The Daily Report Seeks Douglas Chandler’s Comments for Bar Complaint and Legal Ethics Article

Daily Report journalist Mark Neisse sought Douglas Chandler ’s feedback for the July 12 article, “Gwinnett reaches deal with overbilling lawyer,” about a metro Atlanta attorney who admitted overbilling Gwinnett County for more than $10,000 of indigent client representation.

The deal reached between attorney Christopher Todd Adams and District Attorney Danny Porter drops the 35 felony counts in exchange for a fine of $10,625 and at least a six-month bar license suspension. The Georgia Supreme Court must approve the bar license suspension requested by Adams. Click here to view the full article and Douglas’ comments.

Excerpt from the Daily Report article:

“In settlements that involve suspensions through voluntary discipline, both the state bar and prosecutors know that the consequences are severe, even if they fall short of disbarment,” said legal malpractice lawyer Douglas Chandler.

In one case, In the matter of Rodney B. Glass, 279 Ga. 666 (2005), the lawyer admitted misappropriating $47,000 from his former law firm for his own use and received a one-year suspension.

“It’s a case-by-case basis. … A suspension for a lawyer can be the death knell in a practice,” said Chandler, who is an acquaintance of Adams.

Click here to view the full article.