Summary
The Supreme Court of Georgia accepted Mary J. Workman’s petition for voluntary discipline based on multiple admitted violations of Georgia Rule of Professional Conduct 1.4, involving inadequate communication with four clients. The Court imposed a Review Panel reprimand subject to conditions including repayment to clients, consultation with the Bar’s Law Practice Management Section, and quarterly reports from treating providers.
Topics
Practice areas
Questions Presented
- Whether the Supreme Court should accept Workman's petition for voluntary discipline resolving four admitted violations of Rule 1.4.
- Whether a Review Panel reprimand with restitution, law-practice-management, and therapeutic-reporting conditions was appropriate discipline under the circumstances.
Holdings
- The Court accepted Workman's petition for voluntary discipline resolving her admitted violations of Georgia Rule of Professional Conduct 1.4.
- A Review Panel reprimand with conditions was appropriate discipline for Workman's multiple admitted failures to communicate with clients.
Key quotations
“Petition for voluntary discipline accepted. Review Panel reprimand with conditions.” (296 Ga. at 276)
Factual background
In 2011, four clients retained Workman for separate legal matters and paid retainers ranging from $350 to $3,000. Workman admitted that she failed adequately to communicate with the clients, causing at least three to retain new counsel, and acknowledged a prior disciplinary history. She cited physical and emotional health conditions as mitigating circumstances and agreed to restitution, law-practice consultation, and periodic therapeutic reports.
Procedural history
Mary J. Workman petitioned for voluntary discipline to resolve four pending grievances and admitted multiple violations of Georgia Rule of Professional Conduct 1.4. The State Bar recommended a Review Panel reprimand with conditions, and the Supreme Court accepted the petition and imposed that reprimand with the proposed conditions.