These disciplinary matters are before the Court on the report and recommendation of special master Daniel B. Snipes who recommends imposing a 180-day suspension, with conditions, on respondent L. Nicole Brantley1 “Brantley” State Bar No. 320909 as discipline for her actions in five separate disciplinary matters. Three of these matters have already been before the Court with this Court rejecting a petition for voluntary discipline seeking a public reprimand and remanding the case for further proceedings, see In the Matter of Hamilton, 295 Ga. 456 761 SE2d 79 2014. After remand, the special master held another hearing and took evidence on the two new disciplinary matters before issuing his new report and recommendation. This Court agrees that a 180-day suspension is a sufficient sanction for Brantley’s transgressions given the mitigating factors present in this particular case.
In S16Y1235 State Disciplinary Board “SDB” Docket Number 5984, Brantley admitted to engaging in conduct that violated Rules 1.3, 1.4, 1.16 d and 9.3 of the Georgia Rules of Professional Conduct, see Bar Rule 4 102 d. This case involved Brantley’s failure to appear at a sentencing hearing in federal court, her failure to communicate with her client, and her failure to promptly respond to the Notice of Investigation. In S16Y1236 SDB Docket Number 5985, Brantley admitted to violating Rule 9.3 of the Georgia Rules of Professional Conduct. This case involved her failure to promptly respond to a Notice of Investigation while the initial complaint involved poor communication between Brantley and the client. In S16Y1237 SDB Docket Number 6019, Brantley admitted to violating Rules 1.4 and 5.5 a of the Georgia Rules of Professional Conduct. This case involved Brantley continuing to practice law after receiving an administrative suspension for not paying bar dues, and not communicating with clients concerning pending court appearances.
