Case Name: IN THE MATTER OF GREGORY C. MENEFEE
Court: Supreme Court of Georgia
Jurisdiction: Georgia
Decision Date: 2011-04-26
Citations: 289 Ga. 179
Docket Number: S11Y0861
Parties: IN THE MATTER OF GREGORY C. MENEFEE.
Judges: All the Justices concur.
Reporter: Georgia Reports
Volume: 289
Pages: 179–180

Head Matter:
S11Y0861.
IN THE MATTER OF GREGORY C. MENEFEE.
(709 SE2d 812)
Decided April 26, 2011.

Opinion:
Per curiam.
This reciprocal discipline case is before the Court on the Report and Recommendation of the Review Panel, recommending that Gregory C. Menefee (State Bar No. 502020) be disbarred following the order disbarring him from practice in the State of Kentucky. See Kentucky Bar Assn. v. Menefee, 296 SW3d 423 (Ky. 2009). We previously suspended Menefee on an indefinite basis following his earlier suspension in Kentucky. In the Matter of Menefee, 286 Ga. 32 (685 SE2d 276) (2009).
In this matter, the State Bar filed a notice of reciprocal discipline to which it attached a certified copy of opinion of the Supreme Court of Kentucky in accordance with Rule 9.4 (b), as amended, of the Georgia Rules of Professional Conduct set forth in Bar Rule 4-102 (d). Menefee acknowledged service of the notice of reciprocal discipline from the State Bar, but did not file any response.
In its opinion the Supreme Court of Kentucky outlined ten separate discipline charges in which Menefee abandoned clients and failed to return or misappropriated thousands of dollars from clients. Based on the seriousness of the charges against Menefee, his past disciplinary history, his failure to respond to disciplinary authorities in Kentucky and "the potentially criminal nature of his actions," Kentucky Bar Assn. v. Menefee, supra, 296 SW3d at 428, the Supreme Court of Kentucky permanently disbarred Menefee. Id. at 429.
The Review Panel, after reviewing the face of the record and the elements listed in Rule 9.4 (b) (3) to determine if imposition of a different punishment was required, has recommended that Menefee be disbarred. We have reviewed the record and agree that disbarment is the appropriate punishment. Accordingly, the name of Gregory C. Menefee hereby is removed from the rolls of persons authorized to practice law in the State of Georgia. He is reminded of his duties under Bar Rule 4-219 (c).
Disbarred.
All the Justices concur.
Paula J. Frederick, General Counsel State Bar, Jonathan W. Hewett, Assistant General Counsel State Bar, for State Bar of Georgia.