Case Name: IN THE MATTER OF SMITH
Court: Supreme Court of Georgia
Jurisdiction: Georgia
Decision Date: 1980-02-06
Citations: 245 Ga. 199
Docket Number: Supreme Court Disciplinary No. 78
Parties: IN THE MATTER OF SMITH.
Judges: All the Justices concur, except Clarke, J., not participating.
Reporter: Georgia Reports
Volume: 245
Pages: 199–200

Head Matter:
IN THE MATTER OF SMITH.
(Supreme Court Disciplinary No. 78)

Opinion:
Per curiam.
This is a disciplinary proceeding against Theodore Edward Smith. The special master concluded that Smith, an attorney practicing in Fulton County, without just cause and to the detriment of a client, in violation of Standard 44, wilfully abandoned or disregarded a legal matter entrusted to him, to wit: the filing of a complaint on behalf of the client. The special master recommended that Smith be suspended for 6 months.
The State Disciplinary Board had before it Smith's "prior record," to wit: One 30-day suspension and two public reprimands. The State Disciplinary Board recommends disbarment. Smith has filed no response here.
After reviewing the record, we find the board's recommendation to be authorized by the evidence and we therefore order that Theodore Edward Smith be disbarred from the practice of law in this state.
Disbarred.
All the Justices concur, except Clarke, J., not participating.
Decided February 6, 1980
Rehearing denied March 5, 1980.
Sherman S. Barge, for Smith.
Omer W. Franklin, Jr., General Counsel State Bar, Victor Alexander, Jr., Assistant General Counsel State Bar, for State Bar of Georgia.