Estate Of Confusion

The Maryland Court of Appeals has disbarred an attorney 

The Court of Appeals disbarred an attorney who failed to submit timely, completed, and accurate inventory of estate assets and administrative account of the estate, failed to submit a petition for personal representative’s commissions and attorney’s fees before disbursing fees to himself and the personal representative, and, after the issuance of Orphans’ Court orders to do so, failed to return estate funds. Additionally, the attorney filed a lawsuit against the previous personal representative of the estate, which the circuit court and the Court of Special Appeals ruled was without substantial justification. Lastly, the attorney failed to properly manage his trust accounts. There was clear and convincing evidence of commingling, use of the accounts for personal matters, and failure to keep complete records.

(Mike Frisch)