In re Hatley

Summary

The South Carolina Supreme Court accepted an Agreement for Discipline by Consent and suspended respondent attorney James Hatley from practicing law for two years, retroactive to his interim suspension. The misconduct involved trust-account deficiencies, staff misappropriation, tax violations, inadequate supervision, conflicts of interest, client neglect, and failures to comply with court obligations.

Holdings

1. The court accepted the Agreement for Discipline by Consent.
2. Respondent was suspended from the practice of law in South Carolina for two years, retroactive to the date of his interim suspension, subject to completion of ethics and trust-account education, reimbursement of harmed clients and entities, payment of disciplinary costs, and filing an affidavit showing compliance with Rule 30.

Questions Presented

1. Whether the Agreement for Discipline by Consent should be accepted.
2. What disciplinary sanction should be imposed for respondent's admitted violations of the Rules of Professional Conduct and Rules for Lawyer Disciplinary Enforcement.

Disposition

other