Not Enough Mitigation

The Maryland Court of Appeals has disbarred an attorney who had been the managing attorney for the Maryland office of a law firm known as Legal Helpers, P.C., a large national bankruptcy practice. The misconduct involved his signing up a firm client as his private client, escrow account violations and false statements to Bar Counsel.

The court found that the mitigating factors--no prior record, good faith restitution efforts and inexperience in law practice--did not constitute "compelling extenuating circumstances" to avoid disbarment. (Mike Frisch)