Opinion ID: 1337418
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: Legette Matter

Text: Respondent was retained to represent Mr. Legette regarding an employment discrimination claim. Respondent failed to meet various filing deadlines. After missing a number of the deadlines, he attempted to file virtually the same document with a different title. Respondent also failed to file proper objections to the Magistrate Judge's Report and Recommendation, instead repackaging as his objections a memorandum that previously was excluded from consideration by the Magistrate Judge. The United States District Court rejected the repackaged memorandum, noting that it constitute[d] a blatant attempt to circumvent the Magistrate Judge's April 30, 1997 order striking the filing. The district court also noted for the record, respondent's demonstrated history ... of filing untimely and improper pleadings not permitted under the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure or the Local Rules. Respondent subsequently improperly filed two Notices of Appeal from the federal district court's order. The Panel found he ultimately failed to perfect the appeal because he had not read the Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure, the Fourth Circuit Rules, and the applicable orders issued by the district court.