Opinion ID: 1774377
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Motion for Contempt for Carter's Violation of a Suspension Ordered by this Court

Text: As stated above, this Court granted Carter's motion for remand to the Tribunal, for a determination of his capacity to practice law, effective January 24, 1992. Carter signed an acknowledgment stating he could not practice law from January 1992, and stating that he would not practice law. The Complaint Tribunal vacated this Court's suspension of Carter, effective July 22, 1993, when it certified that Carter was capable of law practice. On August 17, 1993, this Court reinstated Carter to practice based on the Complaint Tribunal's decision. The Mississippi Bar received several other complaints against Carter for violations of the Rules in his representation of others, while under this Court's suspension. Carter represented a Mrs. Hathcock in October 1990 through January 1993 on a social security matter. Carter also represented Terry Hathcock in a workers' compensation case, beginning in mid-October 1992. In January 1993, Terry Hathcock was injured in an automobile accident, and Carter represented him in that matter. In mid-February 1993, Carter settled the workers' compensation case, and the personal injury case from the accident. Carter received $2000 from Terry for the personal injury settlement. As part of this transaction, Terry repaid a personal loan Carter had made to him outside of court costs, a violation of the Rules of Professional Responsibility. Carter also took over $1700 from the settlement to pay Terry's medical bills, which Carter never paid. Carter did not use a trust account to handle these settlement funds. This matter became the basis of Bar Complaint No. 94-B-58. In another case, Bar Complaint No. 93-B-408, John Thomas retained Carter to represent him in a divorce, on May 28, 1991. After several delays, Mr. Thomas signed a property settlement agreement on February 2, 1992, after this Court's order suspending Carter from law practice. Mr. Thomas asserted that Carter did instruct him to meet him at Vaiden on March 3. Mr. Thomas did not see Carter there. Mr. Thomas stated that Carter called him at the courthouse, stating he could not make it there. Carter denied telling Mr. Thomas to be at the Vaiden, Mississippi courthouse on March 3, 1992, to conduct a divorce hearing. Mr. Thomas asserted that Carter later told him that the chancellor would agree to an out-of-court settlement by mail. At this meeting, on April 2, 1992, Carter denied advising Mr. Thomas that the chancellor would sign a divorce decree through mail. Carter again met with Mr. Thomas around May 27, 1992. Carter told Mr. Thomas the chancellor could finalize the divorce on June 2, 1992. Carter admitted I was wrong in not informing Mr. Thomas that he could not practice law. Carter later styled it as an injustice to Mr. Thomas. The chancellor did not finalize this case. Carter also stated that he prolonged this divorce matter in order to conclude it after this Court terminated his period of suspension. Carter later met with Mr. Thomas on July 5. Carter finally told Mr. Thomas he could not practice law at that time. He assisted in helping Mr. Thomas find a new attorney, and offered to refund Mr. Thomas his money. However, Carter had not done so at the time of the hearing. Mr. Thomas also stated that he had not received any papers due him from Carter's representation. Carter stated his actions with both his representation and his failure to respond to the Bar were a result of emotional disturbance. He stated that this disturbance should mitigate any penalties. After Mr. Thomas complained to the Bar, the Bar held a hearing on December 22, 1992. Carter had notice of this hearing, but did not appear. The Bar sent a letter to Carter requesting certain information about this matter, on January 14, 1993, but Carter did not respond. The Complaint Tribunal held its last hearing concerning Carter on April 22, 1994, concerning Bar Complaint Nos. 93-B-408 and 94-B-58. Carter attended this hearing. Carter admitted that he violated Rule 1.2(a) in his representation of Mr. Thomas. Carter stated that Mr. Thomas wanted his divorce handled in a timely way, and admitted that he had not done so. Carter admitted that he did not handle this case with reasonable diligence and promptness, a violation of Rule 1.3. Carter admitted he violated Rule 1.4(a) in failing to keep Mr. Thomas reasonably informed of his case. Carter admitted that through his failure to respond to the Bar's requests for information, he violated Rule 8.1(b). At the close of the proceedings, the Bar requested that the tribunal allow amending the complaint to include a violation of Rule 5.5. This rule prohibited practice where a party would break the regulation of professional responsibility in that jurisdiction. The tribunal asserted Carter's practice during his suspension violated those rules. The tribunal found that Carter violated Rules 1.2(a), 1.3, 1.4(a), 8.1(b), 8.4, 5.5(a), 11(c), 1.16(a), and 3.4(c) in his representation of Mr. Thomas. The tribunal held Carter should produce psychiatric certification of his competency to practice law, and pay court costs as conditions for his reinstatement, for cause 93-B-408. As to 94-B-58, concerning Carter's representation of Mrs. Hathcock, the tribunal suspended its deliberations pending Carter's transmittal of mitigating evidence within ten days of the hearing. No such showing of mitigating evidence is in the record for 94-B-58. The Complaint Tribunal then suspended Alan Carter for one year, entered August 10, 1994, based upon his violations of the Rules in 93-B-408 and 94-B-58. The Mississippi Bar, based on Carter's practice in defiance of an order of this Court, moved for contempt proceedings. The Bar requested only general relief and sanctions, without specifying the exact sanction for his unauthorized practice of law. The Bar requested attorneys' fees. This Court responded to the Bar's motion by issuing a Show Cause Order against Carter, dated October 6, 1994. This show cause order stated that failure to respond to this order will result in this Court dispos(ing) of same (Motion for Contempt) as this Court deems proper and as the circumstances require, such disposition may include, but not be limited to, granting the relief requested. Carter received the show cause order on October 27, 1994. As of January 31, 1995, Carter had not responded to the order. In addition, this Court filed a second show cause order on February 2, 1995. This order specifically stated that disbarment was a potential penalty in this matter. Carter received this notice on February 9, 1995. Carter failed to respond to this notice, as of March 14, 1995.