A Tangled Website
The Indiana Supreme Court has suspended an attorney
We find that Respondent, Michael Jeffries, committed attorney misconduct by neglecting clients’ cases, maintaining two websites with misleading information, mismanaging his trust account, making false statements to the Indiana Supreme Court Disciplinary Commission, and failing to cooperate in the disciplinary process. For this misconduct, we conclude that Respondent should be suspended for at least three years without automatic reinstatement.
After his services had been terminated and a refund was sought in a breach of contract claim, he sent this email to the former client (sic throughout, as the court noted)
My contract allows me 10 business days to return your file and bill. Iam glad I returned to my office as you were taking advantage of my new secretary.
Good luck in your endouver. BE AVISED THAT THIS EMAIL NOTICE: DO NOT RETURN TO MY OFFICE-TREASPASSDON’T CALL OR EMAIL MY OFFICE HARASSSMENT AND IF I FIND SLANDER OR LIBEL I WILL TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION! That includes you your husband or any releative. YOU ARE ON NOTICE!!
Web page issues
Respondent owned two websites on which he advertised that his firm was composed of multiple lawyers, which was not true. Respondent was a solo practitioner. He admitted to the Commission that his websites were in error and claimed his web designer had locked him out of the sites, preventing him from making changes. This was untrue. Respondent had the capacity to modify the websites at all times. He also informed the Commission he had deactivated both websites, but both remained active.
Sanction
Respondent’s dishonesty and neglect of clients’ cases are troubling. He failed both to keep clients informed and to advance their cases. He maintained websites with misleading information. He had multiple violations relating to his trust account. He fabricated a story that he sent a certified letter to the Commission, falsely represented he was locked out of his websites, and failed to cooperate in the Commission’s investigation. He has not accepted responsibility for his misconduct and elected not to participate in these proceedings…
Respondent already is under an order of suspension for failure to cooperate with the Commission’s investigation into his misconduct in this case. For Respondent’s professional misconduct, the Court suspends Respondent from the practice of law in this state for a period of not less than three years, without automatic reinstatement, effective from the date of this opinion.
(Mike Frisch)