Uncategorized

On February 3, 2010, attorney Michael H. Griffin’s trust account was the subject of a random audit. [...]

An order was entered suspending Elaine S. Kelley from the practice of law for four years, with credit for a six month period of suspension already served as a result of a court’s suspension. [...]

Dujuan E. Brown completed his active suspension on February 11, 2014, and then submitted a petition to stay the remaining two years. An order of reinstatement was entered on March 17, 2014, with conditions. [...]

John J. Peck received a reprimand from the Grievance Committee of the North Carolina State Bar on February 24, 2014. [...]

Melvin L. Wall, Jr., received a reprimand from the Grievance Committee of the North Carolina State Bar on February 20, 2014. [...]

Steven M. Cheuvront, an attorney in Morganton, North Carolina, was hired in October of 2012, to represent a client in connection with charges of expired registration, expired inspection, and improper passing.  In February of 2013, the client contacted Mr. Cheuvront to complain that the cases had not been handled.  The client had received a letter from the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) indicating that her driver’s license may be revoked for failure to appear. Following the conversation [...]

On August 19, 2013, attorney George Rexford Gore pled guilty to “willful failure to discharge duties,” a misdemeanor.  Gore received a 45-day suspended sentence, and the Superior Court of Brunswick County suspended his law license for six months.  The order notes the State Bar’s intention to file a formal complaint against Gore. The Chair of the Disciplinary Hearing Commission concluded that Gore’s conviction constitutes “a criminal offense showing professional unfitness” (see [...]

On February 14, 2013, William R. Shilling was arrested and charged with misdemeanor child abuse and communicating threats.  The charges stemmed from an alleged domestic violence incident.  Three months later, Mr. Shilling pled guilty to both counts.  Following the guilty plea, Shilling received a 60-day suspended sentence.  The court also entered a Domestic Violence Protective Order  (DVPO).  In October of 2013, Shilling was found guilty of violating the DVPO.  He received a 75-day [...]

Gregory A. Bullard was the subject of a random audit in January of 2011.  The audit revealed multiple deficiencies in Mr. Bullard’s trust account recordkeeping.  There was also a balance exceeding $20,000 for which Bullard could not identify the beneficial owner.  Bullard was given multiple opportunities to cure the defects but did not do so.  Subsequently, Bullard signed a contract with the State Bar’s Trust Account Compliance Program.  His failure to fulfill his obligations under [...]

Attorney Robert W. Adams represented various clients in Social Security Administration (SSA) cases.  In representing several SSA clients, Mr. Adams received checks from the SSA for his attorney’s fees.  These checks were addressed directly to Adams and intended as attorney’s fees to which he was entitled.  Adams deposited these checks into his client trust account and did not disburse the earned fees, instead leaving them commingled with client funds.  Additionally, various electronic [...]

Attorney John W. Roebuck, Jr., illegally purchased hydrocodone from a former client who was acting as a confidential informant for law enforcement.  On December 18, 2013, Roebuck pled guilty to a Class I felony stemming from the illegal purchase.  Roebuck received a suspended jail sentence of three to thirteen months. The Chair of the Disciplinary Hearing Commission may “enter an order suspending an attorney’s license upon receipt of a certified copy of a plea of guilty to a serious crime [...]

The disciplinary order notes that Thomas H. Clements “currently suffers from alcoholism, severe depression, and anxiety which significantly impair his professional performance, judgment, and competence as an attorney.”  Both the State Bar and Clements consented to the order, which transfers Clements to disability inactive status.  More information on disability proceedings is available Subchapter B, Rule .0118 of the North Carolina State Bar Administrative Rules. The effect of the [...]

In March of 2013, Cary attorney Mark Seifert was arrested and charged with sexual exploitation of a minor.  On February 3, 2014, Mr. Seifert entered guilty pleas to nine felony counts of second-degree exploitation of a minor.  Judgment was entered subsequently, convicting Mr. Seifert of these offenses.  Following the judgment, Mr. Seifert submitted an affidavit surrendering his law license. The presiding Superior Court judge concluded that Seifert’s guilty plea and resulting conviction [...]