In re Harden

Supreme Court of Georgia

In re Harden

729 S.E.2d 369, 291 Ga. 357, 2012 Fulton County D. Rep. 2072, 2012 WL 2520913, 2012 Ga. LEXIS 648

CourtSupreme Court of Georgia

DecidedJuly 2, 2012

DocketS12Y1585

StatusPublished

This text of 729 S.E.2d 369 (In re Harden) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of Georgia primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook

In re Harden, 729 S.E.2d 369, 291 Ga. 357, 2012 Fulton County D. Rep. 2072, 2012 WL 2520913, 2012 Ga. LEXIS 648 (Ga. 2012).

Pincite

Opinion

Per curiam.

This disciplinary matter is before the Court on the petition of Joseph N. Harden (State Bar No. 324515) for voluntary surrender of his license. Harden admits that in connection with the representation of his married clients in a personal injury action, he received $180,000 on behalf of the clients and that, since that time, he has not delivered the funds to the clients or otherwise accounted for those funds. Harden admits that this conduct constitutes a violation of Rule 1.15 (I) (c) of the Georgia Rules of Professional Conduct found in Bar Rule 4-102 (d). The maximum sanction for a violation of Rule 1.15 (I) (c) is disbarment. The State Bar requests that the Court accept the voluntary surrender of his license.

We have reviewed the record and agree to accept Harden’s petition for voluntary surrender of his license, which is tantamount to disbarment. Accordingly, it is hereby ordered that the name of Joseph N. Harden be removed from the rolls of persons authorized to practice law in the State of Georgia. Harden is reminded of his duties pursuant to Bar Rule 4-219 (c).

Voluntary surrender of license accepted.

All the Justices concur. Paula J. Frederick, General Counsel State Bar, Jenny K. Mittelman, Assistant General Counsel State Bar, for State Bar of Georgia.

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Per curiam.

This disciplinary matter is before the Court on the petition of Joseph N. Harden (State Bar No. 324515) for voluntary surrender of his license. Harden admits that in connection with the representation of his married clients in a personal injury action, he received $180,000 on behalf of the clients and that, since that time, he has not delivered the funds to the clients or otherwise accounted for those funds. Harden admits that this conduct constitutes a violation of Rule 1.15 (I) (c) of the Georgia Rules of Professional Conduct found in Bar Rule 4-102 (d). The maximum sanction for a violation of Rule 1.15 (I) (c) is disbarment. The State Bar requests that the Court accept the voluntary surrender of his license.

We have reviewed the record and agree to accept Harden’s petition for voluntary surrender of his license, which is tantamount to disbarment. Accordingly, it is hereby ordered that the name of Joseph N. Harden be removed from the rolls of persons authorized to practice law in the State of Georgia. Harden is reminded of his duties pursuant to Bar Rule 4-219 (c).

Voluntary surrender of license accepted.

All the Justices concur. Paula J. Frederick, General Counsel State Bar, Jenny K. Mittelman, Assistant General Counsel State Bar, for State Bar of Georgia.

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Bluebook (online)

729 S.E.2d 369, 291 Ga. 357, 2012 Fulton County D. Rep. 2072, 2012 WL 2520913, 2012 Ga. LEXIS 648, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/in-re-harden-ga-2012.