Attorney Grievance Commission v. Adams

ORDER The Court having considered the Joint Petition for Indefinite Suspension by Consent filed by the Petitioner and the Respondent, it is this 6th day of August, 1998. ORDERED by the Court of Appeals of Maryland that the Petition be, and it is hereby, GRANTED and that Lester A.D. Adams is indefinitely suspended from the practice of law in this State, said suspension to take effect thirty (80) days from the date of this Order; and it is further ORDERED, that within fourteen (14) days of the date of entry of this Order, Lester A.D. Adams shall: a. File a notice of withdrawal as of the effective date of the indefinite suspension in every .pending matter before any court, agency, or tribunal in which his appearance is entered as counsel; b. Resign as of the effective date of the indefinite suspension all appointments as guardian, executor, administrator, trustee, attorney-in-fact, or other fiduciary position; c.

Provide notices by certified mail, return receipt requested, to all clients and to all wards, heirs and beneficiaries that he has been indefinitely suspended; that he is disqualified from acting as a lawyer after the effective date of the indefinite suspension; and that, if not represented by co-counsel, the client, ward, heir, or beneficiary should act promptly to ⁷⁴⁷ substitute another lawyer or fiduciary or to seek legal advice elsewhere, calling attention to any urgency arising from the circumstances of the case; d. Provide notices in pending matters in which his appearance is entered to counsel for all other parties (or, in the absence of counsel, the parties) that he has been indefinitely suspended and, as a consequence, is disqualified from acting as a lawyer after the effective date of the indefinite suspension; e. Make available to all clients being represented in pending matters any papers or other property to which they are entitled, calling attention to any urgency for obtaining the papers or property; f. Refund the appropriate amounts of any fees paid in advance that have not been earned; and g.

Close every IOLTA, clients’ funds, attorney trust or other fiduciary account and properly disburse or otherwise transfer all client and fiduciary funds in his possession, custody or control; and it is further ORDERED, that within twenty-one (21) days after the date of entry of this Order, the Respondent shall file with Bar Counsel an affidavit certifying that the Respondent has fully complied with the provisions of this Order. Appended to the affidavit of compliance shall be: h. A copy of each form or notice, a list of the names and addresses of clients, wards, heirs, beneficiaries, attorneys, courts and agencies to whom and which notices were sent, and all return receipts or returned mail received up to the date of the affidavit. Supplemental affidavits shall be filed covering subsequent return receipts and returned mail.

Such names and addresses of clients shall remain confidential unless otherwise requested in writing by the Respondent or ordered by the Court; i. A schedule showing the