Jackson, Matter of, 22554
| Decision Date | 22 April 1986 |
| Docket Number | No. 22554,22554 |
| Citation | 344 S.E.2d 607,289 S.C. 35 |
| Court | South Carolina Supreme Court |
| Parties | In the Matter of John Henry JACKSON, Respondent. . Heard |
Atty. Gen. T. Travis Medlock, Sr. Asst. Atty. Gen. Richard B. Kale, Jr. and Asst. Atty. Gen. Carlisle Roberts, Jr., Columbia, for complainant.
John Henry Jackson, Loris, pro se.
Respondent was temporarily suspended from the practice of law on March 12, 1986. The Panel recommended that respondent be disbarred. The Executive Committee voted unanimously to adopt the Panel's findings of fact and conclusions of law. Its independent recommendation was that respondent be disbarred. We agree that disbarment is the appropriate sanction.
The instances of misconduct addressed in this disciplinary matter began in 1972 and continued until respondent was suspended in March 1986. Nine different complaints were filed against the respondent and some of the complaints included more than one act of misconduct. The bulk of these complaints involve respondent's improper handling of his client's money. Respondent also witnessed and notarized a document that was not signed in his presence; wrongfully disbursed proceeds from a real estate sale to creditors of lesser priority; fraudulently represented to an insurance adjuster that one of his domestic clients had retained him in an automobile fire claim and requested that his name be placed on the claim check; neglected legal matters that were entrusted to him; and failed to pay doctor and pharmaceutical bills from the proceeds of settlement checks, even though he withheld money from his clients for this purpose. Four checks, totaling $55,252.78, which respondent wrote on his trust account were returned due to insufficient funds. Additionally, respondent failed to cooperate fully with the Board's investigation. Respondent's misconduct culminated in his signing a Confession of Judgment for $39,750.00 due to misappropriation of funds in a real estate closing. This incident is in addition to those considered by the Panel and the Executive Committee.
After reviewing this matter we find that respondent has engaged in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit, or misrepresentation; has neglected legal matters entrusted to him; has failed to seek the lawful objectives of his clients through reasonably available means; has misappropriated clients' funds for his personal or office use; has failed to maintain complete records of clients' funds...
To continue reading
Request your trial
-
Padgett, Matter of, 22615
...funds. See Matter of Amick, 288 S.C. 486, 343 S.E.2d 623 (1986); Matter of James, 289 S.C. 4, 344 S.E.2d 378 (1986); Matter of Jackson, 289 S.C. 35, 344 S.E.2d 607 (1986); Matter of Moore and Brown, 280 S.C. 178, 312 S.E.2d 1 (1984). We are aware that the relationship between respondent and......
-
Bates, Matter of
...This violation of DR 9-102 and DR 1-102(A)(4) constitutes misconduct. In re Perry, 291 S.C. 124, 352 S.E.2d 479 (1987); In re Jackson, 289 S.C. 35, 344 S.E.2d 607 (1986); In re Glickman, 271 S.C. 167, 246 S.E.2d 174 We disbar respondent from the practice of law for his conduct . This disbar......