In re Barrett
In re Barrett
Opinion of the Court
This disciplinary matter is before the Court on Respondent Lynn J. Barrett’s Petition for Voluntary Discipline, filed pursuant to Bar Rule 4-227 (b) (2) prior to issuance of a Formal Complaint. In her petition, Barrett admits to having violated Standard 67 (disbarment or suspension by another state is a ground for disbarment or suspension in the State of Georgia) of Bar Rule 4-102 (d), and asks this Court for a suspension until such time as she can provide certification from the Florida Bar that she has been readmitted to practice in that state, along with several conditions set forth below. The State Bar has no objection to this Court’s accepting Barrett’s petition. We have reviewed the record and agree that the proposed sanctions are appropriate.
In her petition, Barrett admits that she has been a member of the Georgia Bar since 1980 and is a resident of Florida. On March 11, 1999, the Supreme Court of Florida entered an order suspending Barrett from the practice of law in Florida for a period of three years in its Case No. 92,386, styled Florida Bar v. Lynn Joyce Barrett. Barrett admits that the Florida order adopted the uncontested Report of the Referee, which found that she committed numerous disciplinary violations that were the substantial equivalent of Standards 23 (lawyer who withdraws from employment shall refund promptly any part of a fee paid in advance that has not been earned); 43 (lawyer shall not handle a matter which she knows or should know she is clearly incompetent to handle without associating a lawyer she reasonably believes to be competent to handle it); and 44 (lawyer shall not without just cause to the detriment of her client wilfully abandon or disregard a matter entrusted to her) of Bar Rule 4-102 (d) in the State of Georgia. Barrett admits that entry of the Florida order places her in violation of Standard 67 and asks this Court to suspend her from practice until she certifies her readmission to the Florida Bar, and to impose the following conditions for readmission to the Georgia Bar: (a) she shall place herself under the jurisdiction of the State Bar Lawyer Assistance Program (LAP) for evaluation, treatment and monitoring of any condition LAP may determine appropriate; (b) she shall provide any and all waivers required to allow LAP to provide information to the Office of the General Counsel of the State Bar of Georgia concerning her condition, treatment and progress; (c) no sooner than Barrett obtains certification from the Florida Bar that she has been readmitted to the practice of law in the State of Florida, she may request that LAP review its records concerning her. Barrett must obtain certification from LAP that, based on its review, Barrett exhibits no symptom of any condition that would make her a danger
Barrett has waived her rights to any hearing and procedural notifications, rejections and exceptions provided in Part IV of the Bar Rules. Accordingly, it hereby is ordered that for her violation of Standard 67, Respondent Lynn J. Barrett is suspended from the practice of law in the State of Georgia until such time as she provides certification from the Florida Bar that she has been readmitted to practice in the State of Florida, and has fulfilled all the conditions for readmission set forth above. Barrett is reminded of her duties under Bar Rule 4-219 (c).
Suspension with conditions.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- IN THE MATTER OF LYNN J. BARRETT
- Cited By
- 1 case
- Status
- Published