Bankruptcy Misconduct Draws Disbarment

The Georgia Supreme Court has disbarred an attorney who had defaulted on the charges

The facts, as deemed admitted by virtue of his default, show that Miller, who has been a member of the Bar since 2000, filed on behalf of a client a petition for relief in federal bankruptcy proceedings, but the client was thereafter unable to reach Miller. The client then contacted the bankruptcy trustee, who wrote to Miller, requesting that he contact his client regarding matters as to which the client needed assistance, but the client, who was hospitalized at the time and continued to be unable to reach Miller, was allowed to file a motion pro se. The bankruptcy court entered an order directing Miller to confer with his client and, if necessary,file an amended motion, and the trustee again sought to contact Miller about the status of the matter, but he failed to respond. The court then entered a show cause order as to why Miller should not be sanctioned for his conduct, but he again failed to respond to this order or to appear at a hearing on the matter. The court then entered an order sanctioning Miller and suspending him from filing cases until he appears and shows cause, but he has failed to respond to the order, contact his client, or seek to be removed from the case.

(Mike Frisch)