Abandoning Client Draws Disbarment

The Georgia Supreme Court has ordered the disbarment of an attorney who had abandoned a client

The facts, as deemed admitted by Haklin’s default, show that in March 2019, Haklin was hired to represent a client with regard to an adoption of five children who were related to the client, for which representation the client paid $2,300 of an agreed-upon $2,500 fee. After the client traveled out of state to obtain and return to Haklin documents signed by the children’s biological parents surrendering their parental rights, Haklin informed the client that she would file those documents with the court and obtain a hearing date. However, Haklin took no action to proceed with the adoptions and, when questioned about the matter by the client, provided only excuses. Upon the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Haklin ceased communicating with the client entirely, despite the client’s continued attempts to contact her. Almost two years after her last communication with the client, Haklin re-commenced communications, notifying the client that Haklin was discontinuing the representation, and that the client’s file was available to be picked up. The client asked Haklin about a refund, but Haklin refused and called the client “derogatory names and accused her of  ‘going after [her] sister’s kids.’” Haklin later admitted to the Bar “that the text messages she sent to [the client], which included derogatory names and accusations, were ‘in very poor taste.’”

The Special Master had recommended a one-year suspension

Instead, having reviewed the record and the applicable case law, we determine that disbarment is the appropriate sanction in this matter.

(Mike Frisch)