The Second Time Around

Disbarment has been imposed by the Georgia Supreme Court

According to the Special Master’s report, the facts as deemed admitted are as follows. Patel represented a lender in a re-financing real estate transaction, in which the Grievant was the borrower. On May 24, 2019, the lender wired $469,571.59 to Patel’s attorney escrow account to be used to pay off the Grievant’s existing mortgages on the subject property. However, Patel failed to pay off all existing mortgages and failed to remit or account for some or all of the escrowed funds. Patel stole at least $235,565.62 of the Grievant’s money held in Patel’s attorney escrow account. Patel failed to provide an accounting of the funds he held in connection with the re-financing real estate transaction. The Special Master also found that Patel previously received an Investigative Panel Reprimand on July 11, 2024, based on his misconduct in a similar real estate transaction.

Sanction

Having carefully reviewed the record, we agree with the Special Master that disbarment is warranted under these circumstances for Patel’s violations of Rule 1.15 (I) (c)

(Mike Frisch)