Attorney Grievance Commission v. Anagnostiadis

ORDER The Court having considered the joint petition for indefinite suspension by consent filed by the Petitioner and the Respondent, it is this 9th day of July, 1999 ORDERED by the Court of Appeals of Maryland that the petition be, and it is hereby, GRANTED. Demetrios E. Anagnostiadis is indefinitely suspended from the practice of law in this State, said suspension to take effect September 1, 1999, and it is further ORDERED, that within thirty days of the date of the entry of this order Respondent shall: a. File a notice of withdrawal as of the effective date of the suspension with every court, agency, or tribunal before which a matter is pending, together with a copy of the notices sent pursuant to paragraphs c and d of this Order, the client’s or clients’ place of residence, and the case caption and docket number of the client’s or clients’ proceedings; b. Resign as of the effective date of the suspension all appointments as guardian, executor, administrator, trustee, attorney-in-fact, or other fiduciary, attaching to the resignation a copy of the notices sent to the wards, heirs, or beneficiaries pursuant to paragraphs c and d of this Order, the place of residence of the wards, heirs, or beneficiaries, and the case caption and docket number of the proceedings, if any; ⁷⁶⁶ c.

Provide notices to all clients and to all wards, heirs and beneficiaries that the lawyer has been suspended indefinitely; that he is disqualified from acting as a lawyer after the effective date of the suspension; and that, if not represented by co-counsel, the client, ward, heir, or beneficiary should act promptly to 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 to counsel for all parties (or, in the absence of counsel, the parties) in pending matters that the lawyer has been suspended and, as a consequence, is disqualified from acting as a lawyer after the effective date of the 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 any part of any fee paid in advance that has not been earned; and g.

Properly disburse or otherwise transfer all client and fiduciary funds in his possession, custody or control. Immediately convert all fiduciary accounts to require the additional signature of Melvin G. Bergman, Esquire, as a required signator on all checks and withdrawals. All notices required shall be served by certified mail, return receipt requested, and it is further ORDERED, that no later than August 15, 1999 the lawyer shall file with the Office of the Bar Counsel an affidavit certifying the lawyer 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, the name and addresses of the clients, wards, heirs, beneficiaries, attorneys, courts and agencies to 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 ⁷⁶⁷ clients shall remain confidential unless otherwise requested in writing by the lawyer or ordered by the court; i. A schedule showing the location, title and account number of every bank account designated as an IOLTA, client, trust or other fiduciary account and of every account in which the lawyer holds or held as of the entry date of this Order any client, trust or fiduciary funds; j.

A schedule describing the lawyer’s disposition of all client and fiduciary funds in the lawyer’s possession, custody or control as of the entry date of this Order or thereafter; k. Such proof of the proper distribution of such funds and the closing of such accounts as has been requested by Bar Counsel, including copies of checks and other instruments; l. A list of all other state, federal and administrative jurisdictions to which the lawyer is admitted to practice; m. The residence or other street address where communications to the lawyer may thereafter be directed.

The lawyer shall retain copies of all notices sent and shall maintain complete records of the steps taken to comply with the notice requirements of this order, and it is further ORDERED that termination of Respondent’s suspension is subject to Respondent having satisfied Bar Counsel that the following conditions have been met: n. Respondent shall have engaged, at his expense, a