09.30.13 Order of Discipline – Disbarment [Cumberland County]
Photo Courtesy of the North Carolina State Bar
Phillip Hunter Gilfus, a Fayetteville attorney, served as treasurer of the Cumberland County Democratic Men’s Club (CCDMC) beginning in 2009. As treasurer, the CCDMC entrusted Mr. Gilfus with access to a bank account maintained by CCDMC. Over the course of eight months, Mr. Gilfus wrote ten checks payable to himself from the CCDMC bank account. In total, Mr. Gilfus converted $2,132.00 of CCDMC funds to his own use. The misappropriation was discovered in July of 2012. On January 11, 2013, Mr. Gilfus entered into a deferred prosecution agreement with the State of North Carolina. Four days later, Mr. Gilfus reported his misconduct to the North Carolina State Bar.
On September 30, 2013, the North Carolina State Bar entered an order of discipline in which it ordered that Mr. Gilfus be disbarred from the practice of law in North Carolina. In its order, the Hearing Panel concluded that Mr. Gilfus violated Rule 8.4(b) and Rule 8.4(c) of the North Carolina Rules of Professional Conduct. The Panel found that Mr. Gilfus’ criminal acts “reflected adversely on his honesty, trustworthiness or fitness as a lawyer in violation of Rule 8.4(b).” Further, the Panel found that Mr. Gilfus “engaged in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit, or misrepresentation in violation of Rule 8.4(c).”
View the full disciplinary order here
