In re Murdaugh

521 S.E.2d 159, 336 S.C. 564, 1999 S.C. LEXIS 167

• Court: Supreme Court of South Carolina
• Decided: September 1, 1999
• Status: Published

Opinion

ORDER

The Office of Disciplinary Counsel has filed a petition asking this Court to place respondent on interim suspension pursuant to Rule 17(b), RLDE, Rule 413, SCACR, and to appoint an attorney to protect clients’ interests pursuant to Rule 31, RLDE, Rule 413, SCACR. Respondent consents to the petition.

IT IS ORDERED that respondent’s license to practice law in this State is suspended until further order of the Court.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED'that John David Whisenhunt, Esquire, is hereby appointed to assume responsibility for respondent’s client files, trust account(s), escrow accounts), operating aecount(s), and any other law office accounts respondent may maintain. Mr. Whisenhunt shall take action as required by Rule 31, RLDE, Rule 413, SCACR, to protect the interests of respondent’s clients. Mr. Whisenhunt may make disbursements from respondent’s trust accounts), escrow account(s), operating account(s), and any other law office accounts respondent may maintain that are necessary to effectuate this appointment.

This Order, when served on any bank or other financial institution maintaining trust, escrow and/or operating accounts of respondent, shall serve as an injunction to prevent respondent from making withdrawals from the account(s) and shall further serve as notice to the bank or other financial institution that John David Whisenhunt, Esquire, has been duly appointed by this Court.

Finally, this Order, when served on any office of the United States Postal Service, shall serve as notice that John David Whisenhunt, Esquire, has been duly appointed by this Court and has the authority to receive respondent’s mail and the authority to direct that respondent’s mail be delivered to Mr. Whisenhunt’s office.

/s/ Jean H. Toal, J.

FOR THE COURT

FINNEY, C.J., not participating.