Not Enough Mitigation

The Maryland Court of Appeals has disbarred an attorney who had been the managing attorney for the Maryland office of a law firm known as Legal Helpers, P.C., a large national bankruptcy practice. The misconduct involved his signing up a firm client as his private client, escrow account violations and false statements to Bar Counsel.

The court found that the mitigating factors–no prior record, good faith restitution efforts and inexperience in law practice–did not constitute “compelling extenuating circumstances” to avoid disbarment. (Mike Frisch)