Opinion ID: 1634245
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: bases for suspension

Text: ¶ 5. Prisock's suspensions stemmed from three separate incidents in which Prisock violated various Mississippi Rules of Professional Conduct: ¶ 6. In Cause Number 93-B-00697, Prisock was charged with violating Mississippi Rules of Professional Conduct 1.3 and 1.4(a) in his representation of Mr. and Mrs. Lester Rainey. Prisock undertook representing the Raineys in a bankruptcy matter. While the Raineys' bankruptcy matter was proceeding, Prisock converted the Raineys' Chapter 13 bankruptcy to a Chapter 7 bankruptcy. The motion to convert resulted in the Raineys' bankruptcy proceedings being dismissed. Approximately six months passed before Prisock became aware that the proceedings had been dismissed. Once he gained knowledge, he failed to file the necessary motions to have the proceedings reinstated, and failed to advise his clients of this development. The Raineys' employers were served with garnishment papers on three occasions by the Covington County Sheriff. Prisock testified that the Raineys suffered no financial loss due to his failure to file, but he did acknowledge they suffered stress and embarrassment. ¶ 7. Prisock testified that personal issues clouded my judgment. I didn't pay the attention to my cases that I should have.... I owed those clients more than I... gave them.... Prisock blamed his lack of attention on personal problems and related that he probably drank more than I would normally have done. ¶ 8. A complaint tribunal found Prisock guilty of violating Mississippi Rules of Professional Conduct 1.3 and 1.4(a). Prisock was suspended from the practice of law for eighteen months. Pursuant to Mississippi Rules of Discipline 17 through 25, Prisock was also placed on disability status, was ordered to participate in a substance-abuse program and to complete a program of therapy.