The Supreme Court of Georgia on Monday issued the following attorney discipline opinions:

In the Supreme Court of Georgia

Decided: June 10, 2019

S19Y0792. IN THE MATTER OF LESLEY ANNIS.

PER CURIAM.

This disciplinary matter is before the Court on a Notice of Discipline seeking the disbarment of Lesley Annis (State Bar No. 019780) for several rules violations related to her abandonment of two clients. The State Bar attempted to serve Annis personally at the address she listed with the State Bar's Membership Department, but the State Bar investigator executed an entry of service non est inventus. The State Bar then properly served Annis by publication pursuant to Bar Rule 4-203.1 (b) (3) (ii), but she failed to file a Notice of Rejection. Therefore, she is in default, has waived her right to an evidentiary hearing, and is subject to such discipline and further proceedings as may be determined by this Court. See Bar Rule 4-208.1 (b).

The facts, as deemed admitted by virtue of Annis's default, are as follows. In 2015, Annis agreed to represent a client in a Chapter 13 bankruptcy action in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Georgia. One of the client's creditors filed a motion for relief from the stay, and the motion came before the bankruptcy court on two occasions. The client and counsel for the creditor appeared at both hearings, but Annis did not. The bankruptcy court then scheduled a hearing to consider whether Annis was in contempt of court, but Annis failed to appear at that hearing as well. Accordingly, the bankruptcy court found that Annis had abandoned her client and barred Annis from further practice in the bankruptcy court until she addressed her failure to appear at the hearing as ordered in the client's case.

In 2016, Annis agreed to represent another client in a Chapter 13 bankruptcy action in the Northern District of Georgia, and the client paid Annis $5,000 in legal fees. However, the client was unable to reach Annis after January 17, 2017 to discuss his case, despite the fact that he called, sent texts and emails, and visited her office. The client then notified the bankruptcy court that he was unable to reach his lawyer. In addition, the client sent Annis termination letters in May 2017, but Annis failed to respond, and the bankruptcy court terminated Annis as the client's counsel of record by order in June 2017. Although Annis was served with a Notice of Investigation by publication related to this disciplinary matter, she failed to submit a sworn response as required by Bar Rule 4-204.3.

The Disciplinary Board found as to both matters that, by her actions, Annis willfully abandoned the legal matters entrusted to her, to her clients' detriment; failed to abide by the clients' decisions concerning the scope and objectives of representation; failed to communicate with the clients and to keep them reasonably informed about the status of their bankruptcy cases; and charged the clients an unreasonable fee, as she took a fee to file both Chapter 13 bankruptcy cases, but did not complete either one. Accordingly, the Disciplinary Board found probable cause to believe that Annis violated Rules 1.2 (a), 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, and 9.3 of the Georgia Rules of Professional Conduct found in Bar Rule 4-102 (d). The maximum sanction for a violation of Rules 1.2 and 1.3 is disbarment, and the maximum sanction for a violation of Rules 1.4, 1.5, and 9.3 is a public reprimand.

In aggravation for the level of discipline, see Bar Rule 4-208.2 (a) (4), the Disciplinary Board found that Annis acted dishonestly in collecting fees and abandoning her clients' cases; failed to respond to the Notice of Investigation in this matter (resulting in her current interim suspension); violated multiple rules of professional conduct; and had substantial experience in the practice of law, having been admitted to the State Bar in 2000.

Having reviewed the record, we conclude that disbarment is the appropriate sanction in this matter. Accordingly, it is hereby ordered that the name of Lesley Annis be removed from the rolls of persons authorized to practice law in the State of Georgia. Annis is reminded of her duties pursuant to Bar Rule 4-219 (b).

Disbarred. All the Justices concur.

In the Supreme Court of Georgia

Decided: June 10, 2019

S19Y0823. IN THE MATTER OF ALEXANDER E. KAHN.

PER CURIAM.

