In re Walls

Supreme Court of Georgia

In re Walls

357 S.E.2d 89, 257 Ga. 191, 1987 Ga. LEXIS 1012

CourtSupreme Court of Georgia

DecidedJune 24, 1987

DocketSupreme Court Disciplinary No. 496

StatusPublished

This text of 357 S.E.2d 89 (In re Walls) 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 Walls, 357 S.E.2d 89, 257 Ga. 191, 1987 Ga. LEXIS 1012 (Ga. 1987).

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Opinion

Per curiam.

A formal complaint against respondent alleged he made false statements in violation of Standard 45 of State Bar Rule 4-102. The factual basis for the charge alleged respondent settled a tort claim by telling the defendant’s attorney that his client, plaintiff, would agree to inform prosecutors in a related criminal case she was not interested in pursuing criminal charges. In truth plaintiff had not agreed to such a disposition and later did pursue the criminal case with the final result being defendant’s conviction.

The charges against respondent were found to be true due to his failure to file an answer. However, respondent appeared at a sched[192]*192uled default hearing before a special master. There he admitted a drug dependency. The special master referred the matter to the State Bar Committee on Lawyer Impairment for supervision for drug abuse treatment. Respondent never reported to the committee nor was the committee able to locate him. The Review Panel of the State Disciplinary Board has recommended respondent’s disbarment. We follow that recommendation. Michael C. Walls is hereby disbarred and his name ordered stricken from the roll of attorneys.

Decided June 24, 1987. William P. Smith III, General Counsel State Bar, Viola Sellers Drew, Assistant General Counsel State Bar, for State Bar of Georgia. All the Justices concur.

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Per curiam.

A formal complaint against respondent alleged he made false statements in violation of Standard 45 of State Bar Rule 4-102. The factual basis for the charge alleged respondent settled a tort claim by telling the defendant’s attorney that his client, plaintiff, would agree to inform prosecutors in a related criminal case she was not interested in pursuing criminal charges. In truth plaintiff had not agreed to such a disposition and later did pursue the criminal case with the final result being defendant’s conviction.

The charges against respondent were found to be true due to his failure to file an answer. However, respondent appeared at a sched[192]*192uled default hearing before a special master. There he admitted a drug dependency. The special master referred the matter to the State Bar Committee on Lawyer Impairment for supervision for drug abuse treatment. Respondent never reported to the committee nor was the committee able to locate him. The Review Panel of the State Disciplinary Board has recommended respondent’s disbarment. We follow that recommendation. Michael C. Walls is hereby disbarred and his name ordered stricken from the roll of attorneys.

Decided June 24, 1987. William P. Smith III, General Counsel State Bar, Viola Sellers Drew, Assistant General Counsel State Bar, for State Bar of Georgia. All the Justices concur.

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Bluebook (online)

357 S.E.2d 89, 257 Ga. 191, 1987 Ga. LEXIS 1012, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/in-re-walls-ga-1987.