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In the Matter of Douglas J. Mathis

The Supreme Court disbarred an attorney who converted his clients' funds to his own use, failed to communicate with his clients and abandoned his law office.

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These disciplinary matters are before the Court on the State Bar’s issuance of two Notices of Discipline for the disbarment of Respondent Douglas J. Mathis State Bar No. 477039 based on his violations of Rules 1.3, 1.4, 1.15 I, 1.15 II a and b, 8.4 a 4, and 9.3 of the Georgia Rules of Professional Conduct. See Bar Rule 4-102 d. The maximum sanction for a violation of Rules 1.3, 1.15 I, 1.15 II a and b, and 8.4 a 4 is disbarment; the maximum sanction for a violation of Rules 1.4 and 9.3 is a public reprimand. Because Mathis’s official address provided to the State Bar is a post office box, he was served by publication pursuant to Rule 4-203.1 b 3 ii on July 29, 2015, and August 5, 2015. Mathis failed to respond to the Notices of Investigation and failed to file Notices of Rejection. Accordingly, Mathis is in default, has no 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.

In S15Y1627, a client retained Mathis to conduct a real estate closing and wired him approximately $135,000 in advance of the closing. Mathis received the funds in his fiduciary capacity. He conducted the closing and issued a settlement statement to the parties, but the seller subsequently notified the client that it had not received any funds from the sale or a copy of the warranty deed. Upon attempting to contact Mathis, the client determined that he had disappeared and that his law office was abandoned. Mathis converted the client’s funds to his own use.

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