Title: The Mississippi Bar v. Michael E. Gilmer

State: mississippi

Issuer: Mississippi Supreme Court

Document:

Serak 133940

 

{UPREME COURT OF MISSISSIPPI

No, 2006-8D-00752-SCT

THE MISSISSIPPI BAR FILED

® OCT 26 2006
OFBIE OF THE CLERK
MICHAEL E. GILMER SUPREME COURT
ORDER,
1. This mater s befire the en bane Court on the comphint of the Misstsippi Bar seeking

aciinary scion agains atiomey Michacl E. Gilet, Post Offke Box 384, Cohmbie,
Temessce 38402-0382, based on the Suprem: Court of Temessee’s impostion of « fve-year
suspension om the race of aw

42. On April 17, 2006, the Supreme Cout of Temessee suspended Gimer fomite
pracice of bw i the Sate of Temesiee or Sie years, Attached to the Bar's compe
cerifod copy of the Supreme Cout of Temresoe's order of swpesion, a8 well as cetiied
copes of other pleadings in tat ater

$3. The Temessce Supreme Coit took action against Gimer afer cht viduals Bed
complains aginst fim wih the Temessee Bar Associaton The complins were based on
Gites aleged unproissomal cont in 2008, The compitants cach paid Gibner 8
reitner for his lw serves ranging fiom $400 to $1200, Gimer was hited to represent the
compuhants in a variety of sues inching custody disputes, divorce proceedings and

colketion mates. He eter fied 10 fle the required action or faied 10 flow through with
the cases for which he was retained. He did mot renen the comphinans” mney or respond
to ty ofthe complainants repeated phone cals and requests ination.

414. Gites dil not respon to any ofthe complaints and a deft judnent was entered by
the Board of Prost Responsbiy ofthe Supreme Cour of Temesee

45. This julgner contiutes concise proof of guilt under the Misssppi Rus of
Evidence 13; refi tis umacesary br ths Cont to purse any farther Sc fxing

46. The Missi Bor aempted to serve process on Giner by cetied mail Giver
refised 1 accept the cetied copies of the note, summons, formal complaint and
acknowledgnest of rece of stems ant fonral comphint, We find that Giner's inaction
demonstrates is tent not wo contest any dcipine which may be inposed on hin,

7. Gamer i curently suspended fom the Misisippi Bar for non-payment of asm
urs

48. In dis Cours appicaton of he rcprocty doctrine, the stncon inposed in th Ste
grerally minors he sanston inposed in the ster ste, absent exruordimry ckeunstances

‘which compel, jstfy or support variance fom the foreign juridctions sanction Miss Bar

"Rule 13 provides as flows

When an atiomey should be subjected to dscipinary santions i another
jwindicton, such saneton shal be grounds for displnary action in ths state,
fd certication of such sanction by the appropriate authority of such
jursditon to the Executhe Director of the Bar or to the Cour, shall be
onisive evilence of the gulk of the offense or unprofessional conduct on
Which said sanction was ordered, and it wil not be necessary t0 prove the
‘pounds for such offense i the décipinary proceeding in ths state. The soke
[ssw 10 be detenrined in the disciplinary proceeding in ths stae shall be the
extent of the fral discipline to be imposed on the atomey, which may be ss
‘ormore severe thin the dcipline imposed by the othe juriditon
si Drungole, 913 So. 24.963, 970 (Miss. 2005). We may impose sanctions bss than or
_geater than those imposed by anotber julctin Miss. Bar x Gardner, 730 So, 24 S46,
547 (Mas. 1998). An attomey ‘who i subject 10 reciprocal dscipine may... off any
rigging fictors which he thinks serve to diminish his cuipsbity nd therefore diminish the
necessity for, oF severity of sanctions to be imposed by ths Cour” Miss: Bar v. Strauss, 601
So. 24 840, 844 (Mis. 1992). cause Gimer has not responded to the firma complaint
citer before the Compla Trbural or before tis Court thee re no mitigating factors to
consider.

$8. ta Miss. Bar v. Daniels, 890 So. 24 872 (Miss. 2004), in a reciprocal dieipinary case
ffom Comectiu, we sispended an atomey for two years for filing wo defend a cients
contenpt ease, to communicate wih his cles, o provide tinely refunds and accourines of
his fees, and to pay a clen’s outstanding medical bik in a timely mamer afler he setled ber
personal uy case

$10. In Miss. Bar ¥, Caldwell, 890 So. 2d 855 (Mis. 2004), in 9 reciprocal disciplinary
case fom Temessee, we sispended an attomey for 90 days for negheting the legal ats of
six chem. Ths case & ditigubhod fom the ficts at hand because Caktwell Sly cooperated
wih the Complaint Tebuna! and voluntarily watew fom the practice of law in Mississippi
while the dcpinary proceedings were pening

U1. In Mou Bar » Pels, 708 So. 2 1372, 1373 (Mis, 1998), we imposed a 30-day
susperson, stead of disbarment which was the sanction imposed by the Distret of Columbia,

because there was no evidence that Pek engaged in dsbonesty or mirepresenatios, and be
was taking steps wo better educate himself on the mater so the problem dit not arise agin in
the fine

12. Filly, in Parrish ». Mississipi Bar, 691 So. 2d 90 (Miss. 1996), we suspended an
stomey fr ovo years for Gilg 1 notify his clent of a court-ordered physical examination
({13. Having considered the facts here, we find tht @ five-year suspension fom the practice
flew inthe State of Missispp appropri

14. IT IS, THEREFORE, ORDERED tht, based on Rie 13 of the Misisppi Rules of
Discipline, Mishael E, Giker & hereby suspended from the practice of Kw in the Stuc of
Mississippi fora period off years fomthe date of ety ofthis order,

415. TT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Mictucl E. Gimer may be reinstated to the priviege
of practicing ow only upon pettion to and order of this Cou, pursuant w Rule 12 of the
Mississippi Ruks of Dscipine. Afr the expiration of the five-year suspension and prior 10
pettioning for reinstatement, Giver shall tke the Mul-State Professional Responsbity
Exam as prepared by the National Conference of Bar Famine, ani achieve a scaled score
of mot ss than 80.

86. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Bur & entted to recover fom Michel F. Gilmer
ail costs of these proceedings, as well as all prevousy assessed sums, The Bar shall file its
notion fr costs and expenses wat the Court within ten days ofthe fling of tis Order.

$17, ITS FURTHER ORDERED that the Clerk of the Cour shall mail « certiied copy of
ths onder to the Misissppi Bar, and shall mal a ceriied copy ofthis order via cemtied ai,
retum receipt requested, 10 Michael E Gilmer, Post Offce Box 384, Columbia, Temessce

38402-0882.
18, SO ORDERED, this, the 25th day of October, 2006,

  
  

WILLIAM L. WALLER, JR.
PRESIDING JUSTICE