How Many Violations?

If you are an ethics prof looking for an issue-spotting fact pattern for exam purposes, a recent case from the South Carolina Supreme Court may be worth reviewing. The case involves nine separate matters involving virtually every ethics violation one could imagine — improper business transaction with client, writing himself into a client’s will, filing a forged corrective deed after a real estate closing took place with an incorrect property description, several instances neglect and incompetence, escrow violations including failure to provide the bar with records, sharing escrow signatory authority with a non-lawyer, and failing to adequately supervise work with a closing services company owned by a non-lawyer. The lawyer admitted the misconduct and was disbarred. (Mike Frisch)