Disciplinary Notices, 0314 ALBJ, 75 The Alabama Lawyer 134 (2014)

DISCIPLINARY NOTICES

Vol. 75, No. 2, Pg. 134

Alabama Bar Lawyer

March, 2014

\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0Transfer to Disability Inactive Status

\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0Disbarment

\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0Suspensions

\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0Public Reprimands

\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0Notice

• Matthew Taylor Knight, whose whereabouts are unknown, must answer the Alabama State Bar's formal disciplinary charges within 28 days of March 25, 2014, or, thereafter, the allegations contained therein shall be deemed admitted and appropriate discipline shall be imposed against him in ASB No. 2009-1846(A) by the Disciplinary Board of the Alabama State Bar.

\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0Transfer to Disability Inactive Status

• Birmingham attorney Paul Archie Phillips was transferred to disability inactive status pursuant to Rule 27(c), Ala. R. Disc. P., effective October 21, 2013, by order of Panel I of the Disciplinary Board of the Alabama State Bar. [Rule 27(c), Pet. No. 2013-1892]

\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0Disbarment

• On September 10, 2013, the Alabama Supreme Court issued a certification of judgment affirming the disbarment of Birmingham attorney Douglas Howard Cooner. The Alabama Supreme Court entered its order based upon the June 20, 2013 report and order of Panel III of the Disciplinary Board of the Alabama State Bar disbarring Cooner. Cooner was found guilty of violating Rules 1.7(b), 3.4(a), 8.4(c) and 8.4(g), Ala. R. Prof. C. Cooner started taking care of his client after the client's wife died, and assisted him with his finances and property. Shortly thereafter, Cooner denied his client access to his own home by taking his keys, sold his client's home without the client's knowledge and drafted an "Irrevocable Living Trust" appointing himself as beneficiary of the trust's residual assets. Cooner also refused to provide his client an accounting of the trust or copies of documents for an extended period of time. Cooner mismanaged, misappropriated and wasted at least $38,032.03 of his client's trust assets. Cooner refused to provide explanations for questionable expenditures noted by his client's guardian ad litem. Cooner filed a lawsuit on his client's behalf but without his client's knowledge and utilized his client's trust monies to fund the defense of the lawsuit filed by his client. Finally, Cooner forged the signature of his client when he settled the lawsuit. [ASB No. 2002-150(A)]

\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0\xA0Suspensions

• Tuscaloosa attorney Laurie Ames Brantley was interimly suspended from the practice of law in Alabama, effective October 2, 2013, by order of the Supreme Court of Alabama. The supreme court entered its order based upon the October 2, 2013 order of the Disciplinary Commission of the Alabama State Bar, in response to a petition filed by the office of general counsel evidencing that Brantley had mishandled and misappropriated client funds on multiple occasions in violation of Rule 1.15(a), Ala. R. Prof. C, and Brantley's conduct was causing, o r was likely to cause, immediate and serious injury to a client or to the public. On October 10, 2013, Brantley was transferred to disability inactive status by order of the Supreme...