Ethics

On May 22, 2014, the Grievance Committee of the North Carolina State Bar reprimanded Thomas D. Blue, Jr. (“Blue”), for violations of the North Carolina Rules of Professional Conduct. In August 2013, a new assistant reconciling the firm’s trust account discovered a bookkeeping error made by Blue’s assistant in November 2010.  The error caused a client to receive an over-disbursement of entrusted funds in January 2012. The Grievance Committee reprimanded Blue for failure to adequately [...]

On June 20, 2014, the Grievance Committee of the North Carolina State Bar reprimanded Kristen N. Comerford (“Comerford”).  Comerford’s former employer previously filed a grievance against her after learning that she had falsified multiple entries in the firm’s document review software.  Her actions violated Rule 8.4(c) of the North Carolina Rules of Professional Conduct, which prohibits conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit, or misrepresentation. Although the above violation is [...]

On February 20, 2014, the Grievance Committee of the North Carolina State Bar reprimanded Stephanie L. Villaver (“Villaver”) after determining that her Internet conduct violated several provisions of the North Carolina Rules of Professional Conduct. Villaver posted an Internet advertisement through which she claimed to be “Jacksonville’s best auto injury attorney.”  Such a claim violates Rule 7.1(a)(3) because it constitutes a comparison of services that cannot be factually [...]

William Britt’s actions regarding entrusted funds violated several of the North Carolina Rules of Professional Conduct.  First, entrusted funds were not properly maintained, were used to benefit the attorney, and were not properly disbursed.  The State Bar found twelve instances in which the attorney misappropriated funds.  Second, the attorney did not keep his entrusted funds separate from his own property, leaving his earned fees co-mingled with his client funds in the trust account. [...]

Antoinette L. Van-Riel violated numerous rules after being hired to represent M. K. in separation and divorce proceedings.  Van-Riel violated Rule 1.4 of the North Carolina Rules of Professional Conduct for failing to respond to M. K.’s calls and requests for information.  She also violated Rules 1.5(a) and 1.4 for charging clearly excessive fees and failing to communicate with the client when the client had questions about the excessively charged invoice. Lastly, Van-Riel violated Rules [...]

On December 1, 2005, Ronna Gibbs was transferred to disability inactive status.  On December 5, 2013, Dr. Philip H. Lavine, M.D., stated that Gibbs was in remission from major depression and as such, fit to resume the practice of law.  Finding no evidence to the contrary, the Disciplinary Hearing granted Gibbs’s Petition for Reinstatement to Active Status on April 9, 2014. View the full disciplinary order below. Trouble viewing? Click here to download the order (PDF, [...]