Client Abandoned: Attorney Disbarred

An attorney who defaulted on disciplinary charges was disbarred by the Georgia Supreme Court.

The court recounted the facts

a client paid Lovett $1,000 to represent her in being appointed as administrator of the estate of her sister, who died intestate. Lovett told the client that it would take at least a year to accomplish her goal and that she should contact him at the end of that time. When the client attempted to contact Lovett after a year, however, she found that his office was closed and that his phone had been disconnected. Following her efforts to locate Lovett, he called her and told her that he was no longer practicing law, but that his previous landlord would complete her case for no additional fee. The client contacted the landlord who denied any agreement to handle her case. Lovett failed to refund any of the fee the client paid or to return the client’s file to her, despite her requests to do so. Lovett failed to submit a response to the Investigative Panel in this matter.

(Mike Frisch)