Selfish But Reprimand-Worthy

The Georgia Supreme Court has accepted a consented-to reprimand in a matter where he had failed to properly withdraw  from representation of his secretary’s ex-husband in debt matters while engaging in an intimate relationship with the secretary.

The facts show that Eddleman represented his secretary’s now-ex-husband in several credit card collection cases and did not charge a fee due to the client’s financial circumstances. Later, Eddleman insisted on being paid but could not agree with the client, so he considered himself discharged. He did not obtain an order allowing withdrawal in at least one of the cases, however, until February 2013. Thus, Eddleman was attorney of record in October 2012 when he represented his secretary in a divorce in which the parties’ financial interests necessarily were in conflict and relevant to the divorce action. He did not obtain written informed consent to the divorce representation from his secretary or her now ex-husband. In addition, Eddleman admits that he had a personal, intimate relationship with his secretary, now his wife, while the divorce action was pending, even though he was aware of this Court’s repeated admonitions against lawyers entering into extramarital relationships with clients, and admits he should not have ignored those admonitions.

 The State Bar agreed with the sanction but noted

The State Bar offers in aggravation of discipline that Eddleman has received a Formal Letter of Admonition; that this matter involves multiple offenses; that his initial denial of the affair extended the proceedings; and it notes the inherently selfish nature of some of Eddleman’s conduct.

The court agreed that reprimand was appropriate on these facts. (Mike Frisch)