In re Brown

Summary

The South Carolina Supreme Court accepted an attorney's agreement for discipline by consent after finding that she repeatedly and without authorization accessed, disseminated, and deleted coworkers' email messages during a unionizing effort. The court imposed a two-year definite suspension for violations involving dishonesty, conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice, and conduct bringing the legal profession into disrepute.

Holdings

1. The respondent's misconduct constituted grounds for discipline under Rule 413, RLDE, Rule 7(a)(1) and Rule 7(a)(5), and violated Rules 8.4(a), 8.4(d), and 8.4(e), SCACR.
2. The court accepted the Agreement for Discipline by Consent and imposed a two-year definite suspension from the practice of law.

Questions Presented

1. Whether the respondent's admitted unauthorized access, use, dissemination, and deletion of email communications constituted professional misconduct warranting discipline.
2. Whether the Agreement for Discipline by Consent should be accepted and a two-year definite suspension imposed.

Disposition

other