In re Williams
In re Williams
Opinion of the Court
This disciplinary matter is before the Court on Respondent Sybol Patricia Williams’ Petition for Voluntary Discipline, filed in response to several grievances pending with the Office of the General Counsel (OGC File Nos. 980270, 980271 & 980272). In her petition, Williams admits violating Standard 44 (lawyer shall not wilfully abandon or disregard a legal matter entrusted to him) of Bar Rule 4-102 (d) as alleged in one of the grievances and seeks to resolve all pending grievances filed against her by agreeing to the imposition of a six-month suspension, with reinstatement conditions.
The facts as admitted by Williams are as follows: Williams was retained by a client to perform legal services but failed to timely file the necessary pleadings on behalf of the client. As a result of Williams’ failure to attend to her client’s interests, the client suffered needless worry, concern, and financial inconvenience. Williams admits she had no just cause for her actions and, by virtue of her conduct, wilfully disregarded a legal matter entrusted to her in violation of Standard 44 of Bar Rule 4-102 (d).
Although Williams acknowledges that the maximum discipline which may be imposed for her conduct is disbarment, she states, in mitigation, that she suffers from an emotional disorder for which she is currently undergoing treatment. Accordingly, Williams respectfully submits that the appropriate discipline under the circumstances is the imposition of a suspension from the practice of law, as defined by Bar Rule 4-102 (b) (2), for a period of six months, with the following conditions for reinstatement: (a) Respondent shall place herself under the jurisdiction of the State Bar Lawyer Assistance Program (LAP) for evaluation, treatment and monitoring of any condition that LAP may determine appropriate; (b) Respondent shall provide any and all waivers required to allow LAP to provide in for
The State Bar notes that Williams has no prior attorney discipline and believes that the interests of the Bar and the public would be best served by acceptance of the admissions made and discipline requested in Williams’ Petition for Voluntary Discipline. This Court has reviewed the record and imposes the suspension stipulated in Williams’ petition for voluntary discipline. The Court further orders that this sanction will resolve all grievances actually filed between September 1995 and November 9, 1998. Williams is hereby suspended from the practice of law in this state for a period of six months from the date of this order. At the end of that period she may seek reinstatement upon presenting evidence that she has satisfied each of the conditions set forth above.
Six months suspension with reinstatement upon conditions.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- IN THE MATTER OF SYBOL PATRICIA WILLIAMS
- Cited By
- 2 cases
- Status
- Published