in the Matter of April Dabney-Froe

• Court: Supreme Court of Georgia
• Decided: December 11, 2017
• Docket: S17Y1823
• Status: 200

Opinion

302 Ga. 746 FINAL COPY

S17Y1823. IN THE MATTER OF APRIL DABNEY-FROE.

PER CURIAM.

This disciplinary matter is before the Court on a petition for voluntary

surrender of license filed by respondent April Dabney-Froe (State Bar No.

202987) pursuant to Bar Rule 4-227 (b) (2) before the filing of formal

complaints on four underlying grievances.

In her petition, Dabney-Froe, who has been a member of the State Bar

since 2000, admits that on multiple occasions she failed promptly to give clients

an accounting of settlement proceeds, disburse settlement funds, and/or pay

medical bills in her clients’ cases. She acknowledges that by these failures she

violated Georgia Rule of Professional Conduct 1.15 (I) on more than one

occasion, but asserts that she has now properly accounted to each client who

filed a grievance for the total amount due from his or her respective settlement.

Dabney-Froe acknowledges that the maximum penalty for a single violation of

Rule 1.15 (I) is disbarment and prays that the Court accept her petition for voluntary surrender of her license. The Bar responds that Dabney-Froe’s petition

includes admissions of fact sufficient to authorize the imposition of the

discipline requested and that acceptance of the petition is in the best interests of

the Bar and the public.

Having reviewed the record, the Court agrees that acceptance of Dabney-

Froe’s petition for the voluntary surrender of her license, which is tantamount

to disbarment, is in the best interests of the Bar and the public. Accordingly, the

name of April Dabney-Froe is hereby removed from the rolls of persons entitled

to practice law in the State of Georgia. Dabney-Froe is reminded of her duties

under Bar Rule 4-219 (c).

Voluntary surrender of license accepted. All the Justices concur.

2 Decided December 11, 2017.

Voluntary surrender of license.

Warren R. Hinds, for appellant.

Paula J. Frederick, General Counsel State Bar, Jenny K. Mittelman,

Andreea N. Morrison, Assistant General Counsel State Bar, for State Bar of

Georgia.