee to handle tax returns and other matters as the trustee of the two trusts. The attorney also failed to provide an adequate accounting of the trust and failed to timely turn over dividends due to the trust.

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 December 23, 2009. The Supreme Court entered its order in accord with the provisions of the November 18, 2009, order of the Disciplinary Commission of the Alabama State Bar accepting the attorney's Conditional Guilty Plea to violations of Rules 1.3(a), 1.4(a), 1.15(a), 8.4(a)&(g) of the Alabama Rules of Professional Conduct. Specifically, the attorney admitted that he was paid to represent a client in a land/survey dispute and failed to take substantive action in the matter. The attorney offered to make a full refund of the attorney’s fees to the client. Thereafter, it was determined that the refund was made from his operating account. The attorney admitted that he failed to deposit the client funds into his trust account. The investigation also revealed that he made personal payments out of his trust account.

An attorney was disbarred from the practice of law in the State of Alabama effective January 8, 2013, by order of the Alabama Supreme Court. The Supreme Court entered its order based upon the decision of the Disciplinary Board of the Alabama State Bar accepting the attorney's consent to disbarment, which was based upon his having been found guilty of five counts of deprivation of civil rights while acting under color of law in violation of 18 U.S.C. §42 in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama on March 7, 2008. Rule 23a.

The attorney was suspended from the practice of law in the State of Alabama for a period of four (4) years, by Order of the Supreme Court of Alabama, effective July 30, 2007. The Supreme Court entered its order based upon the Disciplinary Commission’s acceptance of the attorney’s Conditional Guilty Plea wherein the attorney pled guilty to violations of Rules 8.4(a), 8.4(b), and 8.4(g), Ala. R. Prof. C. On or about December 14, 2007, the attorney pled guilty in federal court to violating 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1), possession with intent to distribute cocaine.

An attorney was suspended from the practice of law in the State of Alabama for a period of 90 days retroactive to March 2, 2007, the effective date of the attorney’s summary suspension. On November 16, 2011, Panel II of the Disciplinary Board accepted the attorney’s Conditional Guilty Plea to a violation of Rule 8.1(b), Ala. R. Prof. C. Pursuant to the plea, the attorney’s license was reinstated and she was placed on probation for a minimum period of six months conditioned upon her making restitution and paying costs.