In re Coumaris

589 S.E.2d 66, 277 Ga. 346, 2003 Fulton County D. Rep. 3306, 2003 Ga. LEXIS 933

• Court: Supreme Court of Georgia
• Decided: November 10, 2003
• Docket: S03Y1200
• Status: Published

Opinion

Per curiam.

This matter is before the Court on the Report and Recommendation of the Special Master that Respondent George Thomas Coumaris be disbarred for his violation of Rule 8.4 (a) (2) of Bar Rule 4-102 (d). The State Bar requested a hearing and the special master sent a notice of hearing to Coumaris, who personally acknowledged service of the petition for hearing, in case he wished to participate by telephone. The special master convened the hearing, but Coumaris did not appear either in person or telephonically. The undisputed facts show that on March 3, 2003, Coumaris was convicted in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia for conspiracy to commit crimes against the United States, 18 USC § 371, which is a felony. Coumaris did not request a Review Panel review and, therefore, he has waived his right to file exceptions to the special master’s report or request oral argument, Bar Rule 4-217 (c). The maximum penalty for a violation of Rule 8.4 (a) (2) is disbarment and, accordingly, George Thomas Coumaris hereby is disbarred from the practice of law in the State of Georgia.

Disbarred.

All the Justices concur.