Multiple Violations Draw Disbarment

The Maryland Court of Appeals has disbarred an attorney for conduct summarized in the case head note

Court of Appeals disbarred lawyer who engaged in conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice by failing to keep client reasonably informed about the status of client’s matter, failing to respond to client’s repeated reasonable requests for information, and failing to diligently pursue client’s equal opportunity claim; and who engaged in intentionally dishonest conduct by filing pleadings with the circuit court in child custody action that were improper, without legal purpose and prejudiced client by not advancing client’s case in any meaningful way; charging client an unreasonable fee of $14,060 in child custody case by failing to advance client’s cause of action in any meaningful way by filing frivolous pleadings; offering inflated client invoice to the district court in attorney fee collection case in order to request a jury trial where payment sought was wholly unearned; failing to dismiss appeal with the Court of Special Appeals in fee collection case against former client when ordered to cease and desist by bankruptcy court; further failing to obey order of bankruptcy court by filing an extension of time to file a brief with the Court of Special Appeals; and failing to appear or respond to bankruptcy court’s show cause order, resulting in lawyer being found in contempt.

(Mike Frisch)