This disciplinary matter is before the Court on a Notice of Discipline seeking the disbarment of Alexander E. Kahn (State Bar No. 405797) for his gross misconduct in his representation of a client and in business and financial dealings with that client.1 The Notice of Discipline was issued on February 26, 2019, and the State Bar personally served Kahn, but he failed to file a Notice of Rejection. Therefore, he is in default, has waived his right to an evidentiary hearing, and is subject to such discipline and further proceedings as may be determined by this Court. See Bar Rule 4-208.1 (b). Kahn is currently under an administrative suspension for failure to pay his Bar dues.

The facts, as deemed admitted by virtue of Kahn's default, show that Kahn, who was admitted to the Bar in 2002, began providing legal and financial advice to a client in 2011. He formed Troy Holdings, LLC and encouraged the client to invest money in the company. Between 2012 and 2018, the client delivered over $300,000 to Kahn for investment in Troy Holdings. Kahn misrepresented to the client that she owned 75% of Troy Holdings and that her investment was achieving a 10% rate of return. The client repeatedly asked Kahn for a copy of Troy Holdings's operating agreement, financial statements, and investment records, but he failed to provide the requested documents; she also asked for a return of her investment, but Kahn has failed to return any money.

Additionally, in Kahn's representation of the client in tax matters, he represented that he was preparing her tax returns but failed to provide her copies of the returns; he failed to provide documentation related to his representation of the client in connection with a penalty assessed with regard to her 2013 taxes; and he failed to file her 2015 return after he had prepared it and she had signed it. Finally, although Kahn agreed to prepare a will for the client, he failed to deliver it despite her repeated requests.

These facts show that throughout his representation of the client, Kahn willfully abandoned the legal matters entrusted to him, to the client's detriment; he failed to keep her reasonably informed about the status of her legal matters; and he collected unreasonable fees, since he did not do the work he was paid to do. With regard to the business transactions, he failed to disclose the terms of the transactions, failed to obtain the client's written consent to the essential terms of the transactions, and failed to advise her of the desirability of seeking the advice of independent counsel.

Additionally, Kahn failed to hold the client's funds separate from his own, failed to deliver her funds to her, and failed to render a full accounting when she requested one. Finally, Kahn failed to submit a sworn, written response to the Notice of Investigation as required by Bar Rule 4-204.3.

These facts establish that Kahn violated Rules 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.8 (a), 1.15 (I), 1.16, and 8.4 (a) (4) of the Georgia Rules of Professional Conduct found in Bar Rule 4-102 (d). The maximum sanction for a violation of Rules 1.3, 1.15 (I), and 8.4 (a) (4) is disbarment, and the maximum sanction for a violation of Rules 1.4, 1.5, 1.8 (a), and 1.16 is a public reprimand.

In aggravation of discipline, the Board found that Kahn acted willfully and dishonestly, acted with a selfish motive, has engaged in multiple violations of the Rules of Professional Conduct, has intentionally failed to comply with the rules of the disciplinary process, has experience in the practice of law, and has been indifferent to making restitution, as the record shows that the client obtained a judgment against him, but he has failed to appear at postjudgment discovery depositions. We agree that disbarment is the appropriate sanction in this matter. See, e.g., In the Matter of Snipes, 303 Ga. 800 (815 SE2d 54) (2018) (disbarment for abandonment of client and conversion of client funds to personal use); In the Matter of Choi, 297 Ga. 793 (778 SE2d 228) (2015) (accepting voluntary surrender of license, which is tantamount to disbarment, for failing to properly manage substantial funds entrusted to attorney in fiduciary capacity involving law practice and two business ventures).

Therefore, the Court orders that the name of Alexander E. Kahn be removed from the rolls of persons authorized to practice law in the State of Georgia. Kahn is reminded of his duties pursuant to Bar Rule 4-219 (b).

Disbarred. All the Justices concur.

1 This Court issued an order on January 12, 2018, comprehensively amending Part IV of the Rules and Regulations for the Organization and Government of the State Bar of Georgia (“Bar Rules”); the new rules govern this matter because it was commenced after July 1, 2018.