Attorney Charged With Misrepresenting State Bar’s Ethics Advice

A rather unusual complaint filed by the North Carolina State Bar alleges that the accused attorney misrepresented ethics advice provided by the State Bar’s ethics counsel at a court hearing.

The client of the attorney is the mother of a child who is the subject of a custody complaint. The child has both a United States and a Pakistani passport, situation about which the court had expressed concern. In response, the attorney allegedly agreed to hold both passports as “an officer of the court.”

Respondent did not secure the passport and the client and child apparently fled the country, not appearing at subsequent court proceedings.

When opposong counsel expresed concern, Respondent made an email inquiry to the State Bar’s ethics counsel.

Opposing party sought an emergency hearing; Respondent appeared without her client or the minor child.

The alleged misrepresentations took place at the emergency hearing and involve the Respondent’s assertions as to what that she could and could not reveal under her duty of confidentiality as purportedly advised by ethics counsel.

An arrest warrant was issued for the client. (Mike Frisch)