In the Matter of Eric C. Lang

This disciplinary matter is before the Court on a second petition for voluntary discipline filed by Eric C. Lang State Bar No. 435515, who now seeks a 24-month suspension to run concurrently to the existing 12-month suspension that this Court imposed following his filing of an earlier petition for voluntary discipline involving a different matter. See In the Matter of Lang, 292 Ga. 894 741 SE2d 152 2013. The Court rejected Lang’s first petition addressing the misconduct involved in this matter, which sought a six-month suspension consecutive to his existing suspension. See In the Matter of Lang, 294 Ga. 482, 482 754 SE2d 365 2014.

According to the current petition, Lang, who was admitted to the Bar in 1990, represented a client who had been sued on a note. Summary judgment was granted against the client in 2012 on all issues except damages. On May 1, 2013, while Lang’s petition for voluntary discipline in the prior matter was pending in this Court, there was a final hearing on damages and judgment was entered against the client. Lang did not tell the client about the hearing or the judgment. When this Court imposed its suspension on Lang on May 6, 2013, he informed his client of the suspension, but he still did not tell the client about the unfavorable judgment. The client first learned of the judgment in July 2013, when he received a notice of garnishment. When asked for an explanation, Lang finally disclosed the result of the May 1 hearing